Anywhere Computing with Laptops: Making Mobile Easier

Chapter 8. Entering a World Without Wires

IN THIS CHAPTER

• Why Wi-Fi is important

• Understanding wireless spectrums

• Understanding the flavors of 802.11

• Understanding Wi-Fi networks

• Using Wi-Fi on the road

As you probably know by now, with your mobile computer, you can surf the Internet without wires from remote locations such as poolside at luxury hotels, in airports, in coffee shops, and in bookstores. You can also use wireless technology to set up networks in your home or office that allow you to share files, to share a connection with the Internet, and much more.

The underlying wireless technology that makes this all work is popularly called Wi-Fi, which is short for wireless fidelity. You don't have to understand a whole lot about Wi-Fi to be able ...