Notebook With Good Wireless (i.e. 802.11 G) Recommendations
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Posted by Jake on May 31, 2008, 9:47 pm
Please log in for more thread options one with demonstrated better than usual Wi-Fi connectivity built in. Presently use some excellent USB units..but still would like something built in which will perform well. Thanks in advance.. | ||||||||||||||||
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Posted by seaweedsl on June 1, 2008, 12:29 pm
Please log in for more thread options Since you are just now upgrading to built-in wifi, I presume you are like me and don't mind using slightly older tech if it does the job and saves money. I upgrade just like anybody, but to 3 yr old machines. Let the previous round of expensive machines depreciate and then buy the ones with good track records for 1/3 the cost - that's my philosophy. I think that the best value in fully functional used notebooks (w/USB 2.0 and built-in wireless) is the IBM Thinkpad R51. Good wifi performance, great keyboard, decent battery life, sufficiently modern to do most everything except CAD and gaming. Easily maintained, parts available everywhere. There are many coming off corporate lease nowdays and you can get a 14" one for $250- $350 with XP pro and decent RAM if you look around. You might even find one still under IBM warranty. They came with 3 years. http://tinyurl.com/5xk8r8 R52 is comparable and availible certified used here: http://tinyurl.com/3hgyr4 The T4X series is a bit thinner and more beloved, but had more problems. The R51-2 has the same guts, thicker case. If you want a UXGA screen with performance graphics and bluetooth, the R50p (p is important) is my pick at $500 Again, I'm assuming a lot. Maybe cost isn't an issue. If you want new for cheap...I'd probably suggest an R60-61 for economy. Haven't used them, but they are said to be good for wireless as well. http://tinyurl.com/4sjaep http://tinyurl.com/3hgyr4 Steve | ||||||||||||||||
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Posted by on June 1, 2008, 2:06 pm
Please log in for more thread options > > Looking for a replacement for my old faithful laptop..Travel and need
> I think that the best value in fully functional used notebooks (w/USB
> 2.0 and built-in wireless) is the IBM Thinkpad R51. Good wifi I am quite impressed by the WiFi performance of the built in WiFi on my Lenovo Thinkpad T60p. The service manual shows that there are two internal bar antennas, one along the top left of the screen, and on along the right side of the screen, at the top. This laptop gets solid connections at ranges where my DLink DWL-122 USB won't even find them on a scan, even with a coffee can reflector. 11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Express Adapter ar5211.sys (5.3.0.18, ... drive, maybe the chip, from SMC. http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-62722 Earlier Thinkpad models might be similar. There is a video on one of the Thinkpad pages showing a guy typing on the keyboard wearing scuba gear, sitting on the bottom of a pool. If that's important to you ... ;-) -- Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley Lake, CA, USA GPS: 38.8,-122.5 | ||||||||||||||||
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Posted by Jeff Liebermann on June 1, 2008, 2:22 pm
Please log in for more thread options On Sun, 1 Jun 2008 18:06:49 +0000 (UTC), dold@01.usenet.us.com wrote:
>Earlier Thinkpad models might be similar. There is a video on one of the
>Thinkpad pages showing a guy typing on the keyboard wearing scuba gear, >sitting on the bottom of a pool. If that's important to you ... ;-) This advertisement? <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Rg7tKJWk2w>
or this story?
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KXx-Kys-Fk>
No way. Water does a really impressive job of blocking 2.4GHz transmission. A wet towel will block the signal. Neither video shows the laptop working underwater. I looked for other videos showing underwater operation, and couldn't find any. -- Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com 150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558 | ||||||||||||||||
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Posted by on June 1, 2008, 3:08 pm
Please log in for more thread options > On Sun, 1 Jun 2008 18:06:49 +0000 (UTC), dold@01.usenet.us.com wrote:
> >Earlier Thinkpad models might be similar. There is a video on one of the
> >Thinkpad pages showing a guy typing on the keyboard wearing scuba gear, > >sitting on the bottom of a pool. If that's important to you ... ;-) > No way. Water does a really impressive job of blocking 2.4GHz
> transmission. A wet towel will block the signal. Neither video shows > the laptop working underwater. I looked for other videos showing > underwater operation, and couldn't find any. Oops, sorry, mixing threads. I don't know if the underwater operation included WiFi, I'll accept your postulation that it doesn't. I could be misremembering... I see "spill resistant X Series". < http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPortal/en_US/special-offers.workflow:ShowPromo?LandingPage=/All/US/Sitelets/Best-Engineered/spill-resistant >
Which is the youtube that you cited, and admonition that it is an exaggeration. But I recall a swim-suited guy tippy-tapping... The astronaut is a little over the top ;-) there are some other cute outrageous videos on that Lenovo page. -- Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley Lake, CA, USA GPS: 38.8,-122.5 | ||||||||||||||||
> one with
> demonstrated better than usual Wi-Fi connectivity built in. Presently
> use some
> excellent USB units..but still would like something built in which
> will perform well.
> Thanks in advance..