| You no longer have to go to Starbucks to enjoy | | | | reach the "select a connection method" page. You |
| wireless Internet connections. That's right, you can | | | | will need to select the option that states that |
| enjoy your coffee from the privacy of your | | | | your computer is directly connected to the |
| home and access the Internet. Wireless Internet | | | | Internet. Keep moving through the steps until you |
| has come home as well, and Internet connections | | | | arrive on the final page with your reward: the |
| can now be shared among family members | | | | finish button. |
| without stringing wires through the living room. On | | | | At this point you only have one computer hooked |
| the negative side, however, setting this up can be | | | | up to the Internet, and you can't move it around |
| quite a chore. | | | | the house. To gain mobility, you will need to go |
| With a wireless network, not only can you share | | | | through the same steps with each of your other |
| Internet connectivity, but you can share files. You | | | | computers, only this time, you should select the |
| can put a file on a shared drive, and then anyone | | | | option that states you're your computer is |
| on any computer in your house can access it. | | | | connected to the Internet through a network and |
| Additionally, you can share a printer. You can | | | | not directly connected to the Internet. |
| literally press "print" while working on your laptop | | | | Unfortunately this sort of network does have a |
| in the bedroom, and the printer in your office will | | | | downside: the wireless connection relies on the |
| start spewing out your latest reports. | | | | gateway. When you turn your gateway off, the |
| To start out with, you need a gateway the | | | | rest of your systems drop their Internet |
| Internet. Any computer can serve as your | | | | connection too. You might also want to consider |
| gateway. This system must be directly plugged | | | | purchasing a wireless router. Check out our article |
| into the Internet in order for other users to be | | | | configure a network that always stays on. |
| truly wireless. Thus one computer is stationary, | | | | Overall a wireless connection offers the freedom |
| you cannot move it. | | | | that no other Internet service does. You can |
| To connect your wireless systems to the | | | | even sit outside your home within a reasonable |
| Internet, set up your gateway. Click on the Start | | | | distance and access the Internet. Imagine that: |
| menu and scroll up to the Control Panel. Then | | | | shopping online from your deck. You could work |
| double click the Network Connections icon. At this | | | | from the kitchen, the bedroom, and even the |
| point you can run through the series of steps in | | | | bathroom. And while no one wants to become a |
| the Network Set up Wizard. Make sure to select | | | | workaholic, some people need the variety of |
| "set up a home or small office network." | | | | setting to stay productive. So take the necessary |
| Continue moving through the wizard until you | | | | steps to get hooked up and go wireless today. |