Hello,

 

You will no doubt be looking to find an access point in hotels and restaurants/coffee shops, such as Starbucks and Barnes and Noble.  Some "access points" are free, others are not and you must sign up with the store to get access.

 

Hotels are basically the same, some charge, others do not.  Some have high speed internet available only through an "ethernet" connection which you will find on your computer.  Please do NOT mistake a phone line connection (like the kind you plug your regular house phone into) with the ethernet connection which is larger.  Check your manual/documentation to find the correct connection if you need to use the ethernet cable which may or may not have been provided.  If you need to purchase one go to Target or Walmart as their prices are just about the lowest. No need to buy a pricier "CAT6" ethernet cable, a straight, plain-jane "CAT5" is just fine.  The connection only goes in one way, just like your phone.  Be VERY careful when you are connecting and disconnecting anything to your laptop - these connections are fragile compared to any wall mounted connections.

 

That said, you might have to "activate" your wireless.  Again, first check your documentation and failing that, call Dell for support.  I am sorry to say that their support is from India, for the most part, and most people are reporting large wait times and not-so-great information.   Press them for an answer nicely or they will hang up on you consistently.  They (the tech support from other countries) do not understand American-type language each and every time, so don't treat them like an idiot, but DO speak clearly.  Ask for a NAME and a CALL CENTER first thing.  WRITE IT DOWN in a word document or notepad on your computer as well as on a piece of paper in case you can't get TO your computer.  Always keep a log of your dealings with your computer company.  It's your computer, protect yourself from the beginning.  If you can't get help, ask for that person's supervisor.  If that person THEN hangs up, you have recourse and can then tell Dell (as should we all) that "other country" support is not only not working, but that it's costing them in time, money and in good business reputation.

 

Congratulations on joining the ranks of the connected.  I hope you have no trouble connecting to access points as you find them.

 

~atheria