Last week we looked at the question: Is it OK to use your neighbor’s WiFi?. We received 817 responses from our readers. I figured this was going to be a hot topic that would be split between users that feel this is stealing and others that feel that if they can connect to it then they can use it freely!
We touched on the fact that you can have your identity or data stolen from you by using “an open access point” or you can be infected and turned into a zombie computer as part of a botnet! I do not connect to open access points anymore as a precaution to my well being.
You can see all the responses below:
This week’s poll looks at how you get online when you are away from home. I personally tether my laptop or netbook to my Tilt2 Windows Mobile device. I occasionally use a built in mobile broadband card for work when I am on the road as well.
We want to know if you are jumping onto paid Wi-Fi networks or maybe you have some tethering going on yourself. And maybe ““ just maybe, you don’t want to take the net with you when you go on vacation. I know it’s hard but we all deserve a break from the daily grind right? I haven’t been on a trip yet without a laptop but maybe you are different.
Please answer the poll below and we’d love to hear your comments as well!
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I always try to find a wifi network when traveling. Nowadays every decent hotel has one. In fact, that’s how I’m connected right now!
I always carry a mobile broadband card plugged into my laptop. Since I often need to access private financial information and messages, it makes sense (for me) not to use a public gateway of any kind. I try to avoid internet cafes as much as possible.
i use bluetooth to connect my 3g smartphones to my laptop.i dont see the point in payin for another internet when i can use my phone for 2 laptops and a desktop and my ps3.i know i know the speed is not as fast as most but it well play hulu netfilx without buffer play ps3 online whit little to no lag.plus i haveno need for wires anymore….well other then the power
It would be good if you could tick the options, instead of only select one. Depending on what I need to use the internet for and what’s available will affect my outcome.
I use internet café’s: Never, unless it’s free, urgent and don’t have a laptop with me
I use my smart phone / device to connect to wifi networks: Only for facebook and email or the odd site i need to check up.
I use my netbook / laptop to connect to wifi networks: If I have my netbook with me and there is wifi available that’s free, otherwise: I tether my laptop / netbook to my mobile / smart phone: to use the internet.
The others are all N/A for me.
It would be good if you could tick the options, instead of only select one. Depending on what I need to use the internet for and what’s available will affect my outcome.
I use internet café’s: Never, unless it’s free, urgent and don’t have a laptop with me
I use my smart phone / device to connect to wifi networks: Only for facebook and email or the odd site i need to check up.
I use my netbook / laptop to connect to wifi networks: If I have my netbook with me and there is wifi available that’s free, otherwise: I tether my laptop / netbook to my mobile / smart phone: to use the internet.
The others are all N/A for me.
I don’t need access to the internet when travelling because I’m together with my family. I think the time should be dedicated to be together with the family when travelling (except for business travels).
Also could you not change the theme back to the normal one on the poll? I think it’s very hard to read it because of too little contrast.
done! the poll background was changed to white.
Many thanks for that.
I don’t need access to the internet when travelling because I’m together with my family. I think the time should be dedicated to be together with the family when travelling (except for business travels).
Also could you not change the theme back to the normal one on the poll? I think it’s very hard to read it because of too little contrast.
travelling for work or travelling for leisure? quite different answers to these two scenarios!
I keep my iPod Touch with me wherever I go for music, so if it’s needed, I can use it to connect to wireless. It’s also a really convenient way to check on what’s going on at home using a webcam, Dorgem, and Dropbox.
But you don’t always have wireless network access on your iPod touch.
That’s true, but I’m usually not too far from being able to get online. With places I do work, visiting family, restaurants, and hotels, an access point is usually close enough.
I don’t eat at McDonalds, but I’ll stop in to get a coffee and use their free wifi if I need to.
EDIT: If I’m nowhere near where I can get onto wireless, that’s probably one of the reasons I’m there.
I see – I don’t usually go on McDonalds – we don’t have one in our city…
Of course, anywhere I can’t get online with my iPod, a laptop wouldn’t be able to get online without a broadband card. The same could go for broadband cards and smartphones as well considering all the dead spots. I live in West Virginia, so it’s not hard to find dead spots.
Sometimes, you can sit longer from the router with a laptop than with
your iPod touch and access the internet (I know because I’ve tried it
with my own laptop and iPod touch).
Wow no McDonalds? Where are you from??
Denmark. But if you drive, you can come to a city that have a McDonalds.
Wow I thought McDonald’s had spots everywhere. When I was in Neuilly Paris
they had one and again in a little town in England!
They do have spots in many places in the world, and I don’t know why
they haven’t established one here. Maybe because we’re only 50,000 in
the city, and they compare costs with how many potential buyers, which
mostly are young human, and then there’s not many people left to buy.
It’ll cost a lot of money to buy the place they can have it on,
establish kitchen, have workers and so on. I’m sure they’ve calculated
on it and they don’t mean it can pay off. Or they haven’t got to make a
McDonalds here yet.
Btw, which city in Denmark? I lived in Aalborg for about 2 years and we had McDonalds there
Sorø. I didn’t knew you’re Danish too. Or did you just lived there
without being Danish?
I did my masters in Aalborg University. It’s a 2 year program.
Ah okay. Interesting… I have lived here my whole life.
Awesome Josh what do you do?
For work, I’m usually a tech freelancer, but the lack of tech work near me, I resort to a lot of other things as well.
What about trying to use the internet to try and make some money too?
Any suggestions for a freelancer? I check some freelance job boards frequently and get what I can, but it doesn’t add up to as much as I would like.
A bit long-term, you could try to build up your own blogging business
(it take more than a year for me).
You could also try and make enough content on Triond or Associated
Content (Triond allow the most content). Else I don’t know – other than
using other mediums, but you should keep looking – one day, there’ll
come a good job.
Actually, I’m about to roll out a new blog that I’ve designed based on the lightweight, but robust, Chyrp. It’s due to be online this week. I’ll be posting about web designs that I’ve made, different projects I’m working on, and some other stuff. Maybe it’ll help me promote myself. The only problem I have with Chyrp is that I haven’t seen any blogging apps for my iPod Touch that will work with it through XML-RPC (unless someone here has a suggestion).
That’s true, but I’m usually not too far from being able to get online. With places I do work, visiting family, restaurants, and hotels, an access point is usually close enough.
I don’t eat at McDonalds, but I’ll stop in to get a coffee and use their free wifi if I need to.
EDIT: If I’m nowhere near where I can get onto wireless, that’s probably one of the reasons I’m there.
Sometimes, you can sit longer from the router with a laptop than with
your iPod touch and access the internet (I know because I’ve tried it
with my own laptop and iPod touch).
I usually don’t need to, but when I need to, I can usually borrow someone’s iPhone…
Wow I thought McDonald’s had spots everywhere. When I was in Neuilly Paris
they had one and again in a little town in England!
They do have spots in many places in the world, and I don’t know why
they haven’t established one here. Maybe because we’re only 50,000 in
the city, and they compare costs with how many potential buyers, which
mostly are young human, and then there’s not many people left to buy.
It’ll cost a lot of money to buy the place they can have it on,
establish kitchen, have workers and so on. I’m sure they’ve calculated
on it and they don’t mean it can pay off. Or they haven’t got to make a
McDonalds here yet.
A bit long-term, you could try to build up your own blogging business
(it take more than a year for me).
You could also try and make enough content on Triond or Associated
Content (Triond allow the most content). Else I don’t know – other than
using other mediums, but you should keep looking – one day, there’ll
come a good job.
Sorø. I didn’t knew you’re Danish too. Or did you just lived there
without being Danish?
Great. I’ve only experience with my WordPress powered blog,
WebTipsEveryDay. And to WordPress, there’s a blogging app to iPod touch.
Anyway, do post a link to your blog when it go live or send it to my
email, kristoffer.hansen@stofanet.dk.
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I
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Why No One mentioned the rotate USB Modem prepaid plan its very cheap and the speed is good up to 4.7 Mbps, Its very practical & Your Privacy protected as far as I know …..
I Hope to see a post about USB Modem here soon especially how to protect this connection, advantages & disadvantages …..
new ip every time you connect and so on.
I
Love Make Use of 