Computers

[notcasesensitive]

I ran a search here and didn't find much... Has anyone comparison shopped these lately? I'm in the market for a small, reasonably cheap one with good picture quality. Pipe dream? Do Canons have any competition in this market? What should my main concerns be? How many megapixels, etc.?

[Jack Manfred]

My old HP LaserJet III+ is on its last legs. Does anyone have any suggestions for a reasonably-priced laser printer. I guess under $500.

This would be for home/home office use. I wouldn't need to do a whole filing, but motions, letters, resumes, envelopes, labels, and some charts.

Any useful advice would be appreciated.

[Atticus Grinch]

Originally posted by Jack Manfred
My old HP LaserJet III+ is on its last legs. Does anyone have any suggestions for a reasonably-priced laser printer. I guess under $500.

This would be for home/home office use. I wouldn't need to do a whole filing, but motions, letters, resumes, envelopes, labels, and some charts.

Any useful advice would be appreciated.

Assuming you don't need color (and with your price limit, I will assume you don't), Consumer Reports is currently recommending the Brother HL-1440, which can be had using the LawTalkers Amazon.com link for about $170, which is pretty rock bottom for the home office laser class. It's a light duty printer, but at that price, hey, buy two.

I bought one but it hasn't been delivered yet, so you'll have to take CR's word for it for now.

[ltl/fb]

If I had a wireless mouse, I assume it would be possible to have my computer (laptop, obviously) on my lap and the mouse over on, say, the bedside table, right? Thanks from the computer illiterate.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by ltl/fb
If I had a wireless mouse, I assume it would be possible to have my computer (laptop, obviously) on my lap and the mouse over on, say, the bedside table, right? Thanks from the computer illiterate.

yes. it should work that way.

[ltl/fb]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
yes. it should work that way.

Thanks! As a reward, I have another question b/c Dell has its head up its ass and interpreted the following as a question about prices:

I am confused as to what I need w/r/t broadband cable access or
whatever it is called. I believe there is an "Internal 56K Modem and
Integrated Network Card" already installed into my computer. I should also be receiving a "Dell TrueMobile 2300 Router" I think in a separate
shipment. Do I also need a cable modem? Or some kind of wiring? When I was looking at getting access through my cable provider they were going to charge $199 for a cable modem but it said they would use what the customer already has if the customer has one. It looks like you can get them for a lot cheaper than $199, if that is something I still need. Please let me know if this is not clear.

In retrospect I shouldn't have used w/r/t but I was really tired.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by ltl/fb
Thanks! As a reward, I have another question b/c Dell has its head up its ass and interpreted the following as a question about prices:

I am confused as to what I need w/r/t broadband cable access or
whatever it is called. I believe there is an "Internal 56K Modem and
Integrated Network Card" already installed into my computer. I should also be receiving a "Dell TrueMobile 2300 Router" I think in a separate
shipment. Do I also need a cable modem? Or some kind of wiring? When I was looking at getting access through my cable provider they were going to charge $199 for a cable modem but it said they would use what the customer already has if the customer has one. It looks like you can get them for a lot cheaper than $199, if that is something I still need. Please let me know if this is not clear.

In retrospect I shouldn't have used w/r/t but I was really tired.

Yes, you will need a cable modem. Most cable cos. will rent one to you or throw it in for free. I rent mine, although the quoted $5 monthly fee means perhaps I should buy. Your cable cable will plug into the modem. Then the modem will plug into the router (which you don't really need unless you have multiple computers) with a Cat-5 (ethernet) cable. And then another Cat-5 from the router into the network interface card on your computer.

The cable co. should set this up for you.

[lookingformarket]

Originally posted by ltl/fb
Thanks! As a reward, I have another question b/c Dell has its head up its ass and interpreted the following as a question about prices:

I am confused as to what I need w/r/t broadband cable access or
whatever it is called. I believe there is an "Internal 56K Modem and
Integrated Network Card" already installed into my computer. I should also be receiving a "Dell TrueMobile 2300 Router" I think in a separate
shipment. Do I also need a cable modem? Or some kind of wiring?

You have apparently purchased a wireless router. You need to make sure that you have a wireless network card in your laptop. Additionally, you will need a cable modem. It works like this:

1. data is on internet.
2. data comes to your house through cable lines.
3. to make data understandable, a cable modem is needed.
4. for security reasons and to provide wireless capapability, the data that has been run through the cable modem should be run through the router.

[lookingformarket]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
Then the modem will plug into the router (which you don't really need unless you have multiple computers)

I disagree with this. A router provides great firewall protection to keep the bad people out of your computer. You could run a software firewall, but that would just hog resources on the computer.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

If I buy my own cable modem, do they all adhere to a single standard, or are they proprietary to the cable co (I have RCN/starpower)?

[ltl/fb]

Originally posted by lookingformarket
You have apparently purchased a wireless router. You need to make sure that you have a wireless network card in your laptop. Additionally, you will need a cable modem. It works like this:

1. data is on internet.
2. data comes to your house through cable lines.
3. to make data understandable, a cable modem is needed.
4. for security reasons and to provide wireless capapability, the data that has been run through the cable modem should be run through the router.

I did get the wireless thingy. I do have the wireless network card as well, I believe -- I think I had to buy one to get the other or something. So, I'm visualizing that there will be a cord running from the cable to a modem (that I need to purchase) that will in turn have a cord attached to something that sends the wireless signal to my computer. Is this correct?

Final question (I hope) -- am I going to get the cable modem and then find that I failed to buy some cord that is needed to connect the cable outlet to the modem or the modem to the wireless signaling thing?

Thanks y'all.

[notcasesensitive]

Originally posted by ltl/fb
Thanks! As a reward, I have another question b/c Dell has its head up its ass and interpreted the following as a question about prices:

I am confused as to what I need w/r/t broadband cable access or
whatever it is called. I believe there is an "Internal 56K Modem and
Integrated Network Card" already installed into my computer. I should also be receiving a "Dell TrueMobile 2300 Router" I think in a separate
shipment. Do I also need a cable modem? Or some kind of wiring? When I was looking at getting access through my cable provider they were going to charge $199 for a cable modem but it said they would use what the customer already has if the customer has one. It looks like you can get them for a lot cheaper than $199, if that is something I still need. Please let me know if this is not clear.

In retrospect I shouldn't have used w/r/t but I was really tired.

You sound slightly exasperated in this post. I heart you too though.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by ltl/fb

Final question (I hope) -- am I going to get the cable modem and then find that I failed to buy some cord that is needed to connect the cable outlet to the modem or the modem to the wireless signaling thing?

Thanks y'all.

Yes (on one)

On the q above, you will need a Cat-5 cable to run from the cable modem to the "wireless signalling thingy" (router). Just ask if the cable modem comes with a cat-5 cable. If not, buy a 3 foot cable (or so), which should be about $7-10.

and, ncs, is there a single person alive who does not become exasperated by customer service at any tech company after the first call?

[notcasesensitive]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)

and, ncs, is there a single person alive who does not become exasperated by customer service at any tech company after the first call?

I have solved this problem by simply never purchasing anything new. When something breaks, it is dead to me.

[robustpuppy]

Sorry, meant to post to besides computers board.