what laptop abroad?

[sian_5062266]

I'm going away to france and spain for 6 months and will need to manage my on line banking from a mobile pc. Whilst I am pretty good at using one I'm not an entirely technical person and have got bogged down in sales jargon. Basically all I want to do is to log onto my bank's web site to manage my money. I am not interested in games, tv reception or any other thing, so if there are any pc experts out there who can advise me which laptop to get and what "extra" bits I will need for it I'd be extremely grateful.. I have been advised not to use cyber cafes for this purpose, so how can I "tune in" to the web site, and lastly will it be safe for me to do so or could I be hacked?

Many thanks for any replies.

Sian

 

[rob_jax]

What laptop?

The answer is pretty much any modern laptop with a built-in wireless network port or "WiFi" adaptor will do. Take a look around and see what you can pick up - good deals on some Sony models at the moment.

If you are familiar with Windows XP - or Windows Vista - then buy the laptop with that operating system.

Now the more demanding bit - connecting to the Internet away from home - and this is where the WiFi adaptor comes in:

Some camp-sites have a WiFi hub (usually near the reception or bar) where you can buy Internet connection by the hour or the day

Otherwise you'll need to find a WiFi hot-spot in a nearby town - Google for WiFi hot-spot and you'll find loads

Otherwise - you'll need to use your mobile phone to connect - and whilst this will work almost everywhere - the costs will be substantial

Warnings: if you use a shared PC (in an Internet caf

 

[gary]

I would check on local 'pay as you go' simm prices as these can be 'per minute' at reasonable rates abroad, different countries have different ways of charging, I know it's not Europe but in Thailand it's just 1p a minute.

 

[GrahamPonty]

Hi Sian, I use a fujitsu Siemens laptop with a vodafone mobile phone card that slots into the side of the laptop. The laptop is very small and was designed for the business woman to carry it it their shoulder handbags. when I bought mine about 12 montha ago the vodafone card came with it free and is used on a pay as you use basis so would be ideal for you ie no contract.

The laptop I have sugested is a bit expensive at just over

 

[GrahamPonty]

hi Sian,

Have a look on the following ebay web page.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-VODAFONE-3G-GPRS-BROADBAND-MERLIN-U630-DATA-CARD_W0QQitemZ230159306543QQihZ013QQcategoryZ96912QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Regards

Graham

 

[GrahamPonty]

hi Sian,

Have a look on the following ebay web page.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-VODAFONE-3G-GPRS-BROADBAND-MERLIN-U630-DATA-CARD_W0QQitemZ230159306543QQihZ013QQcategoryZ96912QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Regards

Graham

All you would need to get is a pay as you go sim card

 

[Lutz]

If the WiFi hub or hotspot only offers WEP security, it's crackable and therefore not much safer than using a shared PC at an internet cafe. If you do use WiFi, make sure it has WPA security. Safer still is to take your laptop to an internet cafe and swap the LAN internet cable from one of their computers. I've found they will quite often oblige.

 

[KeithJ]

Hi Sian. We have recently returned from three months touring in Portugal/Spain/France. We purchased the cheapest laptop we could find in PC World (an Advent) for

 

[KeithJ]

Hi Sian. We have recently returned from three months touring in Portugal/Spain/France. We purchased the cheapest laptop we could find in PC World (an Advent) for

 

[RiaandJames_374303418]

You don't really need a laptop to do your banking, you can do it on good mobile phones as well as email. We recently upgraded to N95 Nokias that also have built in wifi and and satnav.

Ria

 

[Graham_374228415]

There is a good laptop for sale in Aldi's on Thursday.

Check it out on their website. www.aldi.co.uk

 

[Angela_5076436]

When we were in France in May I found that in one town there were no Internet cafes but the local Syndicat d'Iniative next door to the campsite would give me wifi access there for _0.5 for 30 mins

And I was able to use the ethernet cable I supplied instead of using their computer which French folk were asked to do . I just waltzed in with my MacBook and said since they were on Orange I would not be able to hook up by wireless [ true - even with password of a friend's account could never get on in his house ]

If you carry a reasonably long Ethernet cable most folk will be willing to let you hook up that way.

Make sure you have a wee programme on your computer that will let you sniff out any wireless networks near you [ try NetStumbler for PCs and iStumber for Macs ] . You never know you may find a handy open network with no security and a strong signal that you can piggy back onto for a short time . If you manage that - don't abuse it please.

 

[sian_5062266]

thanks everyone, I'm off in search of a laptop now!!