What is wi-fi?

Question

I've seen it in quite a lot of restaurants, cafes, and McDonalds'. What does wi-fi do and how can you get wi-fi? To get wi-fi do you need to purchase a specific card or something of that sort for your laptop or are laptops wi-fi compatible?

Thanks, If you're saying that new laptops come with the wireless card then mine should have one since it's a 2006/2007model. Does anyone know what I have to click or type in so that my computer will connect to the internet at these places, because at home what I connect with is my wireless router.

Answer 1

Loosely, WI-fi is a wireless network. Instead of it all being connected via cables, a WI-fi network communicates wireless. Wi-fi is commonly used for the internet, but its uses can range to about anything wireless. Wi-fi itself is a branded trademark, but the term is now broadly used for many wireless networks.

To be able to use a Wi-fi network, you will need a wi-fi network card. It's the same thing as a regular ethernet card, except it has an antenna. To have wi-fi at home, you will need a Wi-fi router in addition to a wi-fi network card (unless you have the option to "borrow" a neighbor's, then you can forgo the router) . Many laptops these days comes with a built-in wi-fi network card.

Interesting read, Wi-fi doesn't stand for anything, although it is commonly said to stand for Wireless Fidelity:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wi-Fi#Origin_and_meaning_of_the_term_.27Wi-Fi.27
http://boingboing.net/2005/11/08/wifi_isnt_short_for_.html

Answer 2

Wi-fi is wireless internet. More and more business are becoming wi-fi accessible, the signs you have been seeing are for the free "hot spots". If you have an older laptop, you'll probably need a wi-fi card and software so you can connect at these hot spots. New laptops usually are already wi-fi compatible.

Answer 3

A person with a Wi-Fi enabled PC, laptops, cell phone or PDA can connect to the Internet when in proximity of an access point. The new PCs are wi-fi ready - means they sense the access point and connet them to the internet automatically. For the old PCs, you may need to buy a card and install it.

Answer 4

WiFi = Wireless Fidelity

What you see in these restaurants and cafes simply means that if your laptop has a wireless network card installed, you can access the internet through the Wireless connection (WiFi) at these establishments.

Answer 5

wi-fi is wireless internet and if your lap top is wi-fi compatible which it should be unless it came out before wi-fi was here! than you just need to go to a place and you can get onto the internet for free!

Answer 6

Wireless Fidelity. It is a means for you to get on the internet while you are away from your base modem. In some places like in a library, or coffee shop, they allow their customer to link on to their network by means of a wireless card in your computer.

Answer 7

It's wireless internet...it seems like people cannot go anywhere without their laptops nowadays, so all these restaurants are accommodating them with complimentary internet service while they're there. Most newer laptops will have a wireless internet card in them.

Answer 8

you have to buy wi-fi card for connect internet , wi-fi is a service is like internet but wireless, you can connect when you at mcdonalds

Answer 9

ok what a wi-fi is it is for the 360 and it lets u go on xbox live and also lets u system link as well so basicly it is an adapter

Answer 10

Wireless fidelity and its all a big con!

Quality cables are the only way to go for good sound/vision.