Chapter 3. Network Preferences for Mobile Computing

Since Mac laptops are designed to be mobile, everything you really need is already installed. Mobility doesn't always mean going places where you need a passportmoving your laptop between home and office, or between home office and bedroom, might be as mobile as you need to be.

In this chapter we'll explain a number of features to make sure you can get connected wherever you go.

We'll show you how to modify the various Network settings in System Preferences for different connection ports that you may need to useEthernet, AirPort, internal modem, FireWire, and Bluetooth. Use these settings to check the status of your connectivity, turn network methods on or off, and customize the preferences for various connection methods. See pages 2638.

We'll also show you how to use Internet Connect to adjust the options and settings for AirPort, internal modem, and Bluetooth connections. See pages 3953.

And we'll show you how to set up customized Locations so you can change the connection method and settings for various locations where you most often work (home, school, office, Internet cafe, satellite office, another country) with the click of your mouse. See pages 5456.

The settings you will need to check most often as you connect around the world is the Network Status pane. Be sure to read pages 2628 and become very familiar with turning port configurations on and off, prioritizing them, and checking the status of your connections!