Chapter 8. Mobility Tips Domestic and Foreign

Whether your travels are foreign or domestic, getting connected while on the go just keeps getting easier. The number of wireless hotspots in coffee shops, cafes, and other business locations keeps increasing, and most hotels and motels offer either an Ethernet connection, a wireless network, or a business office with Internet access. Even if you can't find a good, fast connection, you can always find a phone jack and connect to the Internet using your modem.

If you stay with friends or relatives when you travel, you can usually connect into whatever Internet connection they might use: If they have a wireless network set up, your Mac will automatically detect it. If they have a cable modem, connect to it using an Ethernet cable. Or, even better, connect the cable modem to an AirPort Express (to the right) so you can connect wirelessly.

If your friends have a dial-up modem, use an RJ-11 cable to connect your Mac to their phone jack, then enter their ISP information (or yours) into Internet Connect. You can even plug in an AirPort Express to a phone jack and use a dial-up connection wirelessly.

The widespread availability of both wired and wireless Internet connections means you no longer have to avoid visiting certain friends and relatives just because they don't have Internet access.

This chapter offers tips on how to protect your laptop and the data on it when you travel, plus dial-up connection tips, information on international roaming, and more.