[Future Snake Eater]

Connecting is easy. If you find yourself in an area with free WiFi, just click on your wireless network icon in your system tray (this is Windows-specific, the system tray is on the bottom-right of your screen). A list of available networks will come up. You’ll be looking for a name that fits the bill (i.e. StarbucksFreeWiFi or something along those lines) and it will show as unlocked, meaning no password is required. Newer versions of Windows (Vista and 7) will ask you what kind of network it is (you would choose “Public” in this case so the OS knows to tighten up the security settings). And that’s it, you’re on the internet.

Finding the free WiFi can be a bit trickier. Businesses usually advertise it; to my knowledge I’ve never been in a metropolitan area that offered such a service, so I don’t know if there are signs or anything like that.

[bgill]

Sorry, computer dummy here. Just advanced to a lap top (Windows 7) a few months ago and it's sat on the desk the whole time and never moved to the lap. I have it set up on wireless and see the little window with the neighbors' connections but of course they'd probably be private.

Newer versions of Windows (Vista and 7) will ask you what kind of network it is (you would choose “Public” in this case so the OS knows to tighten up the security settings).

I don't see it asking "public" so where would that be?