There are a couple of ways to connect with a portable computer when away from home. The portable computer can connect to a Cellphone-dependent system either via a built in Cellphone device, or one that you purchase and add on later. These are usually a tiny dongle which plugs into any USB port on the computer. These depend upon a cellphone signal being present, and you subscribe through the cell phone carrier of your choice at a price point which depends upon the “data plans” they offer, and the device must be compatible with that service. Some “pad” devices and notebooks come with this device already built in.

How to Connect to a Laptop

The other, more universal method is by again, using a built in or add on WiFi wireless device. This method depends upon there being a free and open WiFi “hotspot” where you wish to use the laptop. Many fast food, hotel/motels, tourist spots have these open WiFi connection points and there are a few, mostly at restaurants which charge by the hour or day.

If you have a nationwide dialup internet service, and your computer has a modem, you can also use dialup service at most places in the world, although it is far slower than the above mentioned methods.

My experience is that mostly business travelers use the cellphone-dependent method. For someone who just occasionally uses the laptop/notebook away from home, the WiFi generic method is probably the best way as it usually incurs no charge to use the service portably.