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lilymonster13

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 10, 2010
5
0
California
I'm ready to buy my very first Mac Laptop. I am not computer savvy or anything so I might come off as such a newb. Anyway, I'm going to purchase my mac online. I did a little research about the wifi for Mac and it confused me. Like I said I'm not very knowledgeable with computers. I have a Dell laptop now and it picks up my sisters internet connection. Now is it similar with the Mac laptop? Will it just pick up an internet connection that's within range? I hope I didn't confuse anyone else like I did myself.
 
It will simply pickup anything in range. Wifi signals are a "standard" so it doesnt work only on a PC or Mac or iPhone or iPad... it works on anything.

Hope my answer helped you
 
Macs are pretty newbie friendly and intuitive. If you're a computer casual you're making a good choice. I just wouldn't "over option" yourself and get a bunch of stuff you don't need like I did.
 
Oh cool, alright I get it. I'm very excited to get my Mac now :D After 5 years of having a Dell Laptop I need a change. I can't stand the horrible wifi connection and all the virus threats.
 
Oh cool, alright I get it. I'm very excited to get my Mac now :D After 5 years of having a Dell Laptop I need a change. I can't stand the horrible wifi connection and all the virus threats.

A lot of people have problems with their Macbooks and Wifi. I had to relocate my Wifi router to get the Wifi working on the Macbook (before that it worked fine with 5 Windows computers).
So don't think that Macbook Wifi is great or anything special, it is not. If you are having problems now, there is a good chance they will be even worse with the Macbook.
 
The plastic Macbooks have AWESOME wi-fi (my wife has one of the pre-unibodys, and its great) - the aluminum Pros are OK, but nowhere near as good as the white ones.

Other than range with any of the aluminum ones, I don't really know of any other major issues... maybe some individual quirks (like any computer)...
 
MacBook WIFI

A lot of people have problems with their Macbooks and Wifi. I had to relocate my Wifi router to get the Wifi working on the Macbook (before that it worked fine with 5 Windows computers).
So don't think that Macbook Wifi is great or anything special, it is not. If you are having problems now, there is a good chance they will be even worse with the Macbook.

Never had a single problem with my MacBook or any Mac connecting to WIFI anywhere. It just connects and works. Making such a broad statement that it will be worse on a Mac is just stupid Apple doesn't make the WIFI hardware/card or set the standards or protocols used the same WIFI hardware/card can be found on PCs. And to be fair I haven't ever had a problem connecting a PC to WIFI either.
 
That's very helpful. I was a bit apprehensive at first with buying a Mac since the Wifi aspect of it seemed so foreign to me. Now that I have a clue of what I will be working with it lets me buy with more confidence. Another super quick question since I'm on here, Flash drive, will which ever one work with a mac? Even the one I've had for say 4 years?
 
May I suggest you make a call to Apple Sales with a list of all your questions ready?
The folks in Sales are quite friendly and happy to answer your questions in further detail

You are on the right track. I made that jump 3 years ago and could not be any happier today that I made that switch:)
 
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