MacOS 8.1 to OS X

Don't do it. Things were simpler back then.

Spotlight should do it, and so should the Find feature of the Finder. You could specify to search the files only with in a directory if you want.

Another option would be to merge the files into a single meta file and use a concorder to search. In any case you might find this concorder or this oneuseful. I know it's not what your looking for, but you might have use of them.

For all of my writing, I now just create a single large meta file, so I have an easily searchable running log of my ideas and changes to texts.

 

Even if you get broadband, you will be using a MODEM, people forget this.

Are you running a cable to the broadband connection? If so, I bet they will know, unless you knock them out, or if they are blind. Even if they are blind they might notice the cable or notice the drop in their networks performance.

I bet your talking about wireless, if so then

Yes, if you glom onto a wireless network people may notice. It's isn't very sporting to do it all of the time. You split their bandwidth, and that can be annoying. These days, I generally assume that a person is deliberately sharing a wireless connection to the internet. This said, it is annoying when people abuse kindness. So do one of 2 things. Find the person that has the network, and offer to share both bandwidth and cost, or get your own broadband connection.

As far as some wireless network apps.
Look for a program like Kismac or iStumbler or MacStumbler so that you can get better metrics on your signal strength. iStumbler now has a Widget that connects to the program if your running it. Kismac is my preferred wireless tool. The OSX provided Airport signal graph is nearly static. It provides 5 points of resolution with no ability to know what the scale is. These stumblers offer a lot of information about local area wifi networks.

Coconut Wifi is a neat little Menubar application, it also offers more information than the Airport Menubar icon.

 

The etiquette is so standard. I want people to share wifi signals, so I believe in showing respect. It's like your neighbors orange tree. If it grows over and you nick an orange, is it wrong. If you hop the fence and take a bunch, or all of the oranges, aren’t you steeling? I think that unused bandwidth should, if can be, shared.