Dumb Ethernet Question

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First Light · #1 Post by **First Light** » Sun Aug 29, 2004 4:05 pm

I have never been in a situation to use Ethernet but my new T42 has an Ethernet port and I have seen Ethernet ports in a few hotel rooms, so here's the dumb questions:

1. I know that Ethernet is used to network computers, but what about the Ethernet ports I see in hotel rooms - do you expect to get a faster web connect speed using the hotels Ethernet connection?
2. And what about safety from virus's, hackers, etc., - do you take the same precaution/protection measures when using Ethernet as with a dial up connection?

#2 Post by **jdhurst** » Sun Aug 29, 2004 6:01 pm

You should have a software firewall on your Laptop. Symantec, BlackICE, ZoneAlarm - pick your poison. I use Symantec Client Security 2.0, but that is a Corporate product and not readily available to us individuals.
... JDHurst

MadeInJapan · #3 Post by **MadeInJapan** » Sun Aug 29, 2004 8:06 pm

Usually at hotels, there is a daily charge to use their LAN. When you connect and bring up your browser you will go directly to their site where you have to put in a code that you got when you agreed to pay for their internet service. It is usually very fast and depending, worth it. I've also found that with some of these LAN connections, whether I put in the code or not, I can access my email through Outlook Express. Then I use a program called PostCast Server (look around...they have a free version) to send email out through their SMTP service.

Another note: I have often been in hotels where I turned by thinkpad on and immediately it found a "wireless" hotspot that I was able to connect to without any charge. This is much better...especially because it's free. It's strange that their security in many of these hotels is very lax. Therefore, as the other poster said, it is very wise for you to have a firewall on your computer.

w0qj · #4 Post by **w0qj** » Mon Aug 30, 2004 5:25 am

MadeInJapan wrote:.... I use a program called PostCast Server (look around...they have a free version) to send email out through their SMTP service.

Does this PostCast Server program work with Service Pack 2 (SP2) of Windows XP Professional?

i've heard that SP2 breaks many programs, and there's a chance that SP2 might break this type of program...

MadeInJapan · #5 Post by **MadeInJapan** » Mon Aug 30, 2004 9:09 pm

I don't have an answer to your question...at least now. I just downloaded and installed SP2 today myself. Let me give it a spin and get back to you.
Worked okay on XP before the upgrade, though.

w0qj · #6 Post by **w0qj** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 9:17 pm

MadeInJapan wrote:I don't have an answer to your question...at least now. I just downloaded and installed SP2 today myself. Let me give it a spin and get back to you.
Worked okay on XP before the upgrade, though.

Any luck in getting PostCastServer (PCS) to work with SP2?
would be very interested to know...

MadeInJapan · #7 Post by **MadeInJapan** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 10:44 pm

well, it's strange. I get error messages on setup and it doesn't work, but then a friend of mine tried it on his computer (non TP) with XP SP2 and it works fine. I think it's the way firewall is configured or something on my T30. Will keep fiddling with it. I really need it when I travel, so I'm determined to use it or some other program that does the same thing.

w0qj · #8 Post by **w0qj** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 8:58 pm

thanks for introducing PostCastServer!

PCS now works with SP2 of Windows XP-Professional.

see:
http://www.postcastserver.com/ubbcgi/ul ... 1;t=000040

MadeInJapan · #9 Post by **MadeInJapan** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 9:32 pm

w0qj, I got mine to work too. I had a bad hard drive and after a replacement from IBM and going through all the updates to SP2, it works on my computer too....fire them emails off!

w0qj · #10 Post by **w0qj** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 5:08 am

Anyone else using PostCast Server (free edition)?

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