Well I did it...

[Blue-ThirtyTwo]

I took the plunge and bought the 1.8 SSD today. They also threw in an 8GB iPod Touch, not bad huh? Anybody want the iPod? NIB make offer ; )

Anyway, had a few questions,

Finding and connecting to wireless connections. I notice a small icon at the top right of the display (looks like a radar scope), is this where it shows different connections? If I click it it shows about ten different networks and each has a lock symbol to the right. Am I right in thinking these are all available wireless networks I could join IF I had the password? And IF I had the password I would have full access to the internet right?

Sorry, total noob to Macs and wireless networks.

Be prepared, I'm sure I'll have plenty more boneheaded questions later.

 

[lazydesi]

if you select any of the network, it will ask you for a password, while entering the password, tick in the box where it says like remember this password in keychain ..

lock symbol on the right means the wireless connection is secure, if their is no lock then it was unsecure

enjoy u r machine

 

[alphaod]

And you have to have to your own wireless network to use; those Locked networks are probably your neighbors' connections.

 

[deputylove8]

Welcome to the Air club...hehehehe

 

[Blue-ThirtyTwo]

So do I need anything other than the password to access the internet?

 

[glitch44]

So do I need anything other than the password to access the internet?

wireless network security in OS X is the same as it is in XP / Vista / any OS.
to connect to an encrypted wireless network you need the password / passphrase. the network may also block your access if your MAC (Media Access Control, not lower case Apple Mac) address isn't on a list of preapproved MAC addresses. obviously you should only be connecting to your own wireless network so you can set these things or leave your network open.

if you don't feel like dealing with wireless, you can buy the USB Ethernet adapter and jack directly into your router / cable modem.

 

[Blue-ThirtyTwo]

I fully plan on buying the Airport Extreme pretty quick here and run a hard wire connection to my desktop and have the wireless for the MBA around the house. However, I bought the MBA primarily for the purpose of being able to connect to the wireless network at work and while I'm out and about or on business trips. So I'm just trying to learn how to pick up and get onto these networks. I was able to access the network at work with my old PSP once I got the password, do you think I should be able to get on there with the MBA?

Thanks again for all the help.

 

[Olvenskol]

You understand it correctly. The little radar thingy on the menu bar will show any publicly detectable wireless network, click on one to join it. A lock symbol means it requires a password to join.

Assuming you aren't otherwise blocked, you will then be all connected up to whatever that wireless network can reach: presumably the internet will be in the mix!

You can have the Air remember both the network and the password and it will happily connect up on its own the next time it sees that wireless access point. I take mine between home and work every day and the machine figures out what to do without me fussing with it.

 

[Muncher]

I fully plan on buying the Airport Extreme pretty quick here and run a hard wire connection to my desktop and have the wireless for the MBA around the house. However, I bought the MBA primarily for the purpose of being able to connect to the wireless network at work and while I'm out and about or on business trips. So I'm just trying to learn how to pick up and get onto these networks. I was able to access the network at work with my old PSP once I got the password, do you think I should be able to get on there with the MBA?

Thanks again for all the help.

Yes.