laptop

[gen4rel]

how does wireless laptop work

[Ethel]

It is powered by a rechargeable battery, or you can plug it in to the mains - they all come with adaptors.

It will have a built in wi-fi card, or a plug -in, that allows it to connect to the internet by picking up the signal, like a television aerial picking up tv channels.

You will need an internet connection at home, and a router - the router broadcasts the signal.

Or be in a wi-fi hotspot where you can connect.

This is a useful site that explains both laptops and wi-fi.

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/laptop7.htm

[stevie21]

That about sums it up but I think it also makes it sound a little more complicated than it is.
Basically, instead of your internet connection running from the phone socket, via a 20m cable (in my case) into the back of your PC, a short cable comes out the phone socket and into a router which broadcasts the signal (like a tv signal).
Your laptop will have a wireless 'network card' plugged into it (the receiver) to negate the need for the long wire.

Connecting without this long wire/cable is what is meant by wi-fi.