Re: [tlug] A place to connect my laptop

[dave@example.com]

TLUG,

Thanks to everyone for helping out.

Based on the suggestions here, I've determined that they have an  
encryption certificate in their network settings. I think it's a WEP  
key, but I can't find where the equivalent entry point unfortunately  
in Ubuntu would be for the same kind of stuff.

I think I've decided to go with the M-Zone option. Overall, 1500 yen a  
month is going to be a lot cheaper than going to net cafes for the  
next two weeks.

I found out a little more about it. One minor annoyance is that if  
you're signed up on M-Zone, then it costs possibly up to 500 yen to  
connect to the net in a Yahoo BB Mobile Point area. That's a little  
disappointing because I think Yahoo Mobile Point has more points of  
coverage around town.

But, in my current situation, this is only a temporary fix, and M-Zone  
has it's own proprietary coverage in a few key spots around Ebisu  
station, which works for me.

The real decision in favor of M-Zone is that they seem to be the only  
one where you can actually walk into a store and sign up in person.  
Other services have stumped me with a bewildering array of  
bureaucratic hurdles that have to be accomplished with web and phone  
contact that add a layer of obscurity.

So now the main hurdle is getting my new wireless net card to work  
within Ubuntu. I looked at a bunch of web sites, and they all say that  
Ubuntu will automagically detect most WiFi cards at installation.  
However, information at this point is a little lacking about how to  
install a card after Ubuntu is already on the machine.

I've only begun to look, though, so hopefully later tonight I'll get  
things sorted.

<sarcasm>
Just what I was hoping to do this month... more computer set up! Yay!
</sarcasm>

--
Dave M G