Speakeasy has a website with a speed test.
I don't really have a security blanket... unless you count Mr. Pointy.
Buffy ,'Lessons'
Buffistechnology 3: "Press Some Buttons, See What Happens."
Got a question about technology? Ask it here. Discussion of hardware, software, TiVos, multi-region DVDs, Windows, Macs, LINUX, hand-helds, iPods, anything tech related. Better than any helpdesk!
meara - May 04, 2011 12:18:26 pm PDT #16685 of 25501
Gudanov - May 04, 2011 12:22:56 pm PDT #16686 of 25501
Coding and Sleeping
Five years old could be still be 802.11g, I think. What's the model of the router? Realistically you'd be fine for Internet usage with g. If it is b, you should definitely upgrade to n, there's no reason not to.
Compared to the cost of the MBP, though, a new 802.11n router is pretty small potatoes so maybe just buy a new one and don't worry about figuring out the old one.
tommyrot - May 04, 2011 12:26:56 pm PDT #16687 of 25501
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.
Teppy, do you have a method for regular backups? Do you need one? The Apple Time Capsule is an 802.11n router that has a built-in hard drive, which allows you to use Time Machine to automatically do backups while you're connected.
The cheapest one is 1TB at $299.
meara - May 04, 2011 6:49:19 pm PDT #16688 of 25501
Well, so much for my iPad plan. My current laptop (a 2006 macbook) started wigging out tonight and wouldn't recognize the backup drive, so I...panicked and went to the Apple Store and bought a new computer. This does not leave money in the budget for an ipad. Sigh.
Steph L. - May 04, 2011 6:59:03 pm PDT #16689 of 25501
this mess was yours / now your mess is mine
tommyrot, I do back up regularly, using Carbon Copy Cloner, onto a Maxtor (I think) external hard drive. The drive is 160 GB, which was great for my iBook, which is only 60 GB. The new MPB is 250 GB, so I definitely will need a new external drive for backups.
I checked the internet speed (we have DSL, not cable), and it's averaging about 4.5 Mbps. The very rough knowledge I gleaned suggests that this is not Dark Ages slow, but still kind of poky. So maybe I don't need a new router after all.
NoiseDesign - May 04, 2011 7:05:48 pm PDT #16690 of 25501
Our wings are not tired
Scarily the network speed at the PixDesign residence is now so fast (60 Mbps) that even 802.11n can't keep up. Only the hardwired machines in the office can see the full speed.
Steph L. - May 04, 2011 7:08:50 pm PDT #16691 of 25501
this mess was yours / now your mess is mine
Please don't break the space-time continuum with your network speed.
NoiseDesign - May 04, 2011 7:12:45 pm PDT #16692 of 25501
Our wings are not tired
I'm trying to improve the space-time continuum with it.
omnis_audis - May 04, 2011 11:20:55 pm PDT #16693 of 25501
omnis, pursue. That's an order from a shy woman who can use M-16. - Shir
does that mean you are working on the transporter? With add-on enhancement of Time Travel?
Toddson - May 05, 2011 3:53:12 am PDT #16694 of 25501
Friends don't let friends read "Atlas Shrugged"
ooh! does that mean I can go back and attend the first F2F?