Thanks, everyone, for your input on this. It helps me immensely. Yes, I 
can see that I do have the hardware built in (and it is turned on...), 
so I think that we can move forward on this, and will have a decent idea 
as to how to make it work. As usual, the SciArt list comes to the rescue...

And Britt, to clarify: my description of the Verizon gizmo is that's 
it's a modem, not a router. It plugs into a USB port, and get the signal 
that comes from its own dedicated line (that's a telephone number, and 
as such works like cell phones do). If we get the MiFi HotSpot, it will 
replace this little verizon gizmo.

Again, thanks......consie

On 5/4/11 12:12 PM, Britt Griswold wrote:
> No extra hardware needed. I think any Mac as recent as 3 years old 
> will have the wiFi hardware built in. Just set up your password 
> protected wireless router, turn on the Apple WiFi in the system 
> preference and it should find the router. Then just select the router 
> from the WiFi icon at the top right of the menu bar of your screen, 
> enter the password and it will be set up.
>
> Of course there can always be issue with specific hardware and 
> wireless protocols, but if anything has a chance of working on the 
> first go with no specific knowledge, it will be your WiFi Mac.
>
> Your description of your Verizon wireless router sounds odd, so I 
> could be all wet with the above advice. I have a verizon supplied 
> wireless router and a 3 year old macBook with OS 10.5.8. The wireless 
> connction is not a problem at all, USB ports play no part in the 
> connection.  I can not imaging a MacBook Pro not being able to do this 
> out of the box with no extra hardware needed.  Is your WiFi turned on 
> in the Mac preferences?
>
> Britt
>
> On 5/4/11 11:54 AM, Consie Powell wrote:
>> Dumb question time:
>> Can someone tell me whether, in order to tap into a wireless
>> modem/router system (MiFi HotSpot, to be specific) with my MacBook Pro,
>> do I need to have another little Apple gizmo or some such piece of
>> equipment, in order to make the wireless technology on this computer
>> work? My MacBook Pro is just over 3 years old and has OSX 10.5.8 on it.
>> Up until now I have had no need for any kind of wireless with it; hence
>> the cluelessness. But we are presently looking to upgrade our internet
>> connection capabilities, and if this HotSpot thing will work, we can get
>> that, and then both my husband and I can hook up to internet at the same
>> time. Presently we have been using a Verizon wireless modem (that has a
>> dedicated data line of its own) that plugs into a USB port (and that
>> means only one of us can use it at a time). We have to use some sort of
>> this kind of wireless system, because we are offgrid and do not have any
>> cables or other grid-tied lines of any sort coming in.
>>
>> I'm thinking that there is some supplemental something I'm supposed to
>> have in order to make this work, but searching the internet is not
>> helping me know this. I think this is a piece of knowledge that is so
>> elementary that the computer companies presume everyone already knows
>> it. So, any input you guys have will be appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks.....Consie
>
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-- 
Consie Powell
www.consiepowell.com
www.science-art.com

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