need computer help, I think?

Ok, I finally did it.  I purchased a Dell D600 laptop from ebay today.  Problem is, I'm not sure that I understand everything I need to know about it.  Well, I'm sure I don't!  I know it's used.  They "say" it has Windows CP professional, cd/rw, wifi, 1400 mhz, 512 mb and 30gig. Soooooooooo, my question to you is.......will I be able to use this contraption to connect to the internet on a fairly quick speed, can I use it without plugging it in to an outlet, if so, how long?  I believe the wifi means I can connect in "hot spots" but I am not sure of the speed with the 1400 mhz and 512 mb, 30 gig blah blah blah blah......Any computer savy OH members that can tell me more about this new fangled contraption?  I am sooooo green!  (pray that I didn't get taken with this purchase!) xoxo Thanks

Ok, I finally did it.  I purchased a Dell D600 laptop from ebay today.  Problem is, I'm not sure that I understand everything I need to know about it.  Well, I'm sure I don't!  I know it's used.  They "say" it has Windows CP professional, cd/rw, wifi, 1400 mhz, 512 mb and 30gig. Soooooooooo, my question to you is.......will I be able to use this contraption to connect to the internet on a fairly quick speed, can I use it without plugging it in to an outlet, if so, how long?  I believe the wifi means I can connect in "hot spots" but I am not sure of the speed with the 1400 mhz and 512 mb, 30 gig blah blah blah blah......Any computer savy OH members that can tell me more about this new fangled contraption?  I am sooooo green!  (pray that I didn't get taken with this purchase!) This is grandmasue and I am not all that computer savy either but my DH (Vern) works for IOT which really does not mean much but he goes to any state agency in his given area and troubleshoots computer problems so he is somewhat intellegent when it comes to computer talk. So I am going to let him complete this post: You have Windows XP and 1.4 GHz speed ( which is fairly fast for a laptop) and you have decent memory with 512MB.  Your HD is about average with 30GB.  I don't know much about Wifi.  I think that you still need an IP (Internet Provider) service.  If you have a modem in your computer, you can connect to the internet thru that with an internet service provider, like NetZero, AT&T.  I hope this helps.

Thanks for the info!  I assume that I will be able to connect to the net using the same account that I currently use.  Again, that's assumption .     

Claudette, In addition to what Sue wrote, your WIFI will allow you to log on to the internet at Hot Spots. Starbucks usually is a hot spot, as is alot of Walmarts. You can pick up WIFI signallers so that you can check at a parking lot before actually dragging your laptop out. At home, we have roadrunner as our ISP but Bill put in a WIFI router for our pcs..so I can get on my laptop in the livingroom without being directly wired into the router. I don't check my email from my laptop..just my pc so I don't know if you'd be able to check it on yours or not. I do pretty much everything else on it though. My laptop is fairly old..it has Window's 95 on it (it came without WIFI even..I had to buy a WIFI card for it). My battery therefore is also old. If its fully charged, I can be on my laptop without it plugged into an electrical source for ~an hour or so. It's going to depend on how well your battery holds a charge and how much charge your laptop pulls from it on how long you'll be able to go. Hope this helps for the rest of your questions..... Sherri

  Oh, I just caught my mistake...............I meant to say Windows XP, not CP   This new fangled computer stuff!  Geesh!