To some of us, the following might indeed be a standard part of our vocabulary and for others it can be one confusing and even somewhat stressful area of ignorance.
In my life revolving around gadgets, there are a set standard number and type of questions I am asked. They vary a little as technology moves forward but day to day it’s pretty easy to guess what the questions will be: -
“Can I review sex toys for you, please” is a definite and consistent number one.
“Is the Storm or the iPhone better?” this has recently slipped in at number two.
“What’s Wi-Fi / 3G / Ethernet / Dongle?” (Delete as appropriate) remains stoically at number three.
Whilst perhaps the answers to one and two are slightly more interesting, understanding the answers to Question number three is perhaps more rewarding long term…
All of them – Wi-Fi, Ethernet, 3G and Dongle – relate to different ways you can connect your netbook, laptop or home computer to the internet.
Of course I want to start with explaining a Dongle. It has to be one of the daftest names ever given to a piece of peripheral computer equipment and I still enjoy using the word in polite if unaware company. As often as possible 
Hopefully you know by now what a USB stick is. A Dongle looks very similar. In fact a Dongle is often mistaken for a fat flashing USB stick. Like a USB stick, you pop it into a USB port on your chosen device (netbook, laptop etc) and as long as you are in a 3G area, voila your system will connect to the internet.
That wasn’t so hard was it?
One thing to watch out for though. Dongles are often sold in packages which dictate how many Gigabytes of information you can send and receive each month. Check the small print and be as careful as possible in your judgement. More so if you’re buying a Dongle on contract for 12, 18, 24 months – how will your usage be different two years from now? …
Ok, so I mentioned 3G when I wrote about the Dongle above. What the hell is 3G and why is everyone raving about it? Frankly, I don’t really understand 3G myself! What I do know is that certain 3G providers like to big up that 70%+ of the country is covered by 3G, enabling internet access. They obviously just forgot to cover every other step down Oxford Street, Central fricking London… >:-| Numpties.
That mini rant aside, 3G really is quite good in its general application – a majority of mobile phones use 3G now to connect to the internet. Laptops and netbooks can now do the same – either via a built-in 3G system (pop in your SIM and off you go) or by … buying and plugging in a Dongle 
The advantage here is that you don’t have to sniffle around for Wi-Fi hotspots if you’re on the move with your system.
Wi-Fi. Love it in the house but it can rack off when ‘on the go’. Wi-Fi can be purchased from a long and prestigious list of broadband providers (and just try asking around to find out which one is the best – oh the horror stories you’ll hear!! 
) Wi-Fi and broadband are two very personal things – it’s a bit like the modern day version of discussing politics or religion when you ask a group “What broadband / Wi-Fi should I get?”
My mischief aside, Wi-Fi can be used outside the house but it can be a bit confusing at first as you need to find a shop, a park or a coffee bar that is a Wi-Fi HotSpot – and they’re not all free, either.
Running the risk of upsetting the Wi-Fi fans out there, I am not one and frankly can’t much be bothered to write anymore about it. It’s wire-less (no cables), generally available where you have to buy something else (like a coffee) and a fidgety dang nuisance (in my opinion. I do like being uncensored here!)
Which brings us last and quite probably least to Ethernet. That’s pretty much as snazzy by-word these days for Broadband. You’ll need a telephone line and a cable. Pop the cable into your phone line (when you’ve bought the appropriate package from your chosen broadband provider – oh, and they usually provide the cable) and the other end into your computer. Fast, simple, minimum fuss and completely useless if you like being on the move, as I do.
And there is a not brilliant but hopefully sufficient overview of four different types of connectivity available for your device. My one overriding piece of advice about them all? Read the small print – don’t just scan it but read it. Note down the facts and figures that concern you, work it through and only sign up for something when you feel you understand the contract. The contract for anything these days seems to cause as much of a fuss as a stolen dongle, defunct internal 3G, pricey Wi-Fi and static broadband
Snail mail, anyone?
Each month we change the 
