Hi - we've got a new install of Ubuntu 8.10 on an antique Dell Latitude Pentium II laptop (<300 meg memory, 6 gig hard drive). The laptop has a card with the following info:
EZ Connect 2.4 GHz 11 Mbps Wireless Cardbus Adapter
SMC Networks Model No. SMC2635W

Our only wifi access is via a free hotspot at the local public library.

We've never admin'd a computer system before. When I tried a Vista machine at the hotspot, Vista recognized the hotspot's connection names, displayed them in a window, and allowed me to select one for connection, with no need to type ip addresses or anything else.

Tomorrow we're to try this laptop with Ubuntu. Is there a similar "hand holding" level help available for getting the laptop to connect? Or are we going to have to learn about ip addresses, dns, etc. ? If the latter, how in the world do you get the info needed from a free wifi hotspot? The people at the library know how to spell wifi, but in general don't seem to know about ip addresses, dns, routers, etc.

A gray icon in lower right corner of screen (near date/time on TaskBar) click on it & Select new connection, your device wlan0, then select channel.
If no icon then left Click on K menu, Select Applications, Internet, then Knetwork icon (pops up).
Directions are from Kubuntu 9.04 (Ubuntu specially tailored for laptops) but should be very similar.

Please let me know it if works or not, D8d