I believe Puppy Linux has the best support for dial-up modems under Linux. With
a Puppy or Ubuntu flavor Live CD, I think you can go to McDonalds or other
location that has an open connection and get on. But usually you need a WEP or
WAP key to get online with wi-fi, and this is under Windows, too to my
understanding. Sometimes it's easier to get online using a wi-fi device that has
built-in drivers, the same is true for re-installing Windows, too.
Welcome to Linux, it's better than Window$..

I just sent one email which I got into some of the start places. But I
didn't answer one of your questions. What is WiFi, stands for in general
WireLess or Wire Free connection to Internet. First you have a high
speed Internet connection to your house or business. Then connected to
that can be a PC for high speed. But usually one wants to attach a
router to the cable modem and connect PC or PCs to the router. Reason is
that a router can act as a firewall between the PCs on your network and
the Internet. View the Internet as the wild west with all the outlaws
and indians out there looking to get you. All indians please pardon my
use of this view. The router (firewall) is the fort giving protection to
all those inside. Now you can get routers with built in WiFi which
allows the PC equipped with WiFi transceivers to connect to the router
when in range of the router.
Steve did I say anything about a new learning experience, well it may
become clear that you have started on a learning experience. It will be
fun.
I hope this helps as a start, keep asking questions, there a lot of
people to answer them for you.

I am not sure where to start here. First yes you
can use Linux on WiFi, but I think first you need to find out what
version of Linux you have on the new laptop, is it Ubuntu, if not it
isn't such a big deal, most Linux OS's are a lot alike. If it is Ubuntu
it would be nice to know which version. If it is very old you may want
to get a new live CD to bring it up to date.
Dial up may be an issue. Getting new software in the form of updates to
the OS will take a long time, they tend to be fairly large. Then the
question is can you get to a faster internet connection, like at the
library that has free WiFi connected to a cable connection.
Lets start there.

yes.

in ubuntu10.04 look at the system menus.

May I suggest that you have a look at a free eBook, Unbuntu Pocket Guide and
Reference, obtainable from http://ubuntupocketguide.com/index_main.html

I actually bought the paper version of the book because I find that it is
easier to use a reference book if I can turn the pages ...

But have a look - it is very good.

There are other Ubuntu books including eBooks available too. I suspect that
Mark Shuttleworth has started a whole cottage industry there. Try Google.

First up with laptops as computer info before Linux
info. The basic background history goes a couple years ago generally a
Wireless Modem was purchased called a card cause it looked like a little
card and it slipped into the card slot built into all latops/notebooks.
These are called wireless cards or NIC or wireless modem. About the time
of the release of Windows Vista a couple years ago now - generally the
entire industry released the wireless *software* modem which is built
right into generally all laptops/notebooks and netbooks. Now, these as
the NIC (network interface card) or wireless card could cost from 75 to
200 USD (u.s. dollars). Some would be purchased from an ISP for wireless
internet subscription monthly unlimited. They could be used to access
Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g etc. or simply wireless internet) at like Wi Fi
'hotspots' at like airports, hotels, starbucks etc. These are still
here. These are not free and cost usually for up to 8 hours or for a
whole weekend. Anywhere around even 8 to 20 USD per 8 hour session. That
gets expensive, but for travelers you get temporary internet access.

So all laptops, notebooks, and now netbooks have all these options for
wireless internet. As well, the new built in wireless modems are state
of the art as far as security which is options WEP (64/128 bit
encryption) and the newer WPA and WPA2 which is 256bit encryption of the
wireless signal so that no one near can intercept the unprotected. It is
always recommended to use the security settings of at least WPA
encryption on wireless internet. WPA came out in year 2003. WEP is
hacked within seconds in other words. In wireless, using no encryption
(No Security setting) allows anyone within broadcast area to see what
you do on the computer screen - basically in text version. This is how
people get ripped off performing sensitive financial transactions on
wireless internet and look up the term "war chalking" .

Now, there is what is called Free Wi Fi which is anywhere someone is
offering that. Check with your City as there may be "Municipal Wi Fi "
which is Free Wi Fi city wide. There are a handful of American cities
that offer this now. There are "hotspots" (where Wi Fi is broadcasting)
free too. On your laptop there is a slide toggle switch to turn on
wireless or turn off when you are using landline Dial Up or
Broadband/dsl which plugs in with a ethernet cable to the ethernet
socket on the side of the laptop.

The big hoopla here as with other answers is generally with a new Linux
installed computer (or one you install Linux yourself on) there is about
like A 250M download of Updates to install the bring it up to speed to
start using. It is like Windows you would buy but have to install a
couple of Service Packs to get it up to speed and windows support that
would be unsupported without it like below version windows XP service
pack 2.

Now on dial up... right - a 250M Updates download will be painstakingly
slow. Since you are mobile as a laptop - you can head out to a free Wi
Fi hotspot and perform the download. As Dial Up, generally all ISPs
don't care what computer you use to access the internet unless
specifically at their site they say like they don't support Linux. I am
on juno broadband/dsl so it is not a problem. Since it is a new pc, you
may have to call customer care and ask if there are any specific or
extra details you have to type into the dial up connection settings.
Sometimes dial up services have special settings - or just something
different than the default settings in the computer.

Since you have laptop you may want to go ahead and set up a Home Network
by purchasing a Router and monthly broadband/dsl subscription which
generally supply there own broadband/dsl modem. A home network allows
desktops, laptops, mobile computers and cells to operate on it is the
advantage plus dial up as 56K per second - well about minimum broadband
is 756K to 1M per second connectivity. Laptops of course are built for
all but specifically mobile internet being conveniently portable.

For your neccessary Updates click System > Updates Manager and just
install everything. You will not be able to install all the free
softwares until there are Updates applied to get the System > Ubuntu
Software operational.

I have only been using Ubuntu Linux (favorite) for up to a year or so,
but these are all the newbie mistakes I was running into thinking mine
did not install right and so on with the original error messages that I
could not install softwares because the software center was still not
operational at the new installation of Linux. College of hard knocks -
few clicks and kicks and I figured it out after feeling quite a Linux
dummy.

Wireless connectivity is another Linux dummy area I walked into until I
discovered how to start detecting Wi Fi (I have a home network) . When
you right click the Connection Manager (and you really need not install
others) icon up top, and you go to set up a new wireless connection
(lets say McDonalds One or Free Library whatever the network name) --
that is what you do NOT type in there , was so hard to figure out. You
simply name the connection "wlan0" that is letters lower case wlan and
zero with no spaces or parenthesis and then type in the network name at
the SSID area on the front panel.

For free Wi Fi .... the wireless connection manager is now going to be
'sniffing' wireless signals anywhere around you that are active and you
may see up to 10 broadcasting stations. For Free Wi Fi - they generally
always use No Security so remember what was said -- don't start logging
into stuff / accounts with passwords because there is a good chance
there is a bad person around hacking for personal accounts to break
into. Just remember on 'No Security' Wi-Fi service someone is probably
"looking over your shoulder" electronically.