You're in luck. We've dug deep into this one and it seems that there's one place in town that can accommodate you.
The company we found is called rentacomputer.com and it's a national organization that rents out laptops, PCs, TVs, copiers, and other office equipment. They don't have physical offices where you can go browse; you need to call or else check on their Web site and see what's available. They then deliver your chosen product to wherever you are, which includes all Vegas hotels and motels. They also offer technical support and repair services, if you happen to bring your own laptop and it goes and dies on you.
Rates for a standard laptop start at $125/day, $150/week, or $195/month, with Macs and Windows XP models running a little higher at $150, $175, and $225, respectively. There's also a $75 delivery and pick-up fee. Visit the Web site or call 800/736-8772 for more info.
As to free wi-fi hotspots, we revisited our existing info, which hadn't been updated for a wee while. Not that much has changed, but there have been a few notable additions and subtractions from the list.
The nearest locations you'll find to the Strip are the Apple store in the Fashion Show Mall; the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood and the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian (plus all other outlets, which include the Rio and the Palms); Fortuna, the cafe/winebar in the Las Vegas Hilton; and the monorail (both the stations and the train itself).
If you're downtown, options include the Krispy Kreme outlet in Fitzgeralds; Panera Bread (nearest location is at E. Charleston and Main Street); and, allegedly, the area outside where the Comedy Zone used to be at the Plaza, although the staff we asked was pretty sketchy about this (not even knowing that the Comedy Zone was defunct), so don't bank on that one.
Other notable hotspots include both McCarran and North Las Vegas airports, Clark County libraries, and all Buffalo Wild Wings sports bars. For the complete list, check out the "Wi-Fi Hotspots" link under "Vegas Info" on our home page.
