OK, I've got something weird going on and I have to wonder if its because my desktop pc's have assigned DNS numbers from OpenDNS and my laptop (and my friend's laptop) don't.

I can access asian-based websites just fine but alot of overseas ones immediately go to "page cannot be displayed" on my laptop. Some can connect but most cannot. However, if I then try to access the same site from the desktop 30 seconds later, it connects just fine. Do I need to assign the DNS number for my laptop too? Is it related do you think or am I grasping at straws here?

I'd try it for sure, but it could also be browser settings. What browser are you using?

firefox all around, my friend uses IE and has the same issues on his laptop

Ha! that fixed it! Now, I am using my wireless access--do I need to change the settings for tcp ip v6 as well as v4? or is setting the DNS on v4 good enough?

Definitely switch to OpenDNS, and try this in Firefox:

In the address bar type about:config

Then scroll down until you see:

network.http.keep-alive

The value should be set to "true" if not, right-click and change it (toggle). Under that line will be:

network.http.keep-alive.timeout

The default value is 300, right click, choose modify, and enter 1200 as the new value, then see if there's an improvement.

OK, I've got something weird going on and I have to wonder if its because my desktop pc's have assigned DNS numbers from OpenDNS and my laptop (and my friend's laptop) don't.

I can access asian-based websites just fine but alot of overseas ones immediately go to "page cannot be displayed" on my laptop. Some can connect but most cannot. However, if I then try to access the same site from the desktop 30 seconds later, it connects just fine. Do I need to assign the DNS number for my laptop too? Is it related do you think or am I grasping at straws here?

Indeed, if you change the dns servers on the computer, you have to do it on each computer you hook up to the network.

If you use an adsl router it's easier to change the dns servers over there, then each pc connected to the router will use the opendns servers...

More info on how to do this on routers can be found on opendns's website

Ha! that fixed it! Now, I am using my wireless access--do I need to change the settings for tcp ip v6 as well as v4? or is setting the DNS on v4 good enough?

I have it completely disabled and all it did was speed up Firefox.

Ha! that fixed it! Now, I am using my wireless access--do I need to change the settings for tcp ip v6 as well as v4? or is setting the DNS on v4 good enough?

Nope IP4 settings alone will do!

Weird, it hasn't caused a problem with different DNS servers before today. But, its done, I am pleased it works and even happier I was right!