At least on Windows 7 there is a wonderful freeware available for your laptop:
http://www.connectify.me/
I use it with great pleasure in hotels etc. with my Kindle. The laptop is hooked up to the internet (either via a cable or WIFI) and it behaves as an access point for a private WLAN at the same time. I connect to that WLAN with my Kindle, iphone, etc. and share the link.
This might be useful for you, depending on what you want.
Regards, Mixx