| As far as I'm concerned, wireless networks would | | | | This, of course, is the biggest reason why you |
| have to rank as one of the best inventions in | | | | should switch your network over to wireless. |
| history. They really are the best thing since sliced | | | | Wires are inconvenient, expensive, ugly and |
| bread. I mean, really, bread is easy enough to cut | | | | dangerous -- you'll be delighted to see the back of |
| yourself, but have you ever tried to wire up a | | | | them. |
| network? Its a lot of hard yakka as many would | | | | The average Ethernet wire doesn't cost that |
| say. WiFi is the wireless way to handle | | | | much per metre, but once you've bought enough |
| networking. It is also known as 802.11 networking | | | | metres to do whatever you need to do, well, it |
| and wireless networking. The big advantage of | | | | tends to add up quickly. Not only that, but if you |
| WiFi is its simplicity. You can connect computers | | | | want to run your wire between rooms or floors, |
| anywhere in your home or office without the | | | | you have to knock holes in the walls -- which |
| need for wires. The computers connect to the | | | | might not even be allowed if you're renting. I |
| network using radio signals, and computers can be | | | | know plenty of people in rented apartments who |
| up to 100 feet or so apart. So, in the spirit of | | | | had to keep their network confined to one room |
| spreading the word, I'm going to give you some | | | | until they went wireless. With wireless networking, |
| great reasons why you need a wireless network. | | | | well, you can even take your computer outside, if |
| Sharing Internet Access. | | | | you want to! |
| Wireless networking gives you a cheap and easy | | | | No more wires also means no more spaghetti all |
| way to share one Internet connection between | | | | over the floor and in the corners. Not only does |
| multiple computers, eliminating the need for more | | | | this improve the safety of your home, as it's all |
| than one modem. You can even add new | | | | too easy to trip over exposed wires, but it also |
| computers to your network simply by plugging in | | | | means that you don't have to go to all the trouble |
| a wireless card and switching them on -- they get | | | | of packing all the wires up and re-connecting them |
| an Internet connection straightaway! There aren't | | | | at the other end when you move. It also means |
| many wired networks that can say that. | | | | that you don't have to examine every wire for |
| Sharing Files and Printers. | | | | damage if your Internet connection breaks down. |
| A wireless network gives you access to your files | | | | Play LAN and Internet Games. |
| wherever you are in your home, and makes it | | | | You might have seen an option in your favourite |
| easy to synchronise the data on a laptop with a | | | | game to play over a LAN. Well, wireless networks |
| home computer. It is much easier to send files | | | | are LANs, which means that your whole family |
| between computers with a wireless network than | | | | can play that game together -- without needing |
| it is to send them by email, or even by burning | | | | the computers to be anywhere near each other. |
| them to a CD. | | | | It's far more fun to play against real people you |
| Plus, with the printer connected, you can also | | | | know than to play against random people over |
| write things wherever you want, press print, and | | | | the Internet, not to mention that the game will |
| go and collect them from a printer connected to | | | | work much faster. You could even invite your |
| another computer -- printers that are plugged into | | | | friends to bring their computers and join in -- a |
| one of the computers on the network are shared | | | | 'LAN party'! |
| between all the computers automatically. | | | | An added benefit is that wireless equipment lets |
| Always On Connection | | | | you easily connect any games consoles you or |
| A big factor in the spread of broadband was that | | | | your kids might have to the Internet, and start |
| it let Internet connections be always-on, without | | | | playing online. It's far easier to play online with a |
| needing to dial in. Well, wireless networking lets | | | | wirelessly connected Xbox or PlayStation 2 than |
| network connections be always-on, meaning that | | | | to have to connect it to your modem every time. |
| any of your computers can connect to the | | | | Convinced Yet? |
| Internet whenever you want! You can take | | | | If you're excited, then that's great -- keep reading |
| laptops from room to room, and it doesn't matter | | | | these articles for advice on how to set |
| -- they'll always have access. Plus, there's not | | | | everything up. If you don't think it's for you yet, |
| even any need to set up a username and | | | | well, don't give up on it -- I'm sure you'll come |
| password system, as wireless networks work | | | | round when you realise just how easy and cheap |
| without logging in. It's just so convenient! | | | | wireless really is. |
| No More Wires. | | | | |