| Almost all new laptops already come complete | | | | to either a wireless network or a wired Ethernet |
| with a wireless transmitter and receiver built into | | | | in one unit. Something else to bear in mind is that |
| the motherboard, or installed in a special port in | | | | the card will probably have a small antenna that |
| the casing. If you wish to add wireless to an old | | | | protrudes from the side of your laptop. It's a |
| laptop, you can quickly and easily upgrade without | | | | good idea to remove the card before you put |
| having to splash out on a brand new machine. | | | | your laptop away after each use to ensure that |
| 1. Step 1 | | | | the antenna does not get damaged during transit |
| Check your laptop manual or visit a computer | | | | or storage. |
| store or web site to find out if your laptop has a | | | | 3. Step 3 |
| compartment for a wireless card. The good news | | | | A second plug and play solution is to use a USB |
| is that this compartment offers you a really easy | | | | wireless adapter, which simply plugs into one of |
| solution to installing wireless. However, the bad | | | | the spare USB ports on your laptop. As with PC |
| news is that the wireless card is nearly always a | | | | Cards, they are available from a wide variety of |
| 'proprietary part' which means that you will have | | | | computer and IT stores, which helps to keep |
| to buy the card from the same company who | | | | competition healthy, and prices relatively low. A |
| manufactured your laptop, and pay whatever | | | | USB wireless adapter will also stick out from the |
| price they charge for the card. Some | | | | side of the computer as well, but is a much more |
| manufacturers discourage people installing these | | | | robust solution. Unlike the PC Card antenna, the |
| cards themselves, and so you may have to end | | | | USB unit will be able to stand the majority of |
| up paying for an engineer to install the card for | | | | knocks it receives, however it is still advisable that |
| you. | | | | you get into the habit of removing the unit when |
| 2. Step 2 | | | | shutting down your computer after each use. |
| Another way to add wireless to an old laptop is | | | | Conclusion |
| by purchasing a plug and play wireless transceiver | | | | As you can see it is incredibly easy to turn your |
| PC Card. The main problem with this is that your | | | | old laptop into a wireless laptop. It is also a much |
| laptop may only have one or two PC Card slots, | | | | cheaper option when compared to the cost of |
| so obviously you would be limited to how many | | | | buying a brand new laptop. By adding wireless to |
| other cards you could have installed. To | | | | an old laptop, not only are you saving yourself |
| overcome this, some companies combine a | | | | money, but you are saving yourself the time of |
| wireless transceiver with a network interface card | | | | having to back up and transfer all your files and |
| (NIC) which gives your laptop access to connect | | | | programs to a new machine. |