| There are all sorts of different devices you can | | | | pressing the button to eject anything that might |
| buy that will give your computer wireless | | | | be in there. If it's an Ethernet card then, well, not |
| networking capabilities. If you've taken a good | | | | to worry, as you can just replace that, but if it's |
| look around, though, you probably have been | | | | anything else then you might want to consider |
| confused by all the different kinds of equipment | | | | using USB instead. |
| being offered -- how things that look so dissimilar | | | | For 99% of laptop owners, at least, it's best to |
| do the same task? It's a bit like buying a car in | | | | use PCMCIA -- the only reason some go with |
| many ways, they all get you from point A to | | | | USB is because they didn't know they had an |
| point B ...but... | | | | alternative. |
| Essentially, the main difference between wireless | | | | The Third Way: USB |
| devices is in how they connect to your computer. | | | | Whether you're using a desktop computer or a |
| There are three main connection methods: PCI, | | | | laptop, you can use USB (Universal Serial Bus). |
| PCMCIA and USB. | | | | USB ports look like very small slots, and could be |
| Desktops: PCI Cards | | | | almost anywhere on your computer -- but it will |
| PCI stands for Peripheral Component | | | | help you to locate them if you remember that |
| Interconnect. It is an old and established way of | | | | they very rarely appear in groups of less than |
| installing new equipment in a desktop computer. If | | | | two. Computers have come with these USB |
| you find a wireless card that looks like a green | | | | ports for years now, and newer computers often |
| rectangle with something sticking out of the end, | | | | come with four or even more. If you need more |
| then what you've got is a PCI card. | | | | space, you can buy a splitter (a USB hub) that |
| To install a PCI card, you need to -- horror of | | | | allows you to use more devices than you have |
| horrors -- actually unscrew your computer, take | | | | ports for. |
| the cover of, and plug the card in inside it. Scary | | | | So where's the problem? Well, you wanted a |
| as that might sound, it is designed to be very | | | | wireless network, right? With USB, your network |
| easy, and once it's done your computer will have | | | | won't be entirely wireless, as there will still be a |
| internal wireless networking capabilities for the | | | | small wire between your computer and the USB |
| rest of its life. | | | | device -- it might not sound like much, but it |
| You should go for this option, then, if you own a | | | | makes USB wireless on laptops a bit of a joke. |
| desktop computer, and you're not afraid to get | | | | Another factor is that small USB devices are very |
| your hands dirty (perhaps literally -- I've seen | | | | easy to break -- when I used to use USB |
| years worth of dust in those things) by installing it | | | | wireless, I went through three new receivers |
| yourself. Or, of course, if you're willing to pay | | | | inside a year. This is offset, of course, by the |
| someone to do the installation for you. | | | | fact that USB wireless cards are usually the |
| Laptops: PCMCIA Cards | | | | cheapest ones, and are far simpler to install than |
| PCMCIA stands for Personal Computer Memory | | | | PCI. |
| Card International Association. A PCMCIA slot is a | | | | Essentially, if you're a laptop user without a free |
| small slot in your laptop that allows you to insert | | | | PCMCIA slot, or you're a desktop user who |
| these cards and so add functions to your laptop | | | | doesn't relish the prospect of opening up your PC, |
| quickly and easily. They were originally for | | | | then USB is a good 'third way' for you. |
| memory expansion, but are now more often | | | | If you do go the USB route, however, and you |
| used for networking. | | | | have a reasonably new computer, you should |
| Almost all laptops have PCMCIA slots. If you're | | | | check whether the device you're buying supports |
| not sure whether yours does, take a look at the | | | | USB2. Most newer computers have USB2 ports, |
| side of the machine -- you should see a slot | | | | and using specially-designed USB2 devices with |
| there, probably near the CD drive. Even if you do | | | | them can give you a significant speed boost. |
| have a slot, you need to make sure it's free, by | | | | |