installing wireless network card ??

Question

Hi, i dont have one yet so cant tell you what type, but i will be buying a laptop (most likely a cheap old kind). I want to use wireless internet with it. If i buy a laptop without the network card, would i be able to easily install it. I have a little bit of computer knowlegde but not much. Is it easy to insert/install? Do all laptops have a hole for it to easily go in. Can you use them with laptops that have a low processor speed (eg.500mhz)? Do you have to buy specific cards for specific brands? What are some good features it has to have when i buy one. For example what does 54Mbps mean? Is that good? Thanks

Answer 1

Blimey - lots of questions for the price of one!

Ok - here goes....

Some laptops have wireless built in - easiest option!

All laptops have PCMCIA card slots so you could get a PCMCIA wireless card.
If PCMCIA is costly (shouldn't be - but you never know) then you can always use the USB ports to connect a wireless adapter - this route can be slightly slower as the USB can sometimes restrict data speeds.

54Mbps is simply 54 Megabits per second. In real simple terms - the higher the number the better - but your router needs to support the higher speed to get it. Basically, 54Mbps is a good standard that most WiFi routers will support.

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

Wireless internet on a laptop:
All laptops have a PCMCIA slot, in which you can slide a PCMCIA card. In addition to that laptops have USB and you can use a USB stick instead.
The advantage of the USB stick is that you can use it in desktopmachines as well, should you want to.
PCMCIA is hardware that works only on laptops - desktops don't have a connector for these. Advantage here is that the card slides in - only a tiny bit sticks out. With USB, the whole stick sticks out.

54Mbs is the speed. Definetely get 54Mbs.
The other alternatives are 11Mbs, proprietary speedup-schemes (often offering up to 125Mbs) or the new Wifi N standard.
11Mbs is slow and is only usable for browsing.
With 54Mbs you can also quickly copy files between computers. It's a lot faster.
Proprietary speedups I would not recommend; they only work when all the hardware in your wireless network is of that one brand; if one component is of another brand the whole thing falls back to 54Mbs.
The new N standard is too expensive.

500Mhz is not too slow, it will be fine.

Answer 3

There are 4 options for adding wireless to laptops.

1. It can come built in (mini-pci). I love this kind as is is totally inside the pc and it's always there. And the cheapest (about $45). BUT, the PC has to be ready for the internal kind, so check the specs carefully and add the option when buying!! Here's an example: http://www.alancomputech.com/390684-001.html.

2. The next kind of wireless card uses one of the EXPRESS slots on the laptop. http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8219689&st=d-link+n&lp=4&type=product&cp=1&id=1166840584535
To use this, check the specs on the laptop to see if it has an Express slot (smaller than a PCMCIA). The Express is the 'new and improved' PCMCIA.

3. PCMCIA (about $80) http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8040354&st=d-link+n&lp=5&type=product&cp=1&id=1157068454949

4. USB Wireless card (about $60) http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8305602&st=d-link+n&type=product&id=1173577562601

Whichever style you get, I would suggest a D-Link or Linksys "n" capable card. A little more expensive, but well worth it as "n" is the up and coming high speed, high range spec.

Answer 4

Very easy to install if the laptop doesn't already have integrated wireless. Older laptops will have something called a PCMCIA slot - ready for a PCMCIA wireless card to slot in to :) 54Mbps is the transfer rate. Just get the fastest available that is supported by your wireless access point.

Answer 5

you will could desire to purchase a on the spot PCI adapter or a USB adapter. i offered a Linksys variety WMP54G from Walmart for fifty dollars and it works exceptionally plenty. installation it particularly is easy, in basic terms examine the simplified instruction manual featuring it and you have the skill to place in it.