general questions

turbo24 · #1 February 28th, 2004, 05:36 PM

I have two computers at home and am getting a laptop in the near future. I am thinking I want to go to a wireless network, and have looked into it a bit on the web.

I am somewhat confused about what i need to get. Do i need a router, or an access point or a usb adapter or what?
I have standard network cards in the two desktop pc's now. Do I need to switch both of them to a wireless card? Which is better -- a wireless pci card in my computer or doing an external USB wireless adaptor?

I have cable modem for the internet acecss if that means any thing to anyone. (cause I noticed that some routers say specifically on them that they are a dsl or cable router)
Any guidance would be awesome!!

**degsy** · #2 February 28th, 2004, 07:32 PM

You need a Wireless card/device in each PC and you need a Wireless hub/router.

Something like this from linksys
http://www.linksys.com/products/prod...id=35&prid=601

Other companies have similar offerings.

ceh383 · #3 February 29th, 2004, 03:48 PM

If you already have a Cable/DSL router with an open LAN port, all you need is a wireless card for the laptop and an access point. You can leave the rest of the network alone.

If you don't have the router, you'll need a wireless router and a wireless card. Leave the wired part alone.

renegade600 · #4 February 29th, 2004, 04:07 PM

Check out http://www.linksys.com/edu/ for more info. Personally I would suggest a 802.11g router especially if you do alot of downloading. Make sure your laptop comes with wireless. For each computer you will need a wireless card or adaptor.

I do suggest to keep the main computer wired. The router will come with wired connections.

turbo24 · #5 February 29th, 2004, 09:14 PM

Question about that comment made to be sure I got a laptop with wireless....
Do I need for it to already have the wireless capabilities or can I just buy one without it already and then add the notebook cardbus adapter to make it work with the wireless??
I have been shopping around on the net and I don't want to order the wrong thing!!

renegade600 · #6 February 29th, 2004, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbo24

Question about that comment made to be sure I got a laptop with wireless....
Do I need for it to already have the wireless capabilities or can I just buy one without it already and then add the notebook cardbus adapter to make it work with the wireless??
I have been shopping around on the net and I don't want to order the wrong thing!!

Getting a laptop already with wireless is just more convienent and in most cases, cheaper. It makes setup a whole lot easier since it is already there.

Either way you will enjoy the convenience of a wireless laptop.

turbo24 · #7 February 29th, 2004, 10:36 PM

Okay..so does that mean that the setup may give me problems should i buy one that is not already set up for it? The majority of the ones I have seen that also have other features I am looking for have not been wireless capable. (but they do have a slot for adding the card)

The laptops seem to all have most of what I want but I can't find one that has every feature I am looking for....Know anyplace that does custom built to order laptops (for a decent price that is)?

renegade600 · #8 February 29th, 2004, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbo24

Okay..so does that mean that the setup may give me problems should i buy one that is not already set up for it? The majority of the ones I have seen that also have other features I am looking for have not been wireless capable. (but they do have a slot for adding the card)

The laptops seem to all have most of what I want but I can't find one that has every feature I am looking for....Know anyplace that does custom built to order laptops (for a decent price that is)?

dell, gateway, compaq, and hp will let you custom built and there are many others. What are the features you are looking for? Soomeone here may be able to help.

turbo24 · #9 February 29th, 2004, 11:17 PM

gee whiz...well, see, i AM a female and so of course that means I want EVERYTHING...

no really though I guess I want one that has BOTH a floppy drive as well as the dvd/cdrw combo drive (one that can burn dvds too) and since it will play my dvds, I would want kickin' video. (do they have any that do not have shared video memory cause i hear that is not as good). I want minimum of pentium 4 or pentium M (unless there is another one even better) with a processor speed of at least (?? guidance here? what..maybe 2.0 ghz or better?) and I'm thinking 512 or more RAM. I want it to have the wireless ready 802.11g though i would not decline one with only 802.11b. (is this different from when they say wi-fi? do i need one or the other?)
And I would want xp (either pro or home) and a lot of preloaded software would be nice (though I would settle for just ms works and some burning software).
Hmmmm, what else.....I can't think of anything off the top of my head. But I would love suggestions from the experts on what else i could be looking for in my quest.