By Lee Asher
There are all sorts of different devices you can buy that will give your computer wireless networking capabilities. If you've taken a good look around, though, you probably have been confused by all the different kinds of equipment being offered -- how things that look so dissimilar do the same task? It's a bit like buying a car in many ways, they all get you from point A to point B ...but...
Essentially, the main difference between wireless devices is in how they connect to your computer. There are three main connection methods: PCI, PCMCIA and USB.
Desktops: PCI Cards
PCI stands for Peripheral Component Interconnect. It is an old and established way of installing new equipment in a desktop computer. If you find a wireless card that looks like a green rectangle with something sticking out of the end, then what you've got is a PCI card.
To install a PCI card, you need to -- horror of horrors -- actually unscrew your computer, take the cover of, and plug the card in inside it. Scary as that might sound, it is designed to be very easy, and once it's done your computer will have internal wireless networking capabilities for the rest of its life.
You should go for this option, then, if you own a desktop computer, and you're not afraid to get your hands dirty (perhaps literally -- I've seen years worth of dust in those things) by installing it yourself. Or, of course, if you're willing to pay someone to do the installation for you.
Laptops: PCMCIA Cards
PCMCIA stands for Personal Computer Memory Card International Association. A PCMCIA slot is a small slot in your laptop that allows you to insert these cards and so add functions to your laptop quickly and easily. They were originally for memory expansion, but are now more often used for networking.
Almost all laptops have PCMCIA slots. If you're not sure whether yours does, take a look at the side of the machine -- you should see a slot there, probably near the CD drive. Even if you do have a slot, you need to make sure it's free, by pressing the button to eject anything that might be in there. If it's an Ethernet card then, well, not to worry, as you can just replace that, but if it's anything else then you might want to consider using USB instead.
For 99% of laptop owners, at least, it's best to use PCMCIA -- the only reason some go with USB is because they didn't know they had an alternative.
The Third Way: USB
Whether you're using a desktop computer or a laptop, you can use USB (Universal Serial Bus). USB ports look like very small slots, and could be almost anywhere on your computer -- but it will help you to locate them if you remember that they very rarely appear in groups of less than two. Computers have come with these USB ports for years now, and newer computers often come with four or even more. If you need more space, you can buy a splitter (a USB hub) that allows you to use more devices than you have ports for.
So where's the problem? Well, you wanted a wireless network, right? With USB, your network won't be entirely wireless, as there will still be a small wire between your computer and the USB device -- it might not sound like much, but it makes USB wireless on laptops a bit of a joke.
Another factor is that small USB devices are very easy to break -- when I used to use USB wireless, I went through three new receivers inside a year. This is offset, of course, by the fact that USB wireless cards are usually the cheapest ones, and are far simpler to install than PCI.
Essentially, if you're a laptop user without a free PCMCIA slot, or you're a desktop user who doesn't relish the prospect of opening up your PC, then USB is a good 'third way' for you.
If you do go the USB route, however, and you have a reasonably new computer, you should check whether the device you're buying supports USB2. Most newer computers have USB2 ports, and using specially-designed USB2 devices with them can give you a significant speed boost.
Information supplied and written by Lee Asher of
Eclipse Domain Services
Domain Names, Hosting, Traffic and Email Solutions.
Related Article
Getting A Great Refurbished Laptop
By Cody Kahl
Are you sick of all the high priced notebooks out there? Does getting a used laptop seem like a better choice to you? Refurbished laptops are everywhere these days, and the word itself seems like a “buzz word” of the industry. But do these used machines actually hold up to the strict standard of the word “refurbished”?
In this article I will discuss exactly what
process a used notebook should go through before it is called “refurbished”, as well as the advantages and disadvantages purchasing one brings.
Ok, so you see refurbished or recertified laptops being touted everywhere online these days, but are they all the same? The answer is no. Each company has a different process of restoring a notebook, and they aren’t all equal. This is what a good restoration process should look like:
- An examination of all hardware components
- Diagnostic and performance test
- Cleanup
- Cut & scratch repair (not always necessary)
What this process should equate to is a machine that runs just as good as when it was brand new, (and sometimes look just as good).
The most important thing you can do if you are looking at a particular “recertified” laptop is find out about the company selling it. Are they reputable? How long have they been in business? What process do their refurbished laptops go through?
These are the most important questions you must ask. I’ll be honest here; there are many companies that claim that their notebooks are recertified, but this is really a lie. There is a risk involved when buying a reconditioned notebook, and checking a company out before you purchase can go a long way towards your peace of mind.
That being said, good deals and quality notebooks can be found, and are found daily.
Before I conclude this article I would like to go over a few of the advantages and disadvantages buying a refurbished notebook can bring. For one, the obvious advantage is that you can save a lot of money on a mobile PC that runs just as good as ever -- as long as the laptop is of good quality. This is the advantage that appeals to everybody when it comes to getting a reconditioned laptop.
As for disadvantages? Well, as I said above, there is a risk when purchasing these notebooks. By doing proper research you can minimize this risk, but it will always be there. Another down side to these machines is that you are limited to whatever is available. With a new notebook your options are endless –- With a refurbished one, you have to take what you can get.
All in all, I think buying a refurbished laptop can be a great idea; provided you take the time to ask questions such as the ones above. If done correctly, you can get a great portable PC that will last you a long time to come, and save you a lot of cash as well.
Cody Kahl is creator and writer of Toshiba Laptops Guide – A site
dedicated to providing only the best used toshiba laptops information.
Cody believes in quality, and this free resource proves it.
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