Wireless Broadband Connection

[Deb36]

I've just installed wireless broadband on laptop at home and now need to make laptop wireless compatible. I don't know whether I should buy a wireless USB adapter or a wireless "card". Any ideas appreciated.

[Ethel]

If you are sure your laptop is not already wifi enabled, then a card is the much better option.

USB dongles are fine for temporary use, but get in the way, become loose and drop connection.

[Deb36]

Ah dongle, that's the word that Sky keep using but theirs will take 28 days to come and I can just pop into Currys but their customer "service" leaves a lot to be desired. Will get the card then. Have no idea where I'm supposed to put that though. Hopefully all will become apparent from instruction manual.

Thanks for that Ethel.

[Ethel]

Whoa! Have you got a card slot in your laptop? Pointless buying one if you haven't.

Mine is in the right hand side of the laptop - looks and feels similar to the old floppy disc drives in fact.

Are you sure your laptop is not wifi enabled?

What make/model and how old is it?

[Kerplunk]

I use USB Dongles in all my comuters / laptops and have never had a problem. On the other hand I had a PCMCIA Wirelss card in 1 laptop previously and it caused nothing but trouble.

You get what you pay for at the end of the day.

[Machecoul]

We have had 2 cards in our laptops for 18 months now and no problems.

Seems some are born lucky and some have a dongle :)

[Deb36]

There is a slot in the side yes. Definitely not wifi - it's about 4 years old. Thanks for all your help guys.