subject: What Is Needed to Make a Laptop Wireless? [print this page] What Is Needed to Make a Laptop Wireless?
Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) cards are widely used in notebook computers due to their highly portable nature. While many laptops come with built-in wireless cards, if yours does not, you must obtain a wireless card.
History
The current form of Wi-Fi was first made available in August 1999. It was ratified under the IEEE standard 802.11x.
Features
Wi-Fi enabled devices can broadcast and receive network connections without needing a physical connection to the network. They receive communications wirelessly by means of a Wi-Fi card.
Definition
A Wi-Fi card is either an internal or external Local Area Network adapter with a built-in wireless radio and antenna. The most common wireless cards for laptops are made for either PCMCIA or ExpressCard slots. Most new laptops feature ExpressCard slots which are smaller than the older PCMCIA expansion card slots.
Benefits
The primary benefit of using a Wi-Fi card in a laptop is that it allows you to set up your workstation or home office without considering the proximity or availability of hard line network access. Additionally, you can connect to other Wi-Fi hotspots outside of your home or office.
Considerations
Purchase an "N" capable wireless card for your laptop. Wireless N offers a significant data transmission speed advantage over B/G Wi-Fi.
Warning
A potential disadvantage to using Wi-Fi is network security. Because Wi-Fi signals are transmitted over the airwaves, they can be intercepted causing your data to become compromised. Make sure that your network is password protected and secure.
