wi fi question

Am I right in thinking that a usb wireless adaptor is the right thing to get if I want my old laptop to connect to my wireless network ? Or am I just going to get laughed at in pc world ?

 

You should be able to get a USB network adapter. If you get laughed at it will only be by a spotty teenager who thinks laptops have always existed, and have always had wifi, even since that unimaginably distant past of the 20th century.[hr]
In fact, if they laugh at you, show them this:

http://www.dabs.com/products/zoom-wireless-n-usb-adaptor-6L74.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=product+search&ctype=2

 

Cheers Dave,

Would it be best to take the laptop in to wrap around the head of anyone that does laugh:D

Seriously though, that would be really good as Daughter 2.0 could really use her own laptop, as she presently is sharing with evil mother.

 

I can't endorse any particular supplier, but you might find PC World to be over priced.

Just presenting another option for you, here's another link from an online supplier I've used before:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/232659

The thing is the price range is quite crazy, ranging from less than 20 quid, to 60 quid plus. The adaptor in the link supports all the major protocols. This is an important point, because your router might only support one protocol, so you either need to know which protocol it uses or you need to get an adaptor that supports all the major ones. Most routers support either WEP or WPA, or sometimes both, but I've seen some fairly recent ones that only support one or the other.

 

Blimey,

Cheers Guys. Don't know about protocols, all I know is its a magic box from Virgin Media.

 

Sorry I can't really help Ziggy.
Just to say my husband has a wee dongle thing stuck into his old lappy which makes it work WiFi.
It didn't cost any fortune.

 

You sure you can't run a cable Ziggy?

I can't help thinking that bolting a USB Network adapter onto an "old" laptop is going to be ... errmmm ... fraught. Hopefully I will be proved wrong.

 

Good point, will have a look at it when I get home tommorow I think it might be stained glass windows 98 but i'm not sure.

 

If it's Windows 98 then I say save your pennies. Unless you're really lucky, it will be pure hell trying to get it working with a USB wifi adapter, and even if you do, if its USB 1 it will be so slow.

 

There are plenty on Amazon at well below £20.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&...=aps&hvadid=6695159893&ref=pd_sl_2nphktu5rl_b

 

Or USB 1.1?

And it could turn out to be earlier than Windows 98SE (probably Windows 98SW :D).

 

O.K.

Can I wipe all that old stuff off & put windows 7 on it or will that just make the steam powered laptop explode ?[hr]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAG39jKi0lI