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Another computer question -------

peabo
I have an older Gateway laptop that I would like to set up for wireless internet. The laptop does not have the built in wireless system. I plan to give it to a friend who has a desktop on dsl and a wireless router, but wants a laptop on wireless so he can use it in other rooms of the house.
I have two options that I am aware of. The laptop has two USB ports and two PCMCIA (?)card slots. I think the USB system is the slower 1.1 and not the faster 2.0.
The wireless adapters, the USB and the card, are the same price (39.95)and both are 54mbps.
Question is: Which would be faster - the 1.1 USB port or the card slot on the computer?





Thanks---Peabo
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Comments

5 comments

Date Votes
  • slipgate
    The PC Card slot! Don't use the version 1 USB!
    0
  • iluvguns
    Yep...the card slot. Much faster. Make him aware though that running wireless on a laptop will REALLY drain the battery. If he uses it at home or near a plug-in, no problem.
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  • buschmaster
    put it this way, the PCMCIA slots can support a PCMCIA hard drive. USB isn't anywhere near as fast, so it may be a bottleneck. use the PCMCIA connection.
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  • iwannausername
    pcmcia for reliability

    Wireless tops out at 54mbps, USB 2.0 can do 480mbps

    of course, this is coming from a guy who spent too many hours in a hot attic (even in December here in N Fla it gets *hot* in teh attic) running cat5 cable and extra phone lines around the house... 100mb ethernet is better than wireless, if the jacks are handy...
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  • peabo
    Thanks for the help. Just as I thought.


    Thanks---Peabo
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