wireless mini-pci questions...

[AznMaverick]

just how easy is it to get a minipci card, (i looked on the compusa website and it looks like they only sell slot cards for wireless g). and how easy is it to install?

if it's fairly hard for both questions then i'll have to have a laptop customized from dell, instead of buying a laptop on sale at circuit city, or compusa.

 

[RichieZ]

easy just buy the mini-pci card from dell. Super easy to install its either under the keyboard or on the understide of the laptop. Just stick it in and connect the antenna. No harder than installing a PCI card

 

[oboeguy]

Originally posted by: RichieZ
easy just buy the mini-pci card from dell. Super easy to install its either under the keyboard or on the understide of the laptop. Just stick it in and connect the antenna. No harder than installing a PCI card

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: RichieZ
easy just buy the mini-pci card from dell. Super easy to install its either under the keyboard or on the understide of the laptop. Just stick it in and connect the antenna. No harder than installing a PCI card

Agreed it's very easy even for a hardware n00b like myself.

1) Make sure that your laptop has at least one unused PCMCIA slot (my Compaq Presario 1500T only has 1, some laptops have 2).
2) Buy a WiFi laptop card (I highly recommend the Dell TrueMobile 1150 which is an awesome WiFi card, rebadged Orinoco Gold, great performer, Linux friendly and works with Netstumbler).
3) So after you receive the WiFi card, plug it in, install the drivers from either the CD or off the net, get the WiFi router working and you're ready to go.

 

[TommyVercetti]

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: RichieZ
easy just buy the mini-pci card from dell. Super easy to install its either under the keyboard or on the understide of the laptop. Just stick it in and connect the antenna. No harder than installing a PCI card

Agreed it's very easy even for a hardware n00b like myself.

1) Make sure that your laptop has at least one unused PCMCIA slot (my Compaq Presario 1500T only has 1, some laptops have 2).
2) Buy a WiFi laptop card (I highly recommend the Dell TrueMobile 1150 which is an awesome WiFi card, rebadged Orinoco Gold, great performer, Linux friendly and works with Netstumbler).
3) So after you receive the WiFi card, plug it in, install the drivers from either the CD or off the net, get the WiFi router working and you're ready to go.

What you linked to is a PCMCIA card. I thought the original poster was asking about some kind of an internal card. PCMCIA is actually Mini-PCI? I am not into laptops that much, so I don't know.

 

[iamme]

Mini-PCI goes under your laptop. You need to open up a panel underneath your laptop and plug the mini-PCI card in.

PCMCIA (aka: PC Cards) go into a slot on the side of your laptop.

Be aware that if your laptop doesn't have built in antenna leads, then your reception may suffer. (when using mini-PCI cards)

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: TommyVercetti

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: RichieZ
easy just buy the mini-pci card from dell. Super easy to install its either under the keyboard or on the understide of the laptop. Just stick it in and connect the antenna. No harder than installing a PCI card

Agreed it's very easy even for a hardware n00b like myself.

1) Make sure that your laptop has at least one unused PCMCIA slot (my Compaq Presario 1500T only has 1, some laptops have 2).
2) Buy a WiFi laptop card (I highly recommend the Dell TrueMobile 1150 which is an awesome WiFi card, rebadged Orinoco Gold, great performer, Linux friendly and works with Netstumbler).
3) So after you receive the WiFi card, plug it in, install the drivers from either the CD or off the net, get the WiFi router working and you're ready to go.

What you linked to is a PCMCIA card. I thought the original poster was asking about some kind of an internal card. PCMCIA is actually Mini-PCI? I am not into laptops that much, so I don't know.

Oops my bad, forget everything I said then 🙂

 

[AznMaverick]

Originally posted by: iamme
Mini-PCI goes under your laptop. You need to open up a panel underneath your laptop and plug the mini-PCI card in.

PCMCIA (aka: PC Cards) go into a slot on the side of your laptop.

Be aware that if your laptop doesn't have built in antenna leads, then your reception may suffer. (when using mini-PCI cards)

how would i be able to tell? i am thinking of either buying an HP pentium-m laptop, dell 600m or 600d, or a toshiba pentium-m...

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: AznMaverick

Originally posted by: iamme
Mini-PCI goes under your laptop. You need to open up a panel underneath your laptop and plug the mini-PCI card in.

PCMCIA (aka: PC Cards) go into a slot on the side of your laptop.

Be aware that if your laptop doesn't have built in antenna leads, then your reception may suffer. (when using mini-PCI cards)

how would i be able to tell? i am thinking of either buying an HP pentium-m laptop, dell 600m or 600d, or a toshiba pentium-m...

Two great laptops.

If you don't really need high performance/video go for the D600 which is overall better than the 600m.

The 600m is Centrino and comes with WiFi built in already. So no need to install any cards. It works right out of the box.