[martimaxin]

I'm almost completely ready to move off to my wireless college and I'm debate whether or not I should get an airport card. While on my almost daily trips to electronic stores, yesterday, I noticed that they have USB adaptors.

Are these a good subsitute? Everything works like normal?

I have doubts though -- I'm not sure if I want some 5 inch stick poking out of my notebook.

-thanks

[Applefreak01]

The problem is you'll need to find drivers for those USB wireless adapters which might be next to impossible and if you do find drives for one then buy the adapter, the adapter will be sticking out of the USB port not looking cool (like you said). Plus it will take up a USB port.

I say go with the internal Airport card. They are built by Apple so you don't have to find the drivers and they are internal meaning nothing will be sticking out the side of your laptop.

If you have a PowerBook G4 12" 867MHz or later you'll need to get the Airport Extreme card that runs on 802.11b/g or 11mbps/54mbps speeds depending on what your college uses.

If you don't have a fairly newer PowerBook then you'll need the older Airport card that only works with 802.11b.

If you have an iBook G3 you'll need the older Airport card.

If you have an iBook G4 you'll need the Airport Extreme card like in the newer PowerBooks.

Apple Airport cards might be $40 more than those USB adapters but you know that the Airport cards will work out of the box and not have to go through the trouble of finding drivers and getting everything setup.