The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    WLAN Choices on Dell...

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by manfrog, Mar 31, 2004.

  1. manfrog

    manfrog Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    32
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    What option is best for a laptop?? What is the advantage of the "Dual band" option? And do I really need the "a" standard on the 1450? Thanks!!

    Intel® PRO/Wireless 2100 WLAN (802.11b) miniPCI Card
    Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200 WLAN (802.11b/g, 54Mbps) miniPCI Card
    Dell TrueMobile™ 1300 WLAN (802.11b/g) miniPCI Card
    Dell Wireless™ 1350 WLAN (802.11b/g, 54Mbps) miniPCI Card
    Dell TrueMobile™ 1400 Dual Band WLAN (802.11a/b/g) miniPCI Card
    Dell Wireless™ 1450 Dual Band WLAN (802.11a/b/g,54Mbps) miniPCI Card





     
    manfrog, Mar 31, 2004
    #1
  2. TheShaman

    TheShaman Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    15
    Messages:
    100
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    It depends on what you're using the wireless for.
    If you're setting up a new home network, b/g is the best bet. Get a g router and you're off and running.
    With an existing home network, whatever you've got - most likely b.
    If you're not doing a home network and just want to connect to hotspots or a work network, b will get you by, as the transfer rate is generally faster than a cable/dsl modem can bring in the data. b/g if you worry about work upgrading the network and you want to have the fastest intra-network transfers possible.
    I wouldn't bother with a, because nobody seems to want to take the risk. g is just so much safer because of its backwards compatibility with b.
    The brands Intel and Dell cards should be equally good, because they're running a standard which is defined by a "computer governing council."
    Personally I'll be looking to get a b/g card, but I won't be at all worried if I can only get a b, as I'll be running a wired network at home and only use the wireless to access my school's wireless network.
     
    TheShaman, Mar 31, 2004
    #2