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    Wireless card options

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by vaw, Jun 17, 2007.

  1. vaw

    vaw Notebook Deity

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    I'm very unfamiliar with the wireless card options :confused2: . Would be really grateful to anyone who could either give a very brief explanation or point me to a source/link about the differences among the following, how they would affect my everyday use (so that I can decide if it's worth to choose one over the rest)--many thanks in advance :smile: :

    1. Integrated Wi-Fi wireless upgradable

    2. ThinkPad 11b/g Wireless LAN Mini-PCI Express Adapter II [add $25.00]

    3. ThinkPad 11a/b/g Wi-Fi wireless LAN Mini-PCIe US/EMEA/LA/ANZ [add $25.00]

    4. ThinkPad 11a/b/g/n Wireless LAN Mini-PCI Express Adapter [add $60.00]

    5. Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG [add $30.00]

    6. Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN [add $70.00]

    7. Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN (11n disabled) [add $30.00]
     
    vaw, Jun 17, 2007
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  2. Matt

    Matt Notebook Deity

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    The main differences are protocol and brand. Depending on your wireless router, you may not need to spend the extra money for more protocol options. If you're looking to stay "future-safe", I'd get one of the two network adapters that offer 802.11n support (ThinkPad 11a/b/g/n and Intel Wireless 4965AGN).

    Generally, 802.11a is rare and 802.11g is probably the most common, followed by 802.11b. Since 802.11n will eventually offer higher speeds (and therefore become the standard), I'd suggest keeping up with the times and getting one of those.

    I have the ThinkPad card, but I have not used the Intel one, so I can't offer a comparison. There are two obvious differences though. The ThinkPad adapter both costs less and supports all 4 protocols. I'd go with that.

    Check out this Wikipedia article from more information about protocols.

    Matt
     
    Matt, Jun 17, 2007
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  3. deadlysyphen

    deadlysyphen Notebook Enthusiast

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    Where exactly did you find:

    4. ThinkPad 11a/b/g/n Wireless LAN Mini-PCI Express Adapter [add $60.00]

    and would it work in the t61?
     
    deadlysyphen, Jun 17, 2007
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  4. vaw

    vaw Notebook Deity

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    Matt, thank you so much for your time--that really helps! :) deadlysyphen, it's from the T61 4:3 that someone posted about earlier here.
     
    vaw, Jun 17, 2007
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