USB adapters The USB standard has, over the past several years, become the most widely used method of connecting peripherals to a personal computer. First popularized in the Apple iMac, USB supports a data transfer rate many times faster than a typical network connection, and is therefore a good candidate for connecting an external wireless network adapter to either a laptop or a desktop computer. Several wireless networking hardware vendors offer USB wireless network adapters. They're easy to connect, transport, and reposition for better reception. Most computers built in the past two or three years have at least two (and some have as many as eight) USB ports. If your computer has a USB port and you purchased a wireless USB network interface adapter. USB wireless NICs are sometimes a better choice than PC Cards or PCI cards because you can more easily move the device around to get a better signal, kinda like adjusting the rabbit ears on an old TV. If a desktop computer doesn't have a PC Card slot - most don't - but does have a USB port, you need to either install a PCI adapter or select a USB wireless network adapter.

Memory card wireless adapters Most popular handheld personal digital assistant (PDA) computers and smartphones now come with wireless built right into them. If you still have an older PDA, you may be able to get it on your wireless network with a flash memory card wireless adapter. Many different kinds of flash memory cards are on the market (ask anyone who's shopping for a digital camera, and you'll be told more about SD, Micro SD, CF, Memory Stick, and the like than you'd ever want to hear). Most PDAs or smartphones use Compact Flash (CF) or Secure Digital (SD) cards, and you may be able to use that memory card slot to add wireless networking to your device. Because wireless networking is being built into many of these devices, the market for memory card-style wireless adapters has shrunk, and many of the big manufacturers (such as Linksys) no longer make these products. You can still find CF or SD card wireless adapters from smaller specialty manufacturers, but they're typically a lot more expensive than the mainstream PC Card or USB adapters that you buy for a PC.