The most recent area of differentiation is multiband and multimode capabilities. The first products to provide these capabilities were those that supported both 802.11b and 802.11a. Newer products support 11a, 11b and 11g. Multimode products provide long-term flexibility, but you'll pay for that benefit. For example, a major online retailer lists Proxim's Orinoco Gold WLAN NIC 802.11b card for $60 and its trimode card for $99.
Today's most popular WLAN NIC option is the Type II PC Card interface, which comes in two variations. The older 16-bit PCMCIA PC Card has been compared to the ISA system bus found in older desktop systems, and the 32-bit CardBus PC card interface is analogous to the desktop PCI bus. The older interface was adequate for 11-Mbps 802.11b. However, newer WLAN standards, such as 802.11a and 802.11g, require CardBus interfaces, which are included in many notebook computers. But don't assume a product has a CardBus just because it's new--the PC Card expansion packs available for the popular iPAQ PDAs only provide 16-bit support.
Many newer notebook systems offer a 32-bit mini-PCI embedded interface. The mini-PCI slot often is accessible through a small covering on the bottom of a notebook. Today, most mini-PCI WLAN interfaces come preinstalled from the vendor, though you can sometimes buy the interfaces and install them after the initial purchase.
There are two primary approaches for connecting desktop computers to a WLAN. With the traditional solution, you install a PCI wireless NIC--a hassle for sure, and if your system sits on the floor, so will the antenna. It's usually more convenient to install a USB wireless interface. This lets you position the antenna for optimal reception and transmission. You still have to contend with installing a cable to get wireless access, and you may take a minor performance hit compared with using PCI.
Software Is Key
When shopping for WLAN NICs, look beyond the hardware specifications to ensure that the software will meet your needs. For shops running Windows XP, you may need only a compatible driver, because XP manages wireless configuration and access functions. Most organizations will have broader requirements, though, including support for a range of OSs and flexible client utilities.
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