Anywhere Computing with Laptops: Making Mobile Easier

Understanding the Different Pieces of Hardware

So you want to set up a new wireless network in your home or office. Or, you want to extend an existing wire line network to provide wireless capabilities. In either case, relax! These are pretty easy things to do using Wi-Fi technology. You'll have your wireless network up and running in no time—and you will be using your computer in your living room, in your garden, or on your deck, as well as from all kinds of unlikely places.

This chapter focuses on buying the right hardware to set up your wireless network. (Subsequent chapters detail other aspects of setting up and administering your wireless network.)

Networking hardware can be somewhat confusing and uses terms that overlap. Before I get down ...