Ok, so I am a wireless idiot. I just got a new Dell laptop and it has a built in wireless card. I have a DSL connection and I am thinking of going wireless. I have looked at routers but can't tell the difference between them. I have seen "G" and "N". Any suggestions on where to start? God I feel dumb. I should be smarter than this.

802.11 is the protocol for wireless networking. There are several specification; a, b, g, and n with some variations within them. All you really need to know is that N is backward compatible with G and G is backward compatible with b. Your new laptop has either a g or n adapter. If it has a n adapter then get an n router and you can take advantage of the greater range and speed of n routers. If its got a g, then you don't gain much using a n router.

As you go from b to g to n you get increased range and speed.

Ok, so I am a wireless idiot. I just got a new Dell laptop and it has a built in wireless card. I have a DSL connection and I am thinking of going wireless. I have looked at routers but can't tell the difference between them. I have seen "G" and "N". Any suggestions on where to start? God I feel dumb. I should be smarter than this.
Ok so how do I tell if I have a G on an N wireless card?

For the moment stick with G as N hasn't been passed yet so is still "experimental".
As to setting up, it's pretty straight forward.

Now Wireless can be a pain, but once cracked you'll wonder what all the fuss was about.


Here's a couple of How-To's for networking
Wired networking Guide (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/setup/wired.mspx)
Wireless Networking Guide (http://www.microsoft.com/athome/moredone/wirelesssetup.mspx)
Should give you some more ideas.

Ok so how do I tell if I have a G on an N wireless card?

Read the specs on the PC you purchased. It should indicate whether its g or n.