Wireless networking is 1 of the greatest new computer technologies in terms
of convenience. If you're weighing the pros and cons of wireless before taking
the leap, here are 5 to put in the "pro" column.
#1: No More Wires
Of all the reasons to switch your network to wireless, this is perhaps the
most important. Wires are inconvenient, expensive, dangerous, and downright
ugly.
No more wires across the floor improves the safety of your home, since it's
easy to trip over exposed wires.
The average Ethernet wire doesn't cost much per foot, but it adds up quickly.
To run wires between rooms or floors, you have to knock holes in the walls,
which might not even be an option for renters.
Plus when you move you don't have the mess of disconnecting all the wires
only to re-connect them at the other end. Nor do you have to examine every wire
for damage if your internet connection goes down.
#2: Internet Access For All
Wireless networking gives you a cheap, easy way to share 1 internet
connection among multiple computers. You can add new computers to your network
simply by plugging in a wireless card and switching them on -- they get an
internet connection immediately!
#3: Share Files And Printers
A wireless network gives you access to your files wherever you are, and makes
it easy to synchronize the data of a laptop and a desktop computer. It's much
easier to send files between computers with a wireless network than by email, or
CD.
Plus, with the printer connected, you can also write things wherever you
happen to be, press print, and go collect them from a printer connected to
another computer. Printers plugged into 1 of the network's computers are shared
by all the computers automatically.
#4: Always ON
Broadband revolutionized networking with internet connections being
continuously connected -- no need to dial in every time. Wireless networking
lets network connections be always-on, so any of your computers can connect to
the internet whenever you want. Take laptops from room to room or out on the
deck -- they'll have an internet connection. Plus, there's no need for excessive
password entry.
#5: Freedom!
With wireless networking, you can even take your computer wherever the signal
reaches. Going wireless is much like the switching from the old fashioned
wall-mounted telephone to a cellular phone. The freedom is exhilarating
