[royalm]

I am new to Macs and I am going to get one in a few weeks, but right now I have a Windows computer along with every one else in my family, and we have a cable modem hooked up to a Linksys router that is wireless. So, my question is will any router work on my Mac, I dont really care about sharing files it's just the internet connection. Also, the mac I am getting is an iBook so will the wireless built in work or will I have a buy a new wireless card? Thanks, and any help will be greatly appreciated.
Royal

[mystery_stain]

Apple, Linksys, etc. routers and wireless cards are built around industry standards 802.11 and TCP/IP. Any Mac or PC made recently has no problem with TCP/IP (the Internet is run on it) and any that support wireless must support 802.11. The only trick is the companies confuse you by calling the same standards different names for marketing purposes ("Airport Extreme" ...gag!) and you have to figure out each vendor's setup controls, but it's all the same. I have 2 Macs and the occasional Win XP networked through a Linksys wireless router and it works great.

[royalm]

So, I should have no problem getting online if I used an ethernet cable, but it might be a little more tricky trying to get online with the wireless? Thaanks.

[mystery_stain]

Depend on your Windows OS. In Windows XP, wireless settings are just another form of Network Settings in the OS. I don't have it here today but it wasn't too hard to get the XP network settings to see the wireless router network name. Not much more difficult than making it see the Ethernet cable. It's a little harder if you are using encryption but it is still doable. My Macs and the Win XP can all connect to the Internet and to each other by wire or wireless.