Wifi?

I have a friend who bought an Acer Aspire 5315 model icl50 with Vista from her nephew. He included a router with it which he used to get online. I have a desktop and know nothing about notebooks. I have an idea of the function of a router but what I'd like to know is does she have to use the router to access the internet? Can't she use a wifi card instead? If so what kind? She lives in a rural area that doesn't have cable internet services and her only option has been AT&T dsl which she really doesn't care for as AT&T keeps having problems with it and it's a toss of the coin on which days it wants to work. Any enlightenment you can share will be very welcome. thanks.

 

To use a wifi card you need a modem, wireless router and hi speed speed internet.

http://www.home-network-help.com/wireless-setup.html

 

If dial-up is more reliable in the area a router w a modem is useful. I access the Internet via sial-up with a notebook in this area.

s.

 

No a modem does not mean dial up...a modem simply translates your computers digital signals to the lines analogue signals. They dont use digital on the lines because digital signals degrade over long distances. Analogue is more reliable for this. Thats what the modem is for to translate this.

To use the wifi on the laptop you need a wireless router added to your existing broadband setup.