Word: wirelessly
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More and more consumers are doing it; sales of wireless home-networking products in 2001 were 12 times what they were the year before, according to Stephen Baker, director of research for NPD Techworld. And it's easy to see why. Not only does a wireless network give you the freedom to roam around the house or yard with your laptop without losing your Internet connection, but the latest equipment has also got considerably cheaper and more reliable...
First, make sure everything you buy conforms to the dominant wireless standard, known as 802.11b, or Wi-Fi (short for wireless fidelity). That way, if you want to mix brands or network a Mac to a Windows PC, everything will still work together...
...heart of your network will be a wireless access point and cable/DSL router, preferably one device that does both. These two-in-one units, sometimes called wireless gateways, start at $150 and often throw in a few Ethernet ports too, so you can connect a printer or desktop PC using a standard Ethernet cable. I had a smooth experience with the Linksys Etherfast Wireless AP+Cable/DSL Router ($169). Similar products are made by D-link, Intel, NetGear, Siemens, SMC and 2Wire...
...desktop PC to your network, you will need a wireless PCI card ($50 and up), which slides into any free slot inside the computer tower. Better yet, consider a wireless USB network adapter, which saves you the trouble of opening up the case. Linksys sells...
...connect a notebook PC, you'll need a wireless PC card, a slim metal plate that slides into the laptop's PCMCIA slot and has a small antenna sticking out from the end (also $50 and up). To connect a Mac desktop or notebook, get an Apple Airport card ($99). If you're buying a new notebook, most major PC manufacturers will sell you one with Wi-Fi capabilities built...