Hello All,
New to Macs and this forum - so new that I can't seem to find the search field for this subject that has probably been covered many times - my apologies.
Anyway, purchased a Macbook this spring for my daughter as a high school graduation gift. She was so impressed that I recently purchased an IMac to replace my ailing PC. I'm going through the adjustment period of new logic, etc but all's well so far.
My daughter's Macbook accessed the web on startup from my wireless router. Likewise, my iMac came on line immediately while I was transferring data from the PC and I eventually switched the wired ethernet cable directly to the iMac.
We are moving my daughter to college in a couple of weeks. While the center of campus and other select spots are WiFi, her dorm is wired only. I've shopped for a wireless router - preferably a cheap Netgear or Belkin at $40, another by same makers at $80 but specifies compatible with Mac, or an Apple Airport at $99.
Since both the Macbook and iMac went on-line immediately without software installation, I would think the $40 router would suffice although this statement set up a big debate between employees at the office supply store on whether a software-installed "host' computer must first be used before wireless can work on the Apple products. If I were to lean toward the compatible $80 router, then I would be foolish not to go with the certain Apple Airport, but it's all about "sharing" expenditures with the yet-to-be-named roommate who probably has a PC notebook.
I'm trying to avoid the time-consuming trail and error process in the brief window that is allowed move a student in the dorm - just want to get it right the first time.
Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Gene
New to Macs and this forum - so new that I can't seem to find the search field for this subject that has probably been covered many times - my apologies.
Anyway, purchased a Macbook this spring for my daughter as a high school graduation gift. She was so impressed that I recently purchased an IMac to replace my ailing PC. I'm going through the adjustment period of new logic, etc but all's well so far.
My daughter's Macbook accessed the web on startup from my wireless router. Likewise, my iMac came on line immediately while I was transferring data from the PC and I eventually switched the wired ethernet cable directly to the iMac.
We are moving my daughter to college in a couple of weeks. While the center of campus and other select spots are WiFi, her dorm is wired only. I've shopped for a wireless router - preferably a cheap Netgear or Belkin at $40, another by same makers at $80 but specifies compatible with Mac, or an Apple Airport at $99.
Since both the Macbook and iMac went on-line immediately without software installation, I would think the $40 router would suffice although this statement set up a big debate between employees at the office supply store on whether a software-installed "host' computer must first be used before wireless can work on the Apple products. If I were to lean toward the compatible $80 router, then I would be foolish not to go with the certain Apple Airport, but it's all about "sharing" expenditures with the yet-to-be-named roommate who probably has a PC notebook.
I'm trying to avoid the time-consuming trail and error process in the brief window that is allowed move a student in the dorm - just want to get it right the first time.
Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Gene