BELKIN WiFi Adapter: Mac Compatible?

Hey,

I was recently looking at used Mac's on eBay and I noticed that some early iMac's didn't come with Airport Installed. So to save money I would use a BELKIN USB WiFi adapter I had lying around.

So, if I plugged it into a G3 iMac would it work correctly. And where would I find the drivers? (I lost the included CD)

Thanks, eMac-Jack.

Make sure your Belkin USB adapter can be used with a Mac before buying an older Mac. In other words, are there drivers for it? Check the Belkin web site.

Many newer USB adapters do come with drivers for OS X but that doesn't mean they'll work right. Bottom line: It's best to buy a used Mac that is -

1. An Intel powered machine.

2. Has an included airport card.

eMac-Jack said:

Hey,

I was recently looking at used Mac's on eBay and I noticed that some early iMac's didn't come with Airport Installed. So to save money I would use a BELKIN USB WiFi adapter I had lying around.

So, if I plugged it into a G3 iMac would it work correctly. And where would I find the drivers? (I lost the included CD)

Thanks, eMac-Jack.

Click to expand...

The G3 iMac's are REALLY an old line of computers. If you're really interested in an iMac G3...I would recommend getting one of the models that is Airport compatible. They don't cost much more...and you will most likely get better wireless performance with Airport.

Noting your previous posts about eMac's...these iMac G3's are even slower (some models MUCH slower) than even the slowest eMac (700mhz). So if a 700mhz eMac is too slow for you...a 233mhz, 350mhz, 400mhz, etc. G3 iMac will be much slower!

- Nick

My experience of Belkin wireless anything with Mac is not good, but it doesn't include a wi-fi dongle. I've read elsewhere in this forum though that dongles are really only effective from OS 10.4 onwards, and even that is debatable.

If a used iMac G3 was on offer, I'd not take anything slower than a 600 Mhz, or a 700 if you can find one. Then you may be able to run Tiger reasonably well, and use an Airport card adaptor (if available) to put in above the optical drive slot. Airport is greatly superior to a dongle.