Ok... I'm sure this is a dumb question...

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Ok, tried searching for this and couldn't find it anywhere, so here goes:


I just bought a used iMac G4 (700MHz). I haven't received the computer yet, but I thought I'd be proactive and purchase the wireless card for it, so that it was ready to go when the computer arrived. I chatted online with one of the Apple website people, who assured me that I could purchase an Airport card for my iMac. So, I ordered a refurbed Airport Extreme card, because that's the only one I could find on the website.

Now, looking on Apple's website at the specs for the computer, it lists it as "Airport Ready" and says it's "802.11b compatible."

Since the Airport Extreme card is an 802.11g card, are they compatible? I know that in the PC world they are, but I'm completely new to Macs and I'm just trying to make sure I bought the right card.
 
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I think the airport extreme is a b/g card not just a g... put the card in and see if it works, if not return it.

good luck with your new mac! and welcome to mac-forums.
 
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welcome thedespair
 
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802.11g is backwards compatible with 802.11b.

If you have a 802.11g router, the 802.11b built in to the iMac will be able to talk to the router (of access point, or other 802.11b/g systems) without any problem, limited only by the 802.11b bandwidth (11Mbps).

Swtiching to an 802.11g card for your iMac will increase the potential throughput (to 54Mbps), but you will only really notice this when communicating between two 802.11g devices. Most people have an internet connection that is no faster than the 802.11b 11Mbps speed, so switching to 802.11g won't make the internet go any faster for you as a rule.
 
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welcome to the forums. if it doesnt work then return it and let us know if you find an alternative.
 
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My educated guess in the matter is that when the G4 machine was released the wireless standard was 802.11b, therefore it was listed as 802.11b compliant. Since then 802.11g has become the standard, but as previously stated, 802.11b/g work together, limited by the lowest standard (ie. 802.11g card, 802.11b router = 802.11b).
 
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Um...a 700MHz G4 iMac can take an AirPort card, but not an AirPort Extreme card.

The AirPort slot is PC-card based. The AirPort Extreme card is PCI-card based. The problem has nothing to do with the compatibility of the wireless standards, and everything to do with the connectors on the cards themselves.
 
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thanks for the info technologist
 
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Um...a 700MHz G4 iMac can take an AirPort card, but not an AirPort Extreme card.

The AirPort slot is PC-card based. The AirPort Extreme card is PCI-card based. The problem has nothing to do with the compatibility of the wireless standards, and everything to do with the connectors on the cards themselves.



(*sighs*) Oh well. I was a afraid of that. Does anyone know where I can find an original Airport card?

Oh, and thank you all for your help... It's exciting to finally be part of the Mac community! :)
 
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Ok, tried searching for this and couldn't find it anywhere, so here goes:


I just bought a used iMac G4 (700MHz). I haven't received the computer yet, but I thought I'd be proactive and purchase the wireless card for it, so that it was ready to go when the computer arrived. I chatted online with one of the Apple website people, who assured me that I could purchase an Airport card for my iMac. So, I ordered a refurbed Airport Extreme card, because that's the only one I could find on the website.

Now, looking on Apple's website at the specs for the computer, it lists it as "Airport Ready" and says it's "802.11b compatible."

Since the Airport Extreme card is an 802.11g card, are they compatible? I know that in the PC world they are, but I'm completely new to Macs and I'm just trying to make sure I bought the right card.

The only dumb questions are the questions that are not asked.
 
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ok... another quick question...

can i just get one of those 802.11g usb adapters?

wouldn't that work?
 
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Hypothetically, yes. The only way to figure out is by trying it out--a lot of times these things are hit or miss, especially with old computers. Oh, and welcome to the Forums!
 

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