Install, Stick it in, and browse away

The Linksys WUSB54G Wireless Adapter is a simple way to connect your laptop or home PC to a wireless network. I purchased this for use in my Dell Inspiron 2650 laptop to connect to networks at school, work, and around town. As my laptop has crashed multiple times, I've had the opportunity to install and reinstall this device frequently.

Install and Setup
Install and setup is a snap. Put the CD ROM into your computer and it automatically installs the necessary drivers onto your hard drive. If you loose the CD ROM, you can download the necessary programs from the Linksys website. One problem I originally ran into is that I first plugged the adapter into a USB plug before running the install program. Windows XP tried and failed to install it without the setup disk. Oops.

Use
Couldn't be easier. Once the program is installed, just plug the adapter into an open USB on your computer. The program will automatically recognize that your adapter is connected and browse for local wireless networks. It will connect to most forms of secured networks with the proper password.

The program allows you to store profiles on your computer so you don't have to keep entering passwords in if you switch back and forth between different networks.

Compatibility
The best and easiest way to use this adapter is with a Linksys wireless network. If you are using a Linksys network and have access to the router itself, there is a feature that lets you automatically connect the adapter to the the network without having to enter a password.

My Experience
Overall I love this adapter. It is compact and easy to carry with my laptop. I do worry a little bit about it getting snapped off while in my USB if I drop or move my laptop the wrong way, but so far no problem. For around $50 this is an easy way to connect.