It is a fact that computer networks are becoming the norm for any home or business that consists of more than one computer. The reason for this is obvious – a network amongst two or more computers provide a large degree of benefits, such as the ability to share files, an internet connection or even a printer. But that is not all… don’t forget about the entertainment! Computer games have advanced so much over the last few years that you can even play against your friends all through the utilization of a network, or as some like to call it: local area network (LAN). But of course, you will first need to buy network card adapters for all the computers you wish to connect together. Just for the record, network cards are also commonly referred to as Ethernet cards.

Before making any initial purchases you should first determine what kind of network you want to connect to. We will look at two options: cable networks and wireless networks. Obviously your choice will be applicable to your specific needs. If you have a laptop which you want to move around with you may want to consider a wireless network, although you can easily combine and use both. Currently with the use of a cable speeds of up to 1000mbps can be achieved, where as wireless networks will be slightly slower and at times less reliable. If your intention is to transfer large files then you should opt for cable.

If you have a desktop computer it is fairly simple to buy the correct hardware and hook it up to your machine to get connected right away. Unless you have zero experience with computers, you do not have to pay someone else to install the network hardware for you, as it can be easily done by yourself. You should make sure before making any purchases that your motherboard does not have an onboard network card already installed. Most modern computers will already have the hardware accompanied with the machine so there is no need to buy anything. You can easily check if you have an onboard network card by consulting the manual that came with your motherboard or computer system. If you have an older computer it will be necessary to buy a PCI network card. This is a card that slots into your motherboard, and can be installed by a novice. Clear step by step installation instructions should be included with the device upon purchase that you can follow.

If you have a laptop, chances are it already has a network card. Even most of the older laptop computers came bundled with an internal network card. The plug (RJ-45) is similar to a telephone cable connection except slightly wider. If you are unsure what to look for consult the manual that came with your notebook in order to check if it has an internet network card. If it does not, there are add-on devices you can purchase that will get you connected instantly. In this situation you will usually be looking for a USB or PCMCIA device.

So there you have it – all the info you will need to get you up and running. Of course it is also possible for devices such as playstations, PDA’s or smartphones to communicate with your network. If you have a playstation network you can combine it with your network of computers. As long as the network interface card (NIC) is the same you shouldn’t have a problem. You can buy network card adapters online. In most cases you will find them to be cheaper when ordering online and I urge you to do so.