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I was thinking of buying a Fujitsu LCD Ultra Mini Notebook PC for a friend, model NT-7002-2 running Windows CE Professional, but I have been told it will not support wireless broadband. Is this correct?

Fujitsu Ultra Mini Notebooks

After searching through Fujitsu’s US, European, and Asian websites, I was unable to find any model that matches the description so I can’t check the notebook’s specifications to verify whether or not it comes with built-in wireless.

I looked at several Fujitsu mini notebook models and they all had built-in wireless cards. When looking at a model you are considering, you may not see “built-in wireless” noted in the list of features. Instead, you may see something like “802.11 b/g/n” which indicates that the computer has a wireless adapter built into it that conforms to the wireless 802.11 b/g/n standard.

What if the Fujitsu Does Not Have Wireless?

I’d be surprised to see a modern notebook without a built-in wireless adapter. However, it is possible that this computer doesn’t have one. If it doesn’t, that doesn’t necessarily mean your friend can’t connect to the Internet wirelessly. Obviously, as is, that wouldn’t be possible but if you invest in a wireless card, USB adapter, or dongle, the problem will be solved.

You’ll need to first see what type of ports the notebook has available such as PCI ports and USB ports. While PCI ports used to be fairly standard on laptops, not all will have them. Most will have USB ports, so you’re likely safe going with a USB adapter or USB Internet dongle.

Adapters vs. Dongles

Whether you choose a wireless adapter or dongle depends on how your friend will be using the computer for Internet access. For example, does your friend currently have a wireless home network? If so, a wireless adapter allows for connecting to the wireless network and accessing the Internet wirelessly over that network. On the other hand, if your friend doesn’t currently have a network or Internet access, a USB dongle might be the better choice. Internet dongles are more like wireless modems that you use to connect to an ISP wirelessly.

In either case, going with a USB wireless adapter or dongle is an option when a notebook computer is not equipped with built-in wireless.

I just got a Dell Optiplex gx270 and I cannot get my wireless g to get on the Internet. Am I missing something?

Wireless Network Cards

Well, unless you have added a wireless network card or adapter to your Dell Optiplex, you might be missing wireless capability. The Dell Optiplex, like most PCs, isn’t necessarily equipped with a wireless card from the factory but you can add one, or you can run a wire from your PC to your modem or router. If you decide to add one, make sure that you take your computer’s specifications with you to the store and check that the computer can support the card.

Check your System with Device Manager

If you aren’t sure whether or not there is a wireless adapter built into your system, you can check using Device Manager. Click Start, then Control Panel, then System and then Device Manager. Here you can scroll and look for a wireless card listing. If there isn’t one, then you will need to add it before you can get online wirelessly. If there is one, you can check for a yellow ! mark beside the listing, which would indicate a problem with the card or the connectivity.

Update your Drivers from Dell

Once you have a wireless adapter installed, you will most likely need to update your drivers. Dell has several driver releases for the Optiplex gx 270 and you can find them here. The drivers should help your computer’s operating system communicate with newer hardware, such as the wireless card and router. Here is the link to the Dell Optiplex gx 270 Drivers and Downloads page. Use the drop down menus to get the right drivers for your operating system.

Check with your Internet Service Provider

Once you download and install the new drivers, you should be able to get online, at least in theory. If you are still having problems configuring a wireless router or modem with your computer, you can contact your Internet service provider. Sometimes you need to adjust your IP address to configure your system with the provider.

I hope these suggestions help. If not, you can write again with some information about what you have tried, what works and what doesn’t, and we can take it from there. PS - Don’t forget to make sure that the wireless adapter is switched on. For example, many laptops have an on/off switch for the wireless adapter. Good luck!