| High-speed Internet Connection (either DSL or cable): You can purchase High-speed Internet service from your local telephone (for DSL) or cable company. Both types of connections are considerably faster than dial-up access. High-speed Internet is also commonly referred to as broadband.
Modem: Connects your Internet service to your computer so you can surf the Internet and access your e-mail. Depending upon what type of broadband service you have, you must purchase or rent either a DSL or cable modem. Or, you can purchase a modem from your local electronics retailer or e-retail store. Linksys offers a gateway router which is an all-in-one solution that combines the functions of a router with a cable or DSL modem so that two separate devices are not required.
 Network Adapter: Allows your computers to connect to the network. If you already have a wireless or network adapter pre-installed in your computer, you may not need to purchase one. There are different types of adapters available, depending on if you have a desktop or laptop computer.
For a desktop computer:
- A PCI Adapter - connects inside your computer, requiring you to remove the outside case.
- A USB Adapter - does not require you to remove the outside case since it simply plugs into a USB port on the outside of your computer.
For a laptop computer:
- A PC (PCMCIA) Card - about the size of a credit card and simply slides into a slot on your laptop computer. This type of card is recommended when using a wireless network setup since you can walk around without having to juggle an external adapter.
- A USB Adapter - simply plugs into a USB port on the outside of your laptop computer.
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