February 15, 2006

Curious George: USB wi-fi adapter for an old iBook. I've got an old iBook, running OSX, and I want to get wireless access. Anybody know a USB wi-fi adapter that'll work with my machine with minimal tinkering?

I bought a D-Link adapter last summer (I forget the model), which I'd read would work with my system with some downloaded driver software, but apparently D-Link changed chip vendors for the product at some point, and the new chip type (the one in the adapter I purchased) made the thing incompatible with my iBook. Anybody know of a USB wi-fi adapter that'll work for me? I don't want to spend the $170 or whatever it is on an old/used airport card.

  • And, in advance: Thanks!
  • There was a post on macosxhints.com the other day that might be helpful: macosxhints. That's all the help I can offer since I haven't had to do this myself, but you might want to let the other monkeys know what os version you're using.
  • 10.3.9
  • dealmac.com might have some sort of solution for you...their 'basement' had a refurb airport card for 100 bucks but it expired you might be able to ebay your ibook for more $ than a newer system costs there...just an idea... what model are you using?
  • I want to see your car, bot.
  • Belkin's USB wireless adapter will work on 10.3; my wife's Mini is using one as we speak. The one problem it has on the Mac is that if the computer goes to sleep, you'll have to unplug the USB adapter and plug it back in again. We've had this problem, and I've heard of other Mac users have this problem. Why, I don't know. But other than that, it works fine, and she's got a good connection to the net and also to my Mac.
  • Judging by other drivers reactions (driving with cellcams upraised, not paying attention to the road)...it's only a matter of time till you can just google it...
  • i've got the first-version iBook, sexyrobot (700 MHz PowerPC G3), with 640 MB SDRAM. Whatever that means.
  • GET A DAM MAC ALREADY!