Chapter 2
Selecting a Standard
In This Chapter
Determining your over-the-road computer needs
Making sense of the standards
Ensuring cross-compatibility
Comparing speeds and needs
W
henever I deal with computer-related technology, I'm constantly con-
fronted with a confusing array of choices filled with ever-present abbre-
viations, acronyms, and standards. It sometimes seems (at least to me) that the
menu of available solutions far exceeds the corresponding list of problems. If
the problem is (say) lunch, sooner or later you have to order up -- and that
means finding your way around the menu.
That's why this chapter helps you decide which wireless standard best
suits your over-the-road needs. Along with demystifying the mind-numbing
menagerie of wireless standards you face, I explain how you can be sure any
and all of the equipment you buy will work wherever you go. I'll also help you
separate the wheat from the chaff when you're deciding on a standard.
Matching Purpose to Standard
Okay, a word about standards: They're guidelines that keep computer equip-
ment and software reasonably consistent in the way they work. That's why
(for example) you can make a good wireless connection regardless of who
made your equipment. It makes good sense to use the standard that best meets
your needs. And that means paying attention to some everyday details.
When I'm faced with a myriad of choices, I find it helpful to first focus on my
purpose -- the goal I'm trying to achieve or the problem I'm trying to solve.
After that's clearly identified, I can investigate various ways to meet those
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