They say wireless is the next big thing,
but are you ready to cut the cord?

By Peter Woodford

Take a look at the front page of any computer shop flyer and you'll likely see lots of wireless computer gadgets. The wireless hype keeps growing and the idea of surfing the web on the go is definitely appealing -- but is the technology up to scratch and is it really so convenient?

To speak the wireless language the two terms you'll need to know are Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Wi-Fi is a technology that lets you connect to the Internet and other networks using radio signals instead of wires. Bluetooth is mostly used for connecting devices like printers and scanners to your computer without the usual rat's nest of cables. Unlike older wireless technologies, which needed a clear line of sight to work, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi can each send signals through walls. Happily, you don't have to choose between the two technologies because they complement one another. Both work well with Windows and Macintosh.

To set up a Wi-Fi network (WLAN) at home you need a base station (sometimes called an access point) and a compatible card for each computer. There are different versions of Wi-Fi available which are sold under different names. The awkwardly named 802.11b (AirPort for Macs) is the most popular. The newer version (802.11g or AirPort Extreme) boasts backward compatibility with the earlier version and its peak speed is almost five j52 times faster. But unless you have five or more computers on your network you'll probably only notice a slight speed boost with the update.

If you have a Wi-Fi card in your laptop you can connect to the Internet on the road. You'll just need to find a Hotspot -- an area with a Wi-Fi signal for Internet access. And the connection is usually high-speed. These Hotspots are springing up all over the world at a dizzying pace, notably at hotels, cafés, libraries and airports. Some Hotspots let you surf for free while others charge access fees. It's simple to connect: your computer should automatically detect if there's a Wi-Fi network available and ask you if you'd like to connect. A number of websites let you search for Hotspots by city, such as www.wi-fihotspotlist.com or www.wifinder.com. If you want to be a true pioneer, there's even a pocket-sized Wi-Fi Finder made by Kensington that claims to detect wireless networks like a geiger counter.

Bluetooth won't get you online but it will allow you to go wireless at home -- imagine the beauty of a desk with a cordless keyboard, mouse and printer. The technology is also built into many cell phones, digital cameras and PDAs so you can easily synchronize your address books and agendas or download photos to your computer. Some cars, like the new Toyota Prius, are even offering a Bluetooth option, which lets you answer the phone with a button on your steering wheel and have a hands-free conversation à la Knight Rider. It's simple to add Bluetooth to your computer. You can add a PCI card for a desktop computer, a PC card for a laptop or a USB Bluetooth adapter for either.

Wireless computing isn't a completely ant-less picnic. Interference is the most common problem with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Phones and microwave ovens are frequent culprits. There is even a small chance that Bluetooth and Wi-Fi devices will interfere with each other, but the consequences of interference are more annoying than catastrophic. Devices are generally programmed to search for clear frequencies, so microwaves won't zap your files, but they may cause irritating slowdowns. You have to be quite close to the source for interference to be a major problem, so just think twice before surfing with your laptop resting on top of a microwave that's defrosting a turkey.