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by pbhjpbhj
5685 days ago
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I've been installing Linux since about 1999 and it's only this year that I've got internet via eth0; I'm in the UK. Makes things a damn site easier. There are probably still a lot of places where dialup or wifi is easier to come by than ethernet. |
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1) Don't forget you can easily try Ubuntu and wireless devices on most x86 laptops in the Live CD mode before you install. If driving somewhere to buy a USB device, bring the laptop along. You might also be able to run a Live CD and try a USB wireless device on another machine in the store (ask for permission first!)
2) If there's a Mac laptop handy, OS X doesn't need any extra software installed to share the laptops wireless access out the ethernet port, allowing simple DHCP connections. Just go to the Sharing prefs panel. (add a hub or switch to share with several machines)
3) Instead of using a Mac, some routers with free open-source DD-WRT firmware installed can also act as WiFi clients giving access to machines plugged into the ethernet port(s). Older WRT-54Gs often turn up cheap at thrift stores etc. and are ideal. (some versions have more RAM than others, check the DD-WRT site www.dd-wrt.com/ for more info) It's a good way to add wireless to desktops.
4) ... and of course Ubuntu runs well in a Virtual Box virtual machine, an easy way to use it under OS X or Windows hosts with whatever net access those already have. virtualbox.org It's a particularly simple/clean free solution for Mac users, not disturbing OS X at all.