NetGear FA511 Network Adapter

After buying a laptop without an integrated NIC card, I needed a PC card ethernet adapter. In the past I've used Belkin and Intel products which were a pain as they used a dongle, a small cord which connects to the card and has a network cable plug. I've also worked with Xircom products, which, while they didn't have a dongle, often overheated and dropped bits.

This netgear card has been fantastic. Great performance, a great price, and dongleless. There are only two drawbacks to the this card. Firstly, it extends beyond the PC slot, not a big deal, but a potential issue for those with tight fitting cases. Secondly, Windows XP recognizes the card as a different brand and installs a different driver, which while it may work, is just another driver you need to install while setting up windows.