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You won’t need to worry about compatibility
between your Ethernet adapter, other hardware components in your PC
and your operating system. All device driver installation and
configuration hassles are already taken care of for you.
You’ll also have an easier time getting help
from your PC vendor’s technical support department. Plus your PC
vendor will recognize the Ethernet adapter as part of the complete
system and “supported” configuration.
And, once again, the Ethernet adapter likely
will be covered under your standard system warranty.
Note:
In many cases, Ethernet adapters are being built into the PC
motherboards on desktop PCs and notebooks. Thus, there is no
explicit option to include or exclude the Ethernet adapter. It
just appears on the PC motherboard like a serial or parallel
port. The only downside is that, if your Ethernet adapter
breaks, the PC manufacturer will need to replace your entire
motherboard. If this happens after your warranty period has
ended, you usually can disable the onboard Ethernet adapter and
install a third-party Ethernet adapter in an available PCI or
PCMCIA expansion slot.
Action Items
Does your PC vendor offer the option of
having an Ethernet network adapter preinstalled at the time of
purchase?
If you don't plan to get a network adapter
factory installed, will you add one to your PC at a later date? If
so, are you aware of the potential for compatibility problems with
the operating system (OS)?
How does the cost of adding a network
adapter to your desktop PC or notebook purchase compare to the cost
of buying a network adapter at a later date? Have you factored
installation and configuration costs into your estimates?
If you purchase the network adapter at a
later date and run into problems with the installation, will your PC
vendor provide technical support?
If the network adapter is factory installed, will it be included in
the coverage of your overall system warranty?
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