If you're buying a new computer, it's best to choose one with a wireless component designed for free software like Linux. Network cards designed for freeware will give you better support. Devices compatible with the free software will also work out of the box.
1. Currently [ThinkPenguin.com](http://thinkpenguin.com/) provides an 802.11N USB card with AR9170 chipset, which can guarantee the compatibility of free software. Also, there are MiniPCI wifi cards for laptops and USB bluetooth adapters to connect bluetooth wireless devices.
2. [Passys](http://www.passys.nl/wirelessnetwork) sells PCI cards that are compatible with Linux (though not freeware) and are suitable for desktop computers.
3. [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_open_source_wireless_drivers) has more information on which chipsets and drivers are freeware compatible.
4. Some other cards are also compatible with Linux, but not free software. These usually work, but may not work in some cases.
Even if your wireless card doesn't have a driver designed for Ubuntu, you can use [NDISWrapper](http://ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net/) and a driver for Microsoft Windows to make it work. But this comes at the expense of functionality and reliability. If you use this method, your internet connection is likely to be unstable.
Other Ubuntu wireless networking wiki pages.
1.[Wifi information center page](https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WifiDocs)
To determine what your wireless network card/chipset is, first determine whether it is a separate device plugged into the computer. If it is an independent USB device, open the terminal and enter the following content.
The community has created articles for the following manufacturers.
| manufacturer | NIC type |
| ---- | -------- |
| 3Com | PCMCIA、PCI、PCI、Low、Profile、USB |
| A-Link | USB |
| Accton | PCI |
| Adaptec | PCMCIA |
| Advent | PCMCIA |
| ADDON | USB |
| Airlink101 | PCMCIA、PCI、USB |
| Aptiva | USB |
| Asus | PCMCIA PCI USB |
| Atlantis Land | PCI
| AVM | USB |
| Belkin | PCMCIA PCI ExpressCard/34 USB |
| Blitzz | Cardbus |
| Broadcom | miniPCI |
| Buffalo | PCMCIA PCI USB |
| Cable & Wireless | Cardbus
| Cisco | PCMCIA Cardbus |
| Cnet | PCMCIA PCI |
| Compaq | USB |
| CompUSA/Realtek | PCI |
| Conceptronic | USB
| Dell | USB |
| Dexlan | PCMCIA |
| Digicom | USB |
| Digitus | PCMCIA PCI Unknown USB |
| D-Link | PCMCIA PCI Unknown USB |
| Edimax | PCMCIA PCI Unknown USB |
| eHome | PCMCIA |
| Encore | PCI USB |
| Gigabyte Technology | miniPCI PCI |
| Hawking | PCMCIA PCI Cardbus USB |
| HP | PCI |
| Intel | miniPCI |
| KCorp | Cardbus |
| Level One | PCMCIA |
| Linksys | PCMCIA PCI USB |
| Longshine | PCMCIA |
| Motorola | PCMCIA
| MSI | miniPCI PCI |
| MyEssentials | USB |
| Netcomm | PCI USB |
| Netcore | USB |
| Netgear | PCMCIA PCI USB |
| Novatech | USB |
| Orient | USB |
| Pheenet | USB |
| Proxim/Orinoco | PCMCIA PCI |
| Qualcomm Atheros | miniPCI |
| RealTek | PCI USB |
| RetailPlus | USB |
| Rosewill | USB |
| Sierra | USB |
| Sitecom | PCMCIA PCI |
| SMC | PCMCIA PCI USB |
| Sonnet | PCMCIA |
| Sweex | PCMCIA PCI USB |
| Topcom | PCMCIA |
| TP-Link | PCMCIA PCI USB |
| Trendnet | PCMCIA PCI USB |
| Trust | Unknown |
| US Robotics | PCMCIA USB |
| Veho | USB |
| Westell | USB |
| Zonet | PCMCIA PCI USB |
| Zyxel | PCMCIA PCI USB |
| Various | miniPCI USB |
### By version
Please refer to this page. [WifiDocs/WirelessCardsByVersion (wireless cards are classified by version)](https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WifiDocs/WirelessCardsByVersion)
