Which wireless hardware in the UK?

Hi everyone

Like several others, I'm keen to dip my toes in the water with Linux. I have a laptop which has wired and wireless facility when using Windows XP Pro. I'm looking at Ubuntu or Knoppix as live CDs but what about internet connection?

I've searched various sites and had almost come to decide upon a PCMCIA card but it was only for export from the UK. When I looked at the details, it said that it was something to do with the frequency at which it operated. I had hoped that if I bought the hardware in the UK, it would work here!

What recommendations does anyone have for wired and wireless support to allow me to access my router?

Other related questions are regarding the driver(s) - do they come on a CD to be put into the CD reader when Ubuntu/Knoppix realises that there's some new hardware (as Windows does) or will Ubuntu/Knoppix have the driver(s) on their CD? Will I actually need specific hardware or will the Linux OS recognise (and use) my current Intel hardware? The laptop is a Sony Vaio which is about 18 months old.

Thanks for your time.

Before going through with the purchase you should first figure out what type of wireless network will be used. As far as I know, there is not way to get Linux (*ubuntu in particular) to connected to a PEAP network.

If you choose Ubuntu over Knoppix, you can download Automatix, which will allow for the easy installation of a WiFi GUI for ndiswrapper, which is a wireless component of Linux.

Thank you

I've tried Knoppix and managed to get connected via an ethernet cable to my router.

So far as the wireless is concerned, I've disabled SSID broadcast and set WPA. I also entered my MAC address (for extra security) and everything works fine in Windows XP. I've looked at wireless setup via a Console in Knoppix, using commands such as "iwconfig eth0 essid <name>" and "iwconfig eth0 channel <number>". There's also a command using key (whether in hex or a string) "iwconfig eth0 key s:<string>" so I entered my WPA key there and it seemed to be accepted, but it still doesn't connect. I've seen a network connection wizard which mentioned WEP but not WPA.

I just wonder if I need to download anything else (perhaps onto a floppy) to have available for Knoppix to work with WPA.

I'm pleased that I can at least get online when connected via a cable - the next stage is to do it wirelessly!