Will WiFi Internet Work With the Rural Desktop?
Wi-Fi, the standard for wireless Internet, allows you to pick up an Internet connection wherever you happen to be in range of a signal. Most of the time, Wi-Fi is intended for use with laptops, but even if you have a desktop, you can still use a Wi-Fi connection if one is available to you. In rural areas, for example, Wi-Fi is becoming more prevalent due to the increased need for connection to the Internet everywhere.
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Equipment
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Desktops do not typically include Wi-Fi adapters -- because they aren't expected to be used in a mobile manner -- but you can purchase one. A Wi-Fi adapter can be installed inside your desktop like a standard Ethernet card, or it can be a USB dongle that connects to a free USB port on your system, allowing you to create a plug-and-play connection. However, a direct connection to the PCI slot on your motherboard could yield a faster connection and a stronger signal. You also need an external antenna to boost your adapter's reception ability. A high-gain antenna allows more reception in one direction only. Internal Wi-Fi adapters will have an antenna included with them.
Location
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Your antenna needs to be away from metal objects, preferably near a window that can be opened. Other electronic devices, such as cell phones, should not operate near the antenna. They emit electromagnetic waves that correspond with the antenna's frequency and disrupt the incoming signal. At their best, Wi-Fi signals can travel for 300 feet outdoors and 150 feet indoors approximately. If a free and open Wi-Fi hotspot or router is within this distance, you can access it.
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Security
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One of the main dangers of Wi-Fi access with a laptop is accidentally leaving your system unattended, or using an insecure network, and having someone in public be able to access your private information. Your desktop is at home, so this isn't as much of a problem. Another concern is computer security. On an unencrypted and unsecured connection, anyone on the network can intercept your data transmissions and trace them back to your computer, thus giving allowing them access to your files. Downloading and installing up-to-date virus protection software will help keep your system safe from malware from an open connection.
Considerations
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If you live in an extremely rural area, chances are you may not have a Wi-Fi hotspot within easy reach, unless you have an understanding with an accommodating neighbor who pays for one. If you have your own Internet access, you can purchase a wireless router and connect it to your modem, thus picking up an Internet signal from anywhere in your house, no matter where you move the desktop. However, if you really want optimal Wi-Fi Internet access, the mobility of a laptop would serve you better than would a desktop.
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