imac wireless n

[ted6967]

hello people! I'm new to the forum and need some help. i have a(n) imac power pc G3, 500 MHz, using mac os 10.3.9. I'm also new to the apple family. I've had windows all my life till my old 'puter died and inherited this mac. I'm a new man! Just recently moved and got a netgear router for the apartment and trying to set up my imac to the net wirelessly (it worked fine hookesd up to the modem throught the ethernet cable). so went to Staples and was told that the netgear wireless-n usb adapter was the way to go. Well my puter isn't reading the supplied disk properly and I'd like to know my options! What am i doing wrong, or what can/should I do?
Thanx u for any help

 

[samh004]

I have heard that a certain USB wireless adaptor doesn't work with macs, although it is purported to be able to. I don't know if this is the one you are referring to.

Your iMac doesn't have an 802.11n capable card in it, and you can't upgrade it to one without some modifications for antennas and such I'd imagine. I'm not even sure if that version of iMac has 802.11g.

However check that the included documentation with the USB adaptor says it supports macs, check it supports both PPC and Intel (universal) with the emphasis being PPC. If it's only an Intel native adaptor and thus drivers, then it wont run on your machine.

You could buy an original Airport card if need be and use that, however your speed would be 802.11b only.

 

[ted6967]

thanx sam, that is what i was afraid of, that it just won't work on my imac. i appreciate the feedback

 

[LouisBlack]

Also, the USB ports on a G3 iMac are 1.1 and therefore not fast enough to take advantage of n speeds even if the adapter did work...