If I could fine a version that actually worked reliably with WiFi adapters, I would be pleased as punch. I had a Nix on my daughter's laptop and it "worked" on and off, put XP Pro on it, works 100% FB now. Shame, Nix has got a lot going for it.
Linux and WiFi
I have found that Suse 10.0, 10.1, 10.2 & now 10.3 all work well with wifi adapters
PCLinuxOS also works well with wifi adapters and it comes with a live CD, think that is what they are called
Kubuntu also works well with wifi adapters and it comes with a live CD, that that is what they are called
Ubuntu is sold with some Dell desktop and Laptop machines and all will communate with wifi adapters
the list goes on and on but I have to go have a cup of coffee
Hope this helps someone.
If your having problems with a WiFi adapter it may be that the used wifi card that you bought from someone at the hamfest is damaged in some way. Borrow a wifi card from someone you know and be sure it is working before you borrow it. Easy way to check to see if it is working or not is to plug it into your windows machine and boot it up.
If it is working OK, windows will recognize it. It it isn't working than windows will just ignore it and continue on about its business.
DLink, NetGear and several others all make WiFi cards that are compatible with Linux so you shouldn't have a problem locating a WiFi card that will work with your daughters computer.
Tried it, don't like it - to many issues that I can't find a way to resolve that I should be able to but the thing doesn't cooperate to do so. - Big one being the non-english & regional stuff.
Vixta -- I looked at it but decided not to bother.
I am happy with openSuse 10.3
But admitedly I was curious so was going to load it on an old laptop.
When I got message that I had to have at least a gig of memory I removed it from the drive and put it through the shreader.
Broadcom Wi-Fi chipsets are pure evil. Ndiswrapper is too flaky and the reverse engineered drivers are quite lacking. 801.11g doesn't work with the open source Broadcom drivers.
"We look at the present through a rear-view mirror. We march backwards into the future." -- Marshall McLuhan
