no one has mentioned this bit, so here goes:
the standards for wireless have evolved. here's a good recap.
http://compnetworking.about.com/cs/wireless80211/a/aa80211standard.htm
I've been running wireless for over ten years. old router died, it was a 11 Mbps.
new router supports 802.11g - 100 Mbps speed.
"performance" of the wireless notebooks was noticeably better.
but . . .
you have to have the 802.11g on both ends - an older pc with a slower wireless card is not to to mystically work faster.
there's .11n also - been floating around for a while - not too popular just yet because the "standard" isn't "finalized" - but I could be out-of-date on that issue.
there's something in my house that 'degrades' the signal to one 2nd floor bedroom.
I used a "repeater" to solve that problem.
there are also systems that utilize the house wiring to 'carry' the wireless signal - the router "plugs into" the outlet, you need a plug in device/tranmitter for various spaces/areas. tad pricey but reportedly works very well if you have a "difficult" environment.
if you go wireless, do by all means:
- change the broadcast name of your 'network/router' - if you use the default "Linksys Model xyz" hackers have a serious advantage since the know the make and how to "attack" it.
- set up the security (not WEP - that's useless) using a maximum length key - write it down.
the key is 'stored' on your machines, you don't need to enter it every log on - so go for the max, most difficult password / pass phrase. there are web sites that will evaluate how 'hard' your suggested password/phrase is.
if you're going to go wireless in public places / access points, do _not_ set up any file or disk sharing on that machine.