# Silly Question about Macs

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-question-about-macs/417895>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 3, 2007, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-question-about-macs/417895 "2007-09-03T12:49:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 2007, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-question-about-macs/417895/1 "2007-09-03T12:49:35Z")

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So I have to take MIL computer shopping today. No problem. Except for one thing, she decided she wants a Mac. Now I don’t have a prolem with that at all, but as I told her, I know NOTHING about Macs at all. Since all she want’s is something to check her email and surf the internet on, I get the feeling (if it’s anything like PCs are these days) that it won’t matter which one she gets.

Anyways, here’s my question. Will a Mac connect to a Linksys wireless/wired router or do I have to get one of them Airport thingies?  
If I do have to get a Mac’s version of the router, will I be able to wirelessly connect a a Tivo (read: PC) to it?

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**Author:** ![MrFantsyPants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@MrFantsyPants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrFantsyPants)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 2007, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-question-about-macs/417895/2 "2007-09-03T12:52:59Z")

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Airport is just Apple’s name for 802.11b/g/n. I’ve been using macs with linksys, D-Link, NetGear wireless routers without issue. You’ll not have a problem.

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**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 2007, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-question-about-macs/417895/3 "2007-09-03T12:53:43Z")

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[QUOTE=MrFantsyPants]  
Airport is just Apple’s name for 802.11b/g/n. I’ve been using macs with linksys, D-Link, NetGear wireless routers without issue. You’ll not have a problem.  
[/QUOTE]

Thank You.  
I assumed there was a standard between the devices, just wanted to make sure.

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**Author:** ![Race\_Bannon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Race\_Bannon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Race_Bannon)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 2007, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-question-about-macs/417895/4 "2007-09-03T13:06:22Z")

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I just got a new iMac. I have it hooked up (wired) to my Linksys router, and have it networked (wireless) to my old Dell PC.