Review on High-performance TRENDnet 54Mbps Wireless G USB Adapter TEW-424UB - Boost Your Wireless Connectivity by Elijah Pope

I bought this because I needed to WiFi-enable an old desktop computer, but I didn't want to spend a lot of money on it. For the most part it works very well as hardware and stays in touch. However, it's not perfect out of the box. Two suggestions that work great for me: 1. I installed it on a WinXP computer and found that I had to install the driver from the CD that came with this adapter because WinXP didn't recognize it automatically. However, the Trendnet WiFi utility that installs with it is really buggy as others have pointed out. For a more reliable experience, go to your wireless settings and check the box that says "Let Windows manage my connection." Also, disable Trendnet Utility from running on Windows (but don't uninstall it, as this will also remove the required driver). The standard Windows wireless utility manages the connection much better. If you find your signal is weak, use a USB 2.0 extension cable to disconnect this adapter from your computer. I found that my signal improved greatly as a result. Remember that Wi-Fi signals are strongest when there are fewer obstacles (walls, thick objects like a computer) between the router and the adapter.