Windows only wireless internet networks?

[litldude2]

Hey, So I am finally about to get a new computer. I have decided to get a mac mini but I have just been informed (by my stepdad who doesn’t want me to get a comptuer anyway) that the wireless dsl thing in our house only works with windows…

So I guess what I want to know is if he knows what he is talking about or if he is making stuff up so I won’t get it.

Does anyone have any info about that kind of thing? If the wireless network is really is only for windows and I bought a mac would I not be able to go online or would there be another way to fix it or something.

Thanks!

(If you can’t tell I don’t know anything really about that stuff)

[One_on_one]

Look here.

AirPort and Wireless Macintosh Networks

[litldude2]

Ok thanks.
I think I just found my answer at the apple website (I guess I should have looked there first;))

Join Any Network
Whether you’re exchanging files with Windows users or working in a Windows environment, Mac OS X Tiger keeps you in the fold. Sharing documents, pictures or music with your Windows friends is simple because Mac OS X is fully compatible with the standard formats these files come in. Connecting to a Windows networking environment or to network printers is equally problem-free. Mac OS X gives you everything you need to integrate your Mac into a Windows network right out of the box. Mac OS X users can even connect to the Microsoft Exchange server.

With Mac OS X Tiger, your Mac becomes the perfect network client in almost any environment, including open-platform businesses, universities and research labs. Your network compatibility even extends beyond Windows support. Because it’s based on open standards, Mac OS X works seamlessly with every major file server protocol, including AFP, SMB/CIFS, WebDAV and NFS file services running on Mac OS X Server, AppleShare, UNIX, Linux and Novell NetWare.

If anyone knows something that I don’t but probably should then let me know:)

[Gilby]

What is your home wireless network? If it’s the standard wifi, then it’ll work on a Mac, or any other computer that has the hardware. If it’s bluetooth, then no problem there. If it’s some weird proprietary thing that probably doesn’t exist, then he may be right.

[johnfoss]

My house has fiber-optic, which is essentially like cable but without the coaxial cable part. My non-Mac router plugs directly into that, and my Mac to the router. Mac uses the same protocols and other stuff that Windows does. It’s not a Windows or a Mac network, it’s just a network using standardized protocols. The only thing that’s different is some of the labeling of things. But that happens between Microsoft, Linksys, Netgear, etc. In other words, networks can still be a pain, even with a Mac.

Your stepdad is making stuff up. Tell him you’ll try to “hack” it. When it works, maybe he’ll thing you’re smarter than you are!