Although it's hard to imagine any computer without an Ethernet adapter nowadays, if your antiquated notebook isn't well equipped for connectivity, here's the device for you. The Belkin USB 10/100 Ethernet Adapter is a little plastic adapter that looks like a black minimouse with an RJ-45 port in front and a 12-inch cable. Just plug it into any USB port, install the software, and attach an RJ-45 cable. If all goes well (configuring networks is tedious no matter what computer you use), you'll be wired directly to either a local network or a cable or DSL modem.

The diminutive unit even has status lights to let you know when data is moving. It comes with a CD-ROM and an illustrated step-by-step instruction booklet. Even better, you get a lifetime warranty and free (not toll-free) technical support. One shortcoming: Belkin says that you'll be connected "at the speed of 10/100Base-T Ethernet." What the company doesn't say is that even though Ethernet can zip data along at 100 Mbps, USB plods at just 12 Mbps, so througHPut performance is poky. The good news is that the device gives you full network connectivity via any USB port.