Why would only 1 brand of NIC card work???

[Tekk]

I dont actually use the wireless connection at my school and Im no expert at how it works, I just know the basics. But apparently, to be able to even connect to the wireless a student has to purchase only one specific brand of wireless card. According to the pamphlet I have in front of me its the Cisco Aironet. Why would this card be the only one that works? I have not tested but people I have talked to who have wireless capability built into their Dell or whatever brand laptops even say they have tried other brands and they can never get them to work. Is this a sort of way to not allow possible passers-by to just hop onto the network and do malicious things? Im just wondering cause it seems a little ridiculous that we are limited to ONE specific brand that costs approx $120 last I was told.

Oh and Im also extremely *explitive* peeved because I found out that this quarter my Business Law class bought a new edition for the text book so instead of using my friends book from last quarter, I have to shell out $150 for my stupid book. And how appropriate is it that the teacher receives compensation for each sale of the book because he's on the editing board for it!!! HAHAH!!!! what a *explitive*.

[Telexen]

It shouldn't matter...but I'm scared about it too starting college next semester. I admined a wireless network in my high school...we had several times of wireless NICs and wireless USB adapters...all worked just fine on one type of Access point

[rockpile]

Is your college state or private just curious?

[cbuddha42]

well which one do they want you to get.....if they want you to get a 350 series then thats just a normal b card but there is also a aironet a card which means its 5ghz not 2.4 so it would not be compatiable with peoples b or g cards

[Tekk]

Its a state school. Hmm..ya know it doesn't say specifically which one you are supposed to buy but I'll look into it.