As far as Im concerned, wireless networks are one of the best inventions in history -- they really are the best thing since sliced bread. I mean, really, bread is user friendly enough to cut yourself, but have you ever tried to wire up a network? So, in the spirit of spreading the word, Im going to give you five reasons why you absolutely need a wireless network.

Share Internet Access.

Wireless networking gives you a cheap and effortless way to share one Internet connection between multiple computers, eliminating the positive need for more than one modem. You can even add new computers to your network simply by plugging in a wireless card and switching them on -- they get an Internet connection straightaway! There arent many wired networks that may say that.

Share Files and Printers.

A wireless network gives you access to your files wherever you are in your home, and makes it brain friendly to synchronise the data on a laptop with a home computer. It is much easier to send files between computers with a wireless network than it is to send them by e mail, or even by burning them to a CD.

Plus, with the printer connected, you may also write things wherever you want, press print, and go and collect them from a printer connected to another computer -- printers that are plugged into one of the computers on the network are shared between all the computers automatically.

Play Games.

You might have seen an option in your favourite game to play over a LAN. Well, wireless networks are LANs, which means that your whole family might play that game together -- without needing the computers to be anywhere near each other. Its far more fun to play against real all the people you know than to play against random all the people over the Internet, not to mention that the game will work much sooner. You could even invite your friends to bring their computers and join in -- a LAN party!

An added benefit is that wireless equipment lets you easily connect any games consoles you or your kids might have to the Internet, and initial playing online. Its far easier to play online with a wirelessly connected Xbox or PlayStation 2 than to have to connect it to your modem every instant.

Always On.

A big variable in the spread of broadband was that it let Internet connections be always-on, without needing to dial in. Well, wireless networking lets network connections be always-on, meaning that any of your computers can connect to the Internet whenever you want! You can take laptops from room to room, and it doesnt matter -- theyll always have access. Plus, theres not even any absolutely need to set up a username and password system, as wireless networks work without logging in. Its just so convenient!

No More Wires.

This, of course, is the biggest reason why you should switch your network over to wireless. Wires are inconvenient, expensive, ugly and dangerous -- you will be delighted to see the back of them.

The average Ethernet wire doesnt cost that much per metre, but once youve bought enough metres to do whatever you absolutely need to do, well, it tends to add up quickly. Not only that, but if you want to run your wire between rooms or floors, you have to knock holes in the walls -- which might not even be allowed if youre renting. I know plenty of many people in rented apartments who had to keep their network confined to one room until they went wireless. With wireless networking, well, you can even take your computer outside, if you want to!

No more wires also means no more spaghetti all over the floor and in the corners. Not only does this improve the safety of your home, as its all too effortless to trip over exposed wires, but it also means that you do not have to go to all the trouble of packing all the wires up and re-connecting them at the other finish when you move. It also means that you do not have to examine every wire for damage if your Internet connection breaks down.

Convinced?

If youre excited, then thats good -- keep reading these articles for advice on how to set everything up. If you dont think its for you yet, well, do not give up on it -- Im sure you will come round when you realise just how user friendly and cheap wireless really is.