Where the network cable goes in And stops my packets from wandering Where they willl gooooooo-ooooo Oh oh oh oh oh oh So, I have a Dell desktop I bought the last time I needed a PC and didn't feel like building one (a couple of years back). The network adapter is flaking out on it and needs to be replaced. OH WOOPS they're baked into the mother board now. I'm using wireless currently. Given that my desktop PC is about 3 feet from my wireless base station this may not be much of an issue. But I am putting up a poll so you can make decisions for me!
My answer depends on whether you have other devices you can directly connect via cable to your base station/router/modem/whatever if the need were to arise. If the time ever comes where you need to install a firmware update of some sort into one of those types of devices you wouldn't want to be doing that via Wi-Fi, as you'd likely as not brick whatever it is you're updating. I've also felt the need to be a bit more cautious about managing certain permissions and settings on certain types of hardware while directly connected, in case I stupidly block my own Wi-Fi access or something in inadvertently. If you don't think firmware updates and the like are a future concern, or you already have other devices you can connect in a pinch, then I see no reason not to stick to wireless.
GbE >>> Any wireless currently known to man. Get the NIC. You don't even need to go to that length. Just having it unplugged makes it a nonfactor as far as everything else goes. This is as close to plug and play as you'll get, Lum. Super easy.
I say we take off and nuke the site from orbi.... sorry. FFS buy an iMac. It'll work, look sexy and piss off so many other people that the day that government/private enterprise learns to generate power off envy/shadenfruede/nerdrage we'll all be sorted.
The important thing is to fill the old Ethernet jack with epoxy or modeling clay so no packets leak out where you can smell them.
I purchased an ethernet to USB adapter for my laptop after a similar problem, and haven't had any problems with it in the last three months.
