theodork

I want to add wireless capability to my laptop but I don't like having PC cards sticking out (i break them) and i just like to keep things as streamlined as possible.

I've been playing around with several ideas including:

1. mini pci card using internal antennas stuffed under the keyboard/palm rest.
2. mini pci card using a blade antenna mounted to the back of my screen.
3. antennaless PC card using a blade antenna mounted to the back of my screen

I can't put the internal antennas into the screen because apparently the signal strength becomes very weak, maybe something to do with the material of the screen cover. Someone's tried this before and they told me signal strength with the internal antenna under the palm rests was comparable to their Belkin PC Card. Also if use an mpci card I'll lose my ethernet port and modem.

I would prefer to have everything internal, however if the blade antenna configurations give me noticably higher signal strength and functionality i may go that route. I would be using my laptop in and around my 2 story townhouse (apartment and adjoining friends apartments) and on my campus wireless network (in around library and classrooms).

So i guess the questions are:
what are reccomended minipci cards? I've been avoiding intel 2100b cards and looking at intel 2200bg and the atheros abg cards such as these:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...sPageName=WDVW
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...sPageName=WDVW
I just found a thread about MPCI cards so I'm reading this right now but seems to discuss mostly PC cards..

What are reccomended (but affordable) antennaless PC cards? I've seen some aironet cards, anything else available?

The antennas i've been looking at are like these:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...sPageName=WDVW
http://store.mrtechus.com/acnoan.html

So should i expect major improvement with blade antennas over internal antennas?

Thanks for any info yo uguys can give me