Do I need a new computer to connect to broadband?
This depends entirely on how old your computer is. If it’s over ten years old, then it is quite likely that you will need to update your computer, because the version of operating system that is installed may not be adequate enough to handle the advances that the Internet has seen over the past ten years. Broadband speeds are much faster today, but if your computer is no more than five years old there is absolutely no reason why you should not be able to connect without any real issues.
Is there anything else that I might need, before I can connect to broadband?
If you decide that you want to connect wirelessly you may need to purchase additional hardware; wireless internet is incredibly convenient, as it allows any member of the household to use the Internet in whatever room they wish, you may have to purchase a ‘Wireless Router’ that connects via a cable in the wall, to your ‘base’ computer. Unless your house is the size of London, the router’s signal should be able to reach any room in your home.
You should check to see if your computer has built-in Wi-Fi capabilities. All recent laptops come with this as standard, but older models may not. If yours does not have one you will need to purchase an adaptor in order to connect wirelessly to your broadband. These devices can be purchased at any computer shop and are quite inexpensive.