This item is for a desktop computer. It gets installed inside a desktop computer and it is so you're able to connect an ethernet cable to the desktop to be able to get on the internet. It can't be used for a laptop. For a laptop with no built in wireless card theres two ways to go. If the laptop has a pcmcia card slot on the side you would want a wireless pcmcia card. A pcmcia card is a bit bigger than a credit card and thicker and is flat. If the laptop doesn't have the pcmcia slot then you would want to go with a usb wireless adapter. I've seen both of those items listed here on Listia.