Are all Wi-Fi adapters the same?

A device that adds wireless connectivity to a computer or PDA. It is attached via a USB port, PC Card, memory card or is plugged into the PCI bus inside the computer. There are three types of wireless adapters: Wi-Fi, cellular and Bluetooth. Wi-Fi Adapters Wi-Fi adapters provide wireless connectivity to the local area network (LAN). Typically plugged into laptops, they can also be installed in desktop computers for wireless connectivity throughout a home or office. See network adapter, 802.11 and Wi-Fi.