Wireless N card in laptop

My friend is looking to buy a laptop and I was helping her go over specs online.

She'll need to buy a router also -- I have set up several Linksys Wireless G routers before.

We saw laptops with wireless G cards - but then one mentioned a wireless N card.

Is there an advantage to having the "N" card?
Is this new?
Can it work with any type of routers?
Will we have to get a wireless N router?
What about public WiFi - does the N card pick up those signals?

Thanks for your answers.

 

There is No 802.11n yet.

There is N Draft (or preN), and it is not guaranteed to work with the final N when it comes out.

To work as preN you need preN Router of the same brand, preN Routers are expensive.

N is downward compatible with 802.11g.

So if the Laptop with the preN is the same price as 802.11g get it otherwise get 802.11g since the preN at the end would would as 802.11g if it is not compatible with the 802.11n that would be out next year.

http://www.ezlan.net/faq.html#MIMO

.

 

great answer= thanks