For the orinoco_cs it was recognized off the bat. It is a Linksys wpc11 version 2. But now use the wlan-ng driver with it. Much cleaner module.
The prism54 one is a Netgear wg511 version 2 Made In Taiwan Version, NOT China. Read this post to understand.
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...hreadid=295200
Then use a Linksys wpc55ag for tri mode support (A,B,and G networks) using madwifi
Don't do much hotspot surfing but when at friends I have written scripts to modiy the needed config files to automate the down of the needed nics, modify the config files, and bring back up what is needed.
Yes both are the same
etc/sysconfig/networking/devices/ifcfg-ath0
etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-ath0
but I only modify the ones in /etc/sysconfig/networking-scripts. Edit the other can cause havic if certain services are not down. Very long story.
NetworkManager I here is good but I am old school and like scripts. This teaches me how the real linux works beyound the gui. Been in computers for over 20 years back when tandy trs-80 model 3 to IBM 8080's with dos 2.11, through the windows saga, OS2 warp 2.0 through 4.0 for over 5 years. Got into linux about 8 years ago with kernel 2.0 with KDE 1.0 Gnome 1.0 to current 2.6.16.12 kernel, KDE 3.5.2 on AMD64 Centos 4.4+ customized.
As far as a favorite I can't say. They were all fun setting up especially the Netgear when I first had the China Version. Ndiswrapper work fine on it though. Sometimes I borrow some from friends to experimnet with. 95% work well with ndiswrapper if no modules exist.
Hope this answered many of the questions.
Brian1