In message
<none-2403111325140001@dialup-4.231.173.213.dial1.losangeles1.level3.net>
someone claiming to be none@given.now (Joe) typed:

>There is a city-sponsored wifi connection to the internet where I live.
>
>I currently use dialup for my access to the internet, so the wifi most
>likely will be a lot faster if it works at all for me.

Most likely.

>I have never used wifi in any form, so I would like to find out about
>hardware and software requirements, and also about how to be as secure
>as possible in connecting to this wifi.
>
>I have a Quicksilver Mac, 867 MHz with OS 10.5.8.
>
>This computer was built in late 2002, and is "Airport Ready", that is it
>will take an airport card, but does not now have it.
>
>Some folks have claimed that the Apple Airport Express will connect to the
>city-sponsored wifi, being used *instead* of that airport card - something
>about "client mode". The people at the Apple on-line store say that the
>airport card is necessary and that the Airport Express is just a wireless
>router.
>
>Any info, including where to get more info would be appreciated.

The easiest/best approach is to get an Airport card, this will allow you
to connect to any or all wifi hotspots as desired without needing
external dongles and cables.

An Airport Express *might* do the trick, but it depends somewhat on the
wifi network (at least in my experience it can act as a client in most
wifi networks, but I had trouble in at least one place when I was
traveling with one)

I'd also guess that an Airport Express will cost more, although I
haven't researched it lately.