Why? It was the only answer possible.
I worked for a client who gave me a laptop that was very old. The WiFi adapter was limited in the speed it could connect. I experienced screen sharing problems because of its slow ability with Zoom telling me my network was unstable. Yes, just the old adapter part of it.
So instead of complain to the consulting company I forked over $80 to buy an external USB/WiFi adapter. It had excellent reviews and worked perfectly.
In life you have to ask yourself if you can solve it yourself and if you can then do so. Being perceived as a solutions provider and not a problems provider is vital in a work environment.
Could I have fixed it with software? No. I didn’t have admin access on the laptop. Could I have called the help desk? Sure but I had already called them twice with my first hardware issue on my first laptop and with problems getting onboard. Too many help desk calls in a short period of time makes it seem like you are problem. Is getting old hardware a tool that is helpful for employees? No, but you do the best with what you have.
Life doesn’t require the best tools, just that we can find solutions for the tools we are given.