do i need a USB for a linksys connection?

[Preston]

so i have a new laptop and on my old computer i needed a linksys USB port adapter thing. but my friend says that i dont need one of those for my laptop. so i tried to connect entering the right password in and everything but it did not work. i put in the USB and tried it and then i got connected.

do i NEED the the USB or can i do something else