[philm]

According to apple.com, the following iMacs are Airport-ready:

iMac (Slot Loading)
iMac (Summer 2000) - See Note 2
iMac (Early 2001)
iMac (Summer 2001)

I have about six iMacs at work which are about three years old. How can I tell if they are 'Summer 2000' or 'Early 2001' for example?

Cheers, Phil

[slider]

The summer 2000 iMacs are in the original iMac Colors, but are less opaque; you can see through the plastic. All the other iMacs with the exception of the Indigo 350 iMac are airport ready. The indigo 350 came out as Apple econo mac and lacked the Airport upgrade option. The if the iMacs are indigo, ruby, sage, snow, graphite and flower, or dalmation, with the exception of the 350 iMac indigo, you're all set. None of the 1st gen. iMac, are airport ready. So if you have an indigo, if the processor is 350 Mhz, it's not airport ready.

[MacNStein]

One exception to the above post.

The slot-loading blueberry iMac (light blue) is 350MHz and is Airport ready. My GF uses it, and I installed an Airport card in it for her web access and email.

[slider]

That would be the summer 2000 iMac which is not indiglo and is not opaque. The list is correct, it can get confusing after years of the same exterior design. I remember a huge debate about how the summer iMacs should should be called Generation 2 Revision A, but that never caught on, it would have made things simpiler now.

[gto47]

If its a slot load model (350mhz-700mhz) it IS airport capable. If it is a tray load (233mhz-333mhz) it is not airport card capable, in which case i suggest you instead buy an ethernet-to-802.1x or usb-to-802.1x device (the former being preferable for compatability).

[philm]

Originally posted by gto47:
If its a slot load model (350mhz-700mhz) it IS airport capable. If it is a tray load (233mhz-333mhz) it is not airport card capable, in which case i suggest you instead buy an ethernet-to-802.1x or usb-to-802.1x device (the former being preferable for compatability).

I didn't know that you could get a ethernet to wireless bridge! Something like this I guess.

These are about the same price as an airport card - seems a great and cheap option.

Do they work. I can just use this with my existing Airport base station, right?

Thanks for everyone's input - very helpful as ever.

[slider]

I think you might find these links useful, note that the summer 2000 indigo 350 slot loading iMac is NOT Airport compatible.


http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58658

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58669

There several ethernet to WLAN adaptors, and there are USB Adaptors too. Such as:

http://www.macmall.com/macmall/shop/...sp?dpno=222092

you can shop around at macmall or anyother mac retailer and get an idea of what is available. I have personally not used any of these products so I can not offer anything beyond this. Good luck with your project.

[bink]

I am using a Belkin 6050 USB on my rev. D iMac and it works well. Was something like $25. refurbished. Need to download the mac X driver and manual from their website cause the included CD only has PC software. Setup was simple. YMMV

Rich