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Superchicken · Dec 12, 2004, 11:35 PM

Apple pushes AirPort a LOT, that said, today I was trying to create a network using one PowerBook as a base station for a network and having an iBook connect to that network so they could see each-other. Needless to say I'll be asking for help in the networking forum as soon as exams are done (I'm debating getting a APE Card myself) we'd like to have the ability to go wireless with our laptops in dorm despite the School's ban on wireless access points (thus use one of the two Macs in dorm with AirPort cards as the base station) But this is not so easily configured as I thought it would be. I seriously think Apple should look at making a specific pref pane area for AirPort.

Randman · Dec 13, 2004, 12:12 AM

You can access everything from the AirPort icon in the menu bar.

Earth Mk. II · Dec 13, 2004, 01:10 AM

AirPort menu item -> Create Network...

Any visible networks in range are listed in the menu item as well - just select one to join. If the network is closed, you just have to know the name of the network.

What's so complex about that?

As for an AirPort PrefPane, what about the AirPort configuration options under the Network pane? What are they lacking that having a discrete AirPort PrefPane would fill in?

eevyl · Dec 13, 2004, 04:49 AM

I think Apple treatment for Airport settings is really nice, there is always room for improve of course, but I have suffered the pains of WiFi setup on Windows, and that's gross.

I find the Airport Assistant, the "Internet Connection" and the Network preference pane as helpful as they can be, specially the Assistant. I guess most people stay away from those based on experiences on the other side

macintologist · Dec 13, 2004, 05:45 AM

Originally posted by Superchicken:
Apple pushes AirPort a LOT, that said, today I was trying to create a network using one PowerBook as a base station for a network and having an iBook connect to that network so they could see each-other. Needless to say I'll be asking for help in the networking forum as soon as exams are done (I'm debating getting a APE Card myself) we'd like to have the ability to go wireless with our laptops in dorm despite the School's ban on wireless access points (thus use one of the two Macs in dorm with AirPort cards as the base station) But this is not so easily configured as I thought it would be. I seriously think Apple should look at making a specific pref pane area for AirPort.

Dude this is really easy. I use a FP iMac at home as an Airport base station and that's how I get an airport signal in my room for internet on teh Powerbook.

Go on the Mac with the existing internet connection (most likely Ethernet connection). Open the Sharing preference pane. Go to Internet tab. Select Share connection from Ethernet onto Airport. Then you can configure whether you want your new airport signal to be password protected or not. Start sharing, the voila!

ManOfSteal · Dec 13, 2004, 05:52 AM

No use cluttering System Preferences with yet another prefPane...

msuper69 · Dec 13, 2004, 06:34 AM

Apple preferred not to.

macintologist · Dec 13, 2004, 06:47 AM

The Airport preference pane is Internet Connect.app

It has everything, including VPN and 802.11x

Spheric Harlot · Dec 13, 2004, 06:50 AM

I'm not sure if breaking the logic of the preference interface is a good idea for something that is usually set once, and once only. (Read: "a separate prefpane for Airport would be very stupid AND unnecessary from an interface standpoint")

Everything that needs to be done on-the-fly, like joining existing networks, creating a computer-to-computer network, etc., can be done from the menu extra.

-s*

Goldfinger · Dec 13, 2004, 10:28 AM

Originally posted by Spheric Harlot:
I'm not sure if breaking the logic of the preference interface is a good idea for something that is usually set once, and once only. (Read: "a separate prefpane for Airport would be very stupid AND unnecessary from an interface standpoint")

Everything that needs to be done on-the-fly, like joining existing networks, creating a computer-to-computer network, etc., can be done from the menu extra.

-s*

Date and Time, Keyboard/Mouse settings, Country settings, Classic prefs, software update prefs, CD & DVD prefs, Energy settings etc. Are all usually set once as well.

I don't think it's a bad idea to make the AirPort Utility into a prefPane or make it part of the Networking prefPane.

OptimusG4 · Dec 13, 2004, 10:50 AM

Originally posted by Goldfinger:
Date and Time, Keyboard/Mouse settings, Country settings, Classic prefs, software update prefs, CD & DVD prefs, Energy settings etc. Are all usually set once as well.

I don't think it's a bad idea to make the AirPort Utility into a prefPane or make it part of the Networking prefPane.

It is part of the Networking preference pane. It only shows up though if there is an airport card installed on the machine.

Goldfinger · Dec 13, 2004, 11:28 AM

Originally posted by OptimusG4:
It is part of the Networking preference pane. It only shows up though if there is an airport card installed on the machine.

Nope, AirPort utility can do stuff that you can't do in the Networking prefPane. I'm not at a location where I have a basestation right now so I can't check it to be 100% sure, but I'm quite sure about it.

Amorya · Dec 13, 2004, 01:05 PM

Originally posted by Goldfinger:
Nope, AirPort utility can do stuff that you can't do in the Networking prefPane. I'm not at a location where I have a basestation right now so I can't check it to be 100% sure, but I'm quite sure about it.

Different things.

Airport utility is for setting up a base station - something that's totally unrelated to the setup of your computer, and so doesn't go in system prefs.

Airport pane of network prefs is for setting up airport on your computer.

It would be stupid to combine them!

Amorya

OptimusG4 · Dec 13, 2004, 01:14 PM

My mistake, I misread and thought it just said Airport should be in the Networking pane. :/

Boondoggle · Dec 14, 2004, 05:54 AM

In all, Airport is pretty easy to use.

I have a few gripes with the Airport interface though...

First is the annoying "Use Interference Robustness" option with no explanation. It is not in the Help anywhere. What are the consqueces? When should you need it? If there are no consequences, then why isn't it always on? (note that these are questions a user might seek from the interface, don't feel compelled to answer).

Second is there is no obvious way to edit your list of trusted networks, You are presented with a dialog asking if you want to add a network, but then what if you change your mind? As far as I can tell you are stuck with it.

spiggott · Dec 14, 2004, 07:24 AM

Interference robustnes works great for me when my wife is on the cordless phone (2.4 GHz) and between me and the base station. If I don't use it, I usually get dropped off the network when she's on the phone. Also, when the microwave is in use, AirTunes drops off completely without intereference robustness enabled. I know that's not a technical explanation of how it works, but a couple of real world examples to give you an idea of what it does.

shortcipher · Dec 14, 2004, 07:32 AM

Originally posted by spiggott:
Interference robustnes works great for me when my wife is on the cordless phone (2.4 GHz) and between me and the base station. If I don't use it, I usually get dropped off the network when she's on the phone. Also, when the microwave is in use, AirTunes drops off completely without intereference robustness enabled. I know that's not a technical explanation of how it works, but a couple of real world examples to give you an idea of what it does.

sounds good, but what's the downside? there must be a downside otherwise it'd be on all the time and it wouldn't be an option.

-Q- · Dec 14, 2004, 08:34 AM

Originally posted by shortcipher:
sounds good, but what's the downside? there must be a downside otherwise it'd be on all the time and it wouldn't be an option.

I *think* I recall reading that it can impact network transmission speeds, but I'm completely talking out of my hat here as I don't know for sure.

And to stay on topic, the Aiport options are perfect right where they are. You have many connection possibilities, Airport being one of them, and all those connections are handled admirably in the Network pref pane.

Although a way to edit/change your trusted networks would be nice...

jasong · Dec 14, 2004, 09:31 AM

Remember back in OS 8-9 when configuring your network settings meant using the Airport Control Panel, the Internet Control Panel, the Modem Control Panel, the Remote Access Control Panel, and the TCP/IP Control Panel?

It got even better if you had PPOE, because then you got to add the MacPoet control panel to the mix as well.

I think I prefer the current layout.

Also, for some users Date/Time is not set it and forget it. People who travel need to change their time zones frequently. Same with Energy Saver preferences too. You're right about the other ones though.

-- Jason

Boondoggle · Dec 14, 2004, 01:08 PM

Originally posted by spiggott:
Interference robustnes works great for me when my wife is on the cordless phone (2.4 GHz) and between me and the base station. If I don't use it, I usually get dropped off the network when she's on the phone. Also, when the microwave is in use, AirTunes drops off completely without intereference robustness enabled. I know that's not a technical explanation of how it works, but a couple of real world examples to give you an idea of what it does.

Thanks but as I said in my first post, those are questions that a user might expect answered by the interface, or at least the help system. Options with no explanations are bad UI Mojo. Most users are going to figure out that this option will help with interference, but again (and again, this is for the interface to answer) what is the downside? Sure there is a probable downside, but it should be clearly stated in the Help at least if not in the UI itself.

As for the list of trusted networks, You can add them, but not apparently take them away... I notice that nobody here took a stab at answering that one.... Of course I know there is probably a plist somplace that could be edited, but that is hardly the point since we're talking about the UI. You are asked to commit a network to your "trusted" list with no apparent UI option to remove it later if the trust is no longer justified. Maybe I'm missing somthing, but I can't find that list anywhere. That also is bad UI, refering to a document that for all practical UI purposes does not exist, or is too hard to find and not even refered to in the Help.

That being said, I think over all Airport works well and is easier to use than the competition.

bd