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yg17 · Jul 13, 2003, 12:01 AM

I'm getting an iBook or Powerbook soon, and if I get a Powerbook, of course I'll get a 802.11g router, but if I get a iBook, I'll save some cash and get 802.11b

Today as I was walking around at work making shelves look all nice and neat, I came across this MS wireless base station. I took a look at it, it's 802.11b/WiFi compliant, then I took another look at the Sale sign in front of it. It's normally $80, down to $60 at Target (it's a long term markdown, or "Extra Special Value" for Target peeps; sale is over in September.....) then I can knock 6 more bucks off of that with my employee discount. $54 for a wireless router is a hell of a deal based on what I've seen, but a few things worried me,

1. It's Microsoft. It will be for a Mac. I read the manual and it has a web based interface for configuring it and I probably don't need to use their software. But, notice I said probably. Wouldn't suprise me if M$ pulled some crap where you had to use Windows to set it up. I do have an XP box on the wired network, but would rather not install any more junk and waste more resources on that 4 year old heap of junk.

2. Is it any good? M$ has had some good products (XBox) but then they've had some horrible products (Windows ME) Is this one of their good products or bad products?

So, has anyone had any experience with an iBook (or any Mac w/Airport) and this M$ base station? I see no reason why it wouldn't work, especially since I do have an XP machine, but it's Microsoft we're talking about, they do some crazy stuff.

Thanks

Angus_D · Jul 13, 2003, 06:37 AM

The cheapest/best 802.11b WAP seems to be the Netgear MR814. It's about $40 or something.

aaanorton · Jul 13, 2003, 11:01 AM

37 bucks today.
And if you're just going to have the one computer (iBook or PB), there's absolutely no reason to pay for a .11g network. Even if you have other computers that you want to connect, for the most part .11b will be fine. Save some cash and just get .11b.

ghporter · Jul 13, 2003, 01:15 PM

1) Microsoft is playing all nice and friendly with their wireless networking stuff. If it says you configure it via browser, then that's all it takes.

2) In general, Microsoft's biggest goofs have been with software, not hardware. Further, they don't make the chips that go into the wireleless part. There are only about two or three chip makers that produce 802.11b chips, so it would be hard for any vendor to screw up the hardware. As for firmware to run the box, I dunno.

3) Listen to aaanorton-the Netgear MR-814 has a proven track record with both Mac and Windows clients (including mixed networks-it even works with Linux clients), and it's loads cheaper than the Microsoft box, even after your discount.

peterthorn · Jul 13, 2003, 03:07 PM

Just another recommendation - both for the Netgear MR814 v2, which is very easy to setup and use and for the good advices from GHPorter & aaanorton - they are absolutely worth listening to!

yg17 · Jul 13, 2003, 04:39 PM

Thanks for the Netgear link, I saved the rebate PDF in case I go with that. Does anyone know, if I buy the router, say at BestBuy, Circuit City or some other retail store if that rebate is still valid? AFAIK, Best Buy had some Netgear stuff on sale today in their weekly ad. Plus, no shipping costs and instant gratification

ghporter · Jul 13, 2003, 04:59 PM

Rebates are often very specific to whom (or where) you get the product from. Read the PDF very carefully, particularly any "valid only..." text, to see if there's any limitation on it.

I agree that "instant gratification" is a great thing, but you can put a real dollar value on that gratification if the rebate isn't valid for a brick-and-mortar purchase.

queritor · Jul 13, 2003, 06:24 PM

Originally posted by yg17:
Wouldn't suprise me if M$ pulled some crap where you had to use Windows to set it up.

You mean the same way that Apple requires you to use a Mac to set up their base stations?

OpenStep · Jul 13, 2003, 07:24 PM

Originally posted by queritor:
You mean the same way that Apple requires you to use a Mac to set up their base stations?

To easily set it up, yes. I gave my friend my old original ABS and he managed to configure it on his Dell with some wierd java apps (took 3 hours to figure out how to get it working). I'd recommend the 814 also, my friend got a new iBook and we bought one of these for him. So far it has worked great. Seeing how cheap it is I might order one for myself to replace the flaky Linksys/AEBS/8 Port Switch setup I have rigged together now.