I type this on a pbook G3 laptop, using the Lucent PC card. I'm at my office. When I want to go home, I just walk out the door. When my compter wakes up, it recognizes my home Airport station, whether I'm using photoshop on my porch, quarkxpress in the kitchen, or ms word in the living room. I surf in bed on Sunday mornings while my wife grades her student's papers. Sure, I can't put my old 8100 on the network, but the flexibility far outweighs the minor hassle.
I received a few comments via email and I'd thought I'd share the response.
First, one reader said the PowerBook G3 (the one that looks like a PB 3400) is compatible with a 802.11b card, although he hadn't actually tested it on that machine. A long while ago, I asked a vendor if they supported the card on this machine and they waffled. His card (and others) may work, but the vendor wouldn't swear that it would. But I appreciate the tip and I will borrow a card and try it out.
In another message, Mike said I was all wrong about wireless and everything I needed was easily available:
"Lots more help is at http://practicallynetworked.com and I think it is a diservice to your readers to discourage them from using WiFi. It does have drawbacks (mostly speed) and is still more expensive than wires, but it is a viable and useful alternative for many people."
I am a believer in WiFi. My concern is that content creators will look first to wireless and ignore the obvious hardwired approach. And the advantages aren't just in connecting to broadband.
With my hardwired Ethernet network, I can easily share very large files between machines at 100-Mbit speeds. I think that's something that most content creators would want to do. While WiFi would be more convenient and elegant, I would be stuck with its much slower throughput when moving files around.
Hi,
Great article. I have a similar set up but with an access point in the basement and computers and laptops roaming two floors hardwire is out of the question.
"In addition, I'd like to put my printers on the network, but I want to locate them upstairs, away from the hardwired access point and router hardware. What would be useful is a wireless switch or hub that could connect the upstairs devices to the access point and router downstairs." - I use the Airport as a bridge to the hardwired network to solve this problem. It works fine.
Ken
Submitted by kensutton on Wed, 06/20/2001 - 04:42.
Unfortunately, implementing a wireless home access point is still cost prohibitive, wireless protocols are in constant flux, and 802.11b isn't secure enough.
Submitted by bomblogic on Wed, 06/20/2001 - 09:26.
David's right if you have old machines
I type this on a pbook G3 laptop, using the Lucent PC card. I'm at my office. When I want to go home, I just walk out the door. When my compter wakes up, it recognizes my home Airport station, whether I'm using photoshop on my porch, quarkxpress in the kitchen, or ms word in the living room. I surf in bed on Sunday mornings while my wife grades her student's papers. Sure, I can't put my old 8100 on the network, but the flexibility far outweighs the minor hassle.
The author chimes in with a couple of thoughts
I received a few comments via email and I'd thought I'd share the response.
First, one reader said the PowerBook G3 (the one that looks like a PB 3400) is compatible with a 802.11b card, although he hadn't actually tested it on that machine. A long while ago, I asked a vendor if they supported the card on this machine and they waffled. His card (and others) may work, but the vendor wouldn't swear that it would. But I appreciate the tip and I will borrow a card and try it out.
In another message, Mike said I was all wrong about wireless and everything I needed was easily available:
"Lots more help is at http://practicallynetworked.com and I think it is a diservice to your readers to discourage them from using WiFi. It does have drawbacks (mostly speed) and is still more expensive than wires, but it is a viable and useful alternative for many people."
I am a believer in WiFi. My concern is that content creators will look first to wireless and ignore the obvious hardwired approach. And the advantages aren't just in connecting to broadband.
With my hardwired Ethernet network, I can easily share very large files between machines at 100-Mbit speeds. I think that's something that most content creators would want to do. While WiFi would be more convenient and elegant, I would be stuck with its much slower throughput when moving files around.
Thanks for reading,
daviD M.
Using Apple Airport as a bridge
Hi,
Great article. I have a similar set up but with an access point in the basement and computers and laptops roaming two floors hardwire is out of the question.
"In addition, I'd like to put my printers on the network, but I want to locate them upstairs, away from the hardwired access point and router hardware. What would be useful is a wireless switch or hub that could connect the upstairs devices to the access point and router downstairs." - I use the Airport as a bridge to the hardwired network to solve this problem. It works fine.
Ken
Home use getting there
Unfortunately, implementing a wireless home access point is still cost prohibitive, wireless protocols are in constant flux, and 802.11b isn't secure enough.