09-20-2002, 08:00 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Microsoft Hardware Shares the Broadband
http://www.internetnews.com/infra/article.php/1466201
And so it begins - Microsoft has entered the networking arena. Remember that rumour about them offering PCs as well? We'll have to see if that comes true, but for now, you can buy Microsoft-branded Wifi gear. The question is, will you? I'm not that familiar with prices (I bought my gear a while back), so do you find the Microsoft offer compelling?
"Long expected and finally arrived (though not on sale for a couple more weeks), Microsoft today made public its Broadband Networking line of products. The line includes both wireless and wired components targeted at home and small office networks looking to share a high speed Internet connection. The wireless side of the Broadband Networking line are all Intersil PRISM-based 802.11b products capable of 11Mbps. They include a Wireless Base Station router (MN-500, $149.95) with integrated 4-port switch for Internet sharing, a Wireless Notebook Adapter (MN-520, $79.95), and a Wireless USB Adapter (MN-510, $79.95). You can save $10 by buying a kit, which will include a Base Station with either the USB or PC Card adapter.
The wired end consists of 10/100Mbps Ethernet products. There's a Base Station router (MN-100, $79.95) and a 5-Port Switch (MN-150, $39.95), plus three Network Interface Cards: USB (MN-110, $29.95), PC Card (MN-120, $39.95) and PCI (MN-130, $24.95)...Microsoft hopes to deliver unique ease of use with features such as a Setup Wizard which detects the ISP or modem settings to automatically configure the products. The Setup Wizard copies all the network settings to a Set-up Disk for storage and easy reinstall if needed, and can be used to transport settings to your other PCs on the network. An included utility provides access to software updates and network status."
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09-20-2002, 08:07 PM
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Mystic
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,768
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evil smokes
Jeepers... that is expensive for a home unit.
Does anyone know if the router supports multiple sub-nets so I can have a DMZ static IP address in one zone and NAT+DHCP dynamic IPs in the other? I have yet to find a consumer router that does this properly... they are either one or the other.
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Jonathan (JonnoB)
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." -Edmund Burke
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09-20-2002, 08:08 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 72
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Rebranded Linksys kit. Nice though, because 128-bit WEP is on by default, so regular people should end up with more secure networks.
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09-20-2002, 08:16 PM
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09-20-2002, 08:24 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 72
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Well, while it is possible, I doubt that Microsoft set up a dedicated production line for a few pieces of SOHO networking gear. Online sources still do say it is rebranded Linksys kit. (It's new, so that may prove to be false later on.) Not that that's a bad thing - I've had good experiences with their stuff and they do have over 40% of the marketshare in that area.
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09-20-2002, 09:31 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 40
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MS Hardware
Is Microsoft going to follow standard protocol and wait until the 3rd release of this networking hardware before they finally get it right? 
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09-20-2002, 09:37 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 95
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Re: MS Hardware
Quote:
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Originally Posted by scrinch
Is Microsoft going to follow standard protocol and wait until the 3rd release of this networking hardware before they finally get it right? |
While we all know this is true for software, they do have some really nice hardware products. My mouse and keyboard are from Microsoft, and it doesn't get any better then this.
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09-20-2002, 09:54 PM
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Neophyte
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 1
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by bblock
Actually, it's not rebranded, and it's quite a bit cheaper than Apple's wireless hub.
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Cheaper than Apple? Sure, but what isn't? (And I'm an Apple user.)
I wonder if MS's MSRPs will be the actual sale price, or if the street prices will be cheaper. If the street prices are even somewhat cheaper than the suggested prices, then they should be extremely competitive with other 802.11b systems.
I'm a bit surprised that MS is so late in the game with 802.11b though. I guess they wanted to offer their stuff at a low price, but 802.11a or 802.11g (whichever ends up gaining traction) products are already out there and will be proliferating in the next couple of years.
I'm sure they just expect people to upgrade to the next version of their wireless hardware.
Having said that, 802.11b is just fine for my needs, and I'm all for things getting less expensive. 
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09-21-2002, 01:07 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 147
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As usual, nothing for us Pocket PC users. 
Why no CF? Not everyone wants a sleeve or an adapter.
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Jonathan Rogers
Email
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09-21-2002, 01:39 AM
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Pupil
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 42
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OFF TOPIC
Quote:
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Originally Posted by JonathanWardRogers
Why no CF? Not everyone wants a sleeve or an adapter.
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CF ? You're talking about the Compact Framework, I assume ? :lol:
MS sent me "Everett" a couple of weeks ago, and as much as I hate to admit it, this is one sweet product from the MS stable.
(that's the one with the latest version of the "CF" (Beta2) included.)
As it's a "Confidential" BETA with NDA's and stuff, I shouldn't discuss it openly, but this will be an awesome release.
Now, if just Compaq could "pull their finger out" and include the CF-runtime in their next ROM-update (-and, FLASH would be nice too!), we really could see some cool apps coming out in the future.
*bangs head on desk* - did I just praise MS ???
what's the world coming too...
EDIT: I swear I put OFF-TOPIC in my subject line, but it doesn't seem to show up in my post. (Just to keep you 'anal rententives' from jumping up my throat)
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Linear Mode
