Ian, Mac and Windows computers can coexist peacefully on a wireless network just as they can on a wired network. 802.11b is a standard protocol. The trick with compatability comes in with the configuration of the wireless router. Most of the routers use a web interface, but if you want to do firmware upgrades then you generally need something more than the web interface and that is usually a Windows-only application.
I have used Apple computers since before they made the Macintosh. While there are many things I like about the Mac, I can honestly say that since the introduction of Mac OS X that they are no less complicated than Windows XP. Or maybe I should say that Microsoft did a very nice job making XP easy to use. If it's really just simple email and web surfing, what's easier than just going to Start -> E-Mail and Start -> Internet? And I can say with experience that for web surfing that Windows feels faster and is more compatable with advanced web sites and add-ons. For instance, there isn't a Google toolbar for Mac. -Kevin > -----Original Message----- > From: Ian Skinner [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Monday, March 17, 2003 8:46 AM > To: CF-Community > Subject: RE: Wireless Network Hardware suggestions/comments/discussion. > > > Do you have a mix of IBM/Windows and Apples on the network? That's my > concern. My current computer is a Windows XP Pro, Boutique > custom build IBM > clone. If My wife were to get a Apple (Assuming we can find an affordable > last generation Notebook/Laptop somewhere) would it be difficult > to get them > to share the same access port. > > -------------- > Ian Skinner > Web Programmer > BloodSource > Sacramento, CA > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Larry C. Lyons [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Monday, March 17, 2003 6:14 AM > To: CF-Community > Subject: RE: Wireless Network Hardware suggestions/comments/discussion. > > > I use a d-link 904+ wireless access point at home. It hooks into > my Asante > Cable/DSL Router and works really well. It connected very quickly > and works > seamlessly with the iBook and the other computers here. It > handles 256 bit > WEP etc. I'm very satisfied with it. > > As for laptops, you may want to look at tigerdirect.com. They had some > fairly nice deals on laptops > http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Category/category_tlc.asp?id=17 > > > larry > > At 08:31 AM 3/17/2003 -0500, you wrote: > >I have a D-Link wireless router at the house. It's great, really easy to > >use, I have 6 boxes going through it right now, one of which is a web > >server. Easy set up for port forwarding, and it has 4 cat-5 ports, so I > >could run many many machines at the house. > > > >For a cheap laptop I would say look at BJs and SAMs. You will > probably end > >up with a brand new year old Compaq, but I mean it's not like > your looking > >for a power machine right? Don't go with Apple on a windows > network. The > >two are incompatible and you will need extra hardware to make it > work (from > >what I have been told, this is second hand information). > > > >Tim > > > > > >-----Original Message----- > >From: Ian Skinner [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > >Sent: Friday, March 14, 2003 4:49 PM > >To: CF-Community > >Subject: Wireless Network Hardware suggestions/comments/discussion. > > > > > >Ok, the wife wants a lap top for her birthday (two weeks ago). > And when I > >get my second paycheck from the new job (first full time, permanent > position > >in over two years) next week, I am planning on getting her a simple one. > >What I'm thinking of doing is getting it with a wireless NIC > card so that I > >don't have to provide another internet connection in the apartment. I can > >set up my current PPPe DSL connected computer as a gateway/receiver and > hers > >can then be anywhere in the apartment and beyond I assume. What I would > >like some help with is what wireless options I might go with? > > > >Me: A fairly intelligent code geek, but I don't know a great deal about > >hardware and/or networking. > >Her: Novice/pseodo computer phobic with 90% of her time on the computer > >being e-mail and chatting, shouldn't need a lot of power to support. > >Restraints: This is ONLY my second check, so not too expensive. > > > >I'm looking for something affordable, relatively easy to set up and > >maintain. Decently secure, so that just anybody can not walk by > and share > >my computer, but not I'm too worried about overly serious > attacks, if they > >really want to know my Civilization III Play the World score, they can. > > > >Any suggestions? Helpful hints? Good hand holding sites for > >choosing/setting up/securing/maintaining wireless network hardware? > Humorous > >Puns? Most any comment would be helpful. Also any comments on > the trouble > >I may be heading for if I where to consider an Apple laptop for her? She > >possibly may like the generally considered simpler UI. > > > >Thanks > > > >PS Suggestions on good places to get inexpensive (under $1000, the more > >under the better) laptops also appreciated. > > > >-------------- > >Ian Skinner > >Web Programmer > >BloodSource > >Sacramento, CA > > > > > > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/index.cfm?forumid=5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/index.cfm?method=subscribe&forumid=5 Your ad could be here. Monies from ads go to support these lists and provide more resources for the community. http://www.fusionauthority.com/ads.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5
