At 1:32 PM -0600 11/28/01, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: >Hello, > >I've been researching prices on wireless PC cards and have a question >regarding the physical compatibility of non-Apple-branded cards in the >iBook and iMac. They should all be electrically compatible (is that a bad >assumption?), but I'm wondering if they all have the same form factor to >enable them to be physically plugged into the Mac hardware. Perhaps a >better way to phrase the question is this: does the Airport card have the >same form factor as a Type II PCMCIA card? Are there other issues to take >into consideration (e.g., antenna wires, etc...)? Sorry if these are >stupid questions... > >The cards I'm looking at (Orinoco, Linksys, SMC) average about $30 less >than the Airport card, so they sound like good deals (if they fit). Does >anyone have any specific recommendations or caveats regarding these cards? > >I've decided upon the SMC Barricade router/wireless access point w/ 4-port >switch, based upon recommendations from Thomas Sterling in this forum a few >months ago (thanks again, Thomas!) So, if I can find a suitable PC card, I >can save over $150 vs. the Airport card & base station combo...
The airport card is designed to fit internally and connect via cables to built in antennas on those models that support it. The one I installed was on a Pismo and there wasn't enough room inside for the built in antenna most have. I expect this would be true for most laptops and probably also the iMac. The case would block a lot of the signal from an internally mounted card. While there are third party cards with external antenna connections these are probably more expensive than an Airport card. Bottom line is bite the bullet and buy the Airport card. You can still use the SMC base station. -- Clark Martin Redwood City, CA, USA Macintosh / Internet Consulting [EMAIL PROTECTED] "I'm a designated driver on the Information Super Highway" -- MacNetwork is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... XRouter Pro | Share your DSL or cable modem between multiple computers! Dr. Bott | Only $199 <http://www.drbott.com/prod/MIH130.html> Now shipping! Farallon Wireless SkyLINE PCI Card for Mac Desktops! <http://www.farallon.com/le/skyline/pci/index.html> Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> MacNetwork list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/macnet.html> Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/macnetwork%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Macintosh? Get free email and more at Applelinks! <http://www.applelinks.com>
