You know I really think its a bummer as you point out ... first take a look @ the netgear product sheet ...
http://www.netgear.com/products/details/MA111.asp?view= -snip- Automatic rate fallback adjusts to greater distances. Hardware-based 40/64 and 128-bit WEP encryption protects your privacy. Pre-configured to work with other NETGEAR wireless products, this USB adapter works with Windows� 98, ME, 2000, and XP. -snip- and even look @ dlink ... http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=175 -snip- Using its default settings, the DWL-122 automatically connects to other D-Link wireless products as soon as it's active. -snip- looks like you should have bought an HP NIC instead :-) what id really like to know is what manufacturers are doing to make these items work more efficientley with only their products (other than default SSID) - what specifically did u have to do w/ ur Netgear dongle? - jon ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rob Kelley" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, October 26, 2003 8:21 PM Subject: [nycwireless] Review: Netgear Dongle a Mean Little Thing > Tonight I went out and bought this very cool-looking 802.11 dongle. The > dream was plug and play install. Unrealistic, sure, but the little > lozenge made life far harder than acceptable. Avoid it: > http://www.jandr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product_Id=3687232&ProductPageTab =Details > > Next willing guinea pig might want to try the linksys instead: > http://www.jandr.com/JRProductPage.process?RestartFlow=t&Section_Id=1&Produc t_Id=3675199 > > BAD FIRST GO > First, when the CD installed, the program didn't have the installation > icon (bad sign). Then on the first run it crashed XP on my machine. I > took my other computer and went to the NetGear site. Thank goodness > they had an software upgrade. It specifically notes "Improved utility > stability in Windows XP on certain HP/Compaq EVO laptop or desktop > systems." I run XP on an HP pavilion. > > In a couple minutes, I got the new dongle running on the laptop, but to > do so I had to actually go into the card settings and turn on the > defaults on (C'mon Netgear...). I saved the package to a storage card > and loaded it back to the desktop. > > BAD SECOND GO > It couldn't run because the initial installation folder was corrupted. > Holy heck! Reboot, run the cleanup wizard, start again. > > Then the InstallShield gets stuck on iKernel.exe--"The filename, > directory name, or volume label are incorrect." > > Argh! > > MARGINAL THIRD GO > I went back to the folder, right-clicked the right INI, and installed > the drivers. It worked. Then after fifteen minutes it promptly shut > down my machine. > > CONCLUSION > All in all, this little dongle is a downer. Installation took over 90 > minutes. The original software didn't install, necessary settings were > all disabled, the new version of the software didn't install either, > and I had to go straight to the INI file. Maybe it was just the HP > desktop I'm running, but this dongle is not ready for prime time. > Caveat Emptor. > > > > > > > > __________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > Exclusive Video Premiere - Britney Spears > http://launch.yahoo.com/promos/britneyspears/ > -- > NYCwireless - http://www.nycwireless.net/ > Un/Subscribe: http://lists.nycwireless.net/mailman/listinfo/nycwireless/ > Archives: http://lists.nycwireless.net/pipermail/nycwireless/ > -- NYCwireless - http://www.nycwireless.net/ Un/Subscribe: http://lists.nycwireless.net/mailman/listinfo/nycwireless/ Archives: http://lists.nycwireless.net/pipermail/nycwireless/
