The Microsoft Wireless Notebook Adapter makes it easy to securely add a notebook computer (or any computer with a PC Card) to the 802.11b wireless network in your home or small office and share a broadband connection, such as a cable or DSL modem. The Microsoft Wireless Notebook Adapter protects your network from unauthorized access with 128-bit wireless security (WEP). It also includes the Microsoft Broadband Network Utility allowing you to easily monitor your network status.
The Microsoft wireless notebook adapter makes it easy to add a notebook computer to your network. Share a broadband Internet connection by connecting to a router, share files and printers with other computers on your network, or play games with multiple players on the Internet. You can also connect to other wireless 802.11b/Wi-Fi networks when you're away from home for added productivity on the road.
The wireless notebook adapter comes with an easy-to-use setup wizard, designed to make connecting your computers together easier. It has strong security features, including 128-bit wireless WEP security, and support for 802.1x standards. The Microsoft broadband network utility makes it easy to monitor your network status.
Included with the wireless network adapter are an adjustable antenna and attached cable and setup CD-ROM, as well as a startup guide and a user's guide.
System requirements include: a wireless router (sold separately) or other 802.11b/Wi-Fi device or network, as well as a computer running Windows 98, 98 SE, Me, 2000 Professional, XP Professional, or XP Home editions; Internet Explorer 5.0 or later (setup will install Internet Explorer 6.0 browser components, if necessary, but will not displace your primary browser); 28 MB of available hard disk space if you already have Internet Explorer 5.5 or 6.0 (132 MB of available hard disk space if you are installing Internet Explorer for the first time); a 4x or faster CD-ROM drive; and a VGA or higher-resolution monitor.
1 averageguy@graffiti.com Microsoft Wireless Notebook Adapter
I have been to severel stores looking for a wireless adapter that runs on Windows 98.I have 2 laptops that are running 98 and at the beginning of the year I purchased the Microsoft one and placed it in the first laptop. Since then I have acquired another laptop and wanted to do the same but could not find the same card in any of the local computer stores. In fact one salesperson told me that wireless does not run on 98 os.
Thanks to averageguy, I found what I needed and received it promptly. Thanks Joe
Joe Scalisi
2 Didn't work at first--frustrationville!
I just received this adapter and installed it almost without any problems. The instructions in the booklet for inserting the card were different from the software--one said to turn off your computer. I tried it without turning it off and it worked (sort of). After completing the installation I still didn't have an interent or networking connection and the signal strenght was poor. (We have a Linksys wireless router--about five feet away).
After going through the help screen in the utility menu about four times--it was no help. I finally figured out that it needed the ssid--it didn't detect it automatically (like the usb version does). To make a long story short--I finally manually inputted the ssid and after tinkering a little more it worked.
3 Great!
I have used for 1 year and there is no problem.
4 Works great, would recommend
Inserted the setup CD, followed the prompts, plugged in the card and it started working. I don't have any signal problems throughout my house. Comes with a neat graphical status program too. For the price, you can't beat it. Unless you want to run CAT 5 all over your house.
5 Linux compatible chipset in card
This is a pretty good card. It uses the Prism2 chipset. Linux recognizes it on my system (MDK10 with kernel 2.6.X), although I have not finished the annoyance that is setting up wireless networking under linux. The MS Windows OS installer ap is annoyingly big, but post-install card configuration is much better than what I have seen with other brands. The stupid inability to cut and paste WEP keys is very standard for all cards I've used. It's not as though such measures really increase security. Disabling cut and paste for the WEP key certainly does not keep one from storing the key locally. Therefore, I really must wonder what manufacturers think is gained. All in all, though, a very good, highly responsive card with excellent range and GREAT compatibility. Supposedly, it _might_ even work under BeOS.
6 Works great with Linux
I bought this because it is somewhat difficult to find a wireless notebook card that works easily with linux. The chipset they used for these works very well. I have it running on an old IBM thinkpad 570 & it was exceptionally easy to set up under Fedora Core 2. Purchased it as a package with an M$ branded access point & that was very easy to set up as well (you can set it up from just about any OS with the web interface, but I think you would have to have windoze to do any firmware upgrades as they come in .exe file packages). Works well with Windoze too, of course. Access point also works fine with my Mac. And because M$ has decided to drop out of the business you can get these for a song. . .almost tempted to get another card just as a back up!
7 Not bad at all
For a microsoft product I was skeptical, but I was lured by the cheap price. Let me tell you, setup was 5-10 minutes barely looking at the instruction manual, and I'm no computer whiz. The quality is high and the utility software is very good. I would recommend this to anybody with a laptop and a wireless internet connection.
8 Works great with Linux!
I bought this card as a cheap back-up for my SMC2532W-B, and am pleasantly able to report that it work like a charm with Debian Linux! (I am using Libranet, a Debian-based distro, with the wlan-ng wireless pcmcia drivers).
Who'da thunk that a Microsoft card would be recommended by a Linux Geek? But this is one of the increasingly difficult-to-find pcmcia cards using the prism 2/2.5/3 chipset that works really well in Linux. And while it doesn't have the range of the SMC (one of the highest power out-of-the-box cards you can get) it linked right up as soon as I plugged it into my Thinkpad T21 & gave it's MAC address to my Netgear router (I have MAC access turned on) and seems to get as least as good range as the very similar Netgear MA401 I have also used.
I have absolutely no idea how well it works with Windows, I would assume well as it's a Microsoft product. But if you are looking for a budget card for use with Linux, at this price you can't go wrong!
9 Poor range
I have two laptops and two desktops, all networked with different wireless cards. This Microsoft card is the worst of the bunch. I can go anywhere in my house with my SMC and Uniden cards, but with the same PC and the Microsoft card and get disconnects or no connection at all. This leads me to believe the problem is in the card itself. I would look for a different card. On the positive side, tech support was quick and helpful.
10 Solid performance
I have had the Microsoft Broadband Networking Wireless Notebook Adapter for almost a year and it has given me surprisingly little trouble. The setup can be a little tricky for computer novices and when there is a problem with the network, it is difficult to pinpoint the exact source of the error. However, the quality of the connection that it receives from the base station is excellent and it works well through doors and walls, and even outdoors.
11 not bad... for six months
I had no problems using this card on a Windows 2000 notebook PC. I only used this PC/NIC card, on average, about 2x/week for about an hour at a time. The NIC card worked great... for 6 months. The card then slowly died over about a month's time. I would recommend against this card.
12 Much better than Linksys
After hours of frustration with a Linksys card, I gave up and bought the Microsoft adapter. It's wonderful! My OS is Windows ME, which caused endless software compatibility problems with the Linksys WPC11 ver. 4. Linksys suggested there was something seriously wrong with my OS, but the Microsoft adapter was up and running within 15 minutes of opening the box. I was skeptical of Microsoft hardware, but was pleasantly surprised by the ease of operation and also liked the fact that it comes with a hard copy of the user's guide (Linksys only has their user's guide in pdf on the software installation CD). I haven't had the Microsoft adapter long, but am very pleased thus far.
13 Poor Range .. Difficult Setup
I never got this card to work. After installing the software, it detected a 'poor' connection to my home wireless network whereas my Netgear card shows a 'very good' at the same location. I never got the Internet to work after messing with setup for quite a while. The software routes you through the XP networking wizard and other REALLY UNHELPFUL software. I would advise everyone to go Netgear or something else. The range is bad, setup is way too difficult, and the product is not user friendly.
14 Works great
- Installation was a no-brainer on Window 2000 and XP machines. Within 5 minutes everything was up and running with my DSL. Also using a Microsoft wireless base simplied the installation/integration task, too.
But I gave up on a laptop that uses Win98. I tried it myself three times, and with the help of customer support once. It was a definite no-go. Perhaps my Win98 laptop is a bit old and does not have enough RAM. It messed up the OS that I ended up reloading the it on my laptop.
- Its range is very adequate.
- The utility software that came with the adapter is as straight forward as software can be, no complain here.
15 Poor range
Plug in the Orinoco silver card and it's working perpectly. Plug in the M$ wireless PC CARD, it's not stable (80% of the time it loose connection) at all. Wast a lot of time trying it!
16 Works Great
This notebook adapter worked great on my laptop/server running Windows Server 2003 in ad hoc mode. I also bought the USB version for my desktop running XP. The laptop is no longer portable because it overheats without an external fan so the true test will be when I buy a new laptop. I only gave it 4 stars becuse the software that came with it is bad and I uninstalled it.
17 Utility software is bad
I bought this card to replace my Linksys card. The Linksys hardware is bad. The Microsoft software is a pain to use. It does not have a profile manager like the Linksys or Netgear. Therefore, it is a hassle to switch between the wireless network at home and at work. I cannot find any mention of an easy way to keep the profile settings. Whenever you have to switch to another wireless network, you have to retype the WEP key. And the WEP key is displayed in clear text in the Utilties tool. That's not very smart. After trying to connect to my Cisco Access Point for over an hour, it always get the wrong IP address. I am giving up on the Microsoft WLAN card and will get a Netgear instead.
18 Utility software is bad
I bought this card to replace my Linksys card. The Linksys hardware is bad. The Microsoft software is a pain to use. It does not have a profile manager like the Linksys or Netgear. Therefore, it is a hassle to switch between the wireless network at home and at work. I cannot find any mention of an easy way to keep the profile settings. Whenever you have to switch to another wireless network, you have to retype the WEP key. And the WEP key is displayed in clear text in the Utilties tool. That's not very smart. After trying to connect to my Cisco Access Point for over an hour, it always get the wrong IP address. I am giving up on the Microsoft WLAN card and will get a Netgear instead.
19 Fragile, Weak Receiver
I did not have good luck with this PCMCIA adapter. I couldn't get a signal strong enough to even telnet from my office to my living room for my laptop. I had to go work in the bedroom. Then, it died completely. Maybe I just received a bad unit, but it never worked well for me. I am much happier now that I use one of the USB adapters with my laptop. It has much better range and I can move it to another computer easily when I don't need it on my work laptop.
20 Great Product...But you may need to call cust. suport 1st!
While I hate to admit it, Microsoft's wireless notebook kit works extremely well! (Sorry, I'm a former Mac user). I have a cable modem with Adelphi.net and noticed NO discernable reduction in web page viewing when I switched to wireless. (I think downloading large files may be ever so slightly slower, but not so you can notice)
If you're like me and plan to use the wireless connection solely with a notebook, call technical support as soon as you take it out of the box. They are extremely helpful and will guide you through the installation process.
As you can read on the product box, the wireless network works "best" if you have a WIRE Ethernet connection to a desktop computer AND set up the wireless port for use with a laptop. If you don't have a desktop, it just takes a few extra steps to set it up. The techs at customer support are very helpful and can take you through the set-up in 10 minutes....but go ahead and call them 1st. You'll save yourself a headache.
Microsoft also gives you the ability to add WAP secuity, which is a must.
I have no complaints and am very happy with my purchase! (The $20 rebate is a great thing as well)
21 Excellent!
Setup on XP was done in minutes. I am using it with the Microsoft Wireless Basestation and it works great.
22 Great Product
Searched the reviews for days and deceided to go with this PCI, I'm using a Linksys wireless router and the PCI was up and running in about 3 min, so easy to install with XP. I can go any where in the house 1400sf up and 1400sf down and works great and no loss of signal, still connected at 11mps and signal strenght at 2 in the very back bathroom after 5 walls.
23 Flawless
Excellent product. Setup was an absolute breeze - it better be, given the fact that it's a Microsoft product! I guess there's one good thing about Microsoft-branded hardware.
Excellent range. I bought this to replace the subpar, computer-crashing Linksys WPC11. The range is already noticeably better.
24 So far so good
Originally bought the Linksys WPC11 which was a disaster on my Toshiba Satellite S173. The linksys continually locked up my computer. Installation of the Microsoft was a breeze on Win XP, set up and running in 5 minutes. Pleased so far with all other features.
25 Works Great!
Installation was a breeze on my laptop with XP, and it took only a minute. Reception is great even when the indicator says no signal. Works better than my friend's linksys adapter at my school (better signal strength and speed). I trust Microsoft products because of their warranty (2 years) and customer service. In my prior experience with microsoft for optical intelli mouse, which stopped working after a year, they sent me a brand new one, and I didn't even had to ship the old one to them. So I bought it without hesitation knowing that if any thing happens during the first two years Microsoft will replace it.
26 Works perfectly, but software is brain dead
First the good. This device installs on any Windows system from Win 98 through XP, and works perfectly.
Now the bad. It does NOT work with any operating system but Wndows 98 through XP. This in itself isn't terrible if you have a Windows PC, but the sad part comes with the software. If you don't have IE already on your system it consumes a whopping 144 MB! Even with IE it takes up 80 MB of space. Compared to the less than 1 MB for any other card I've tried, including SMC and Linksys, this is plain sloppy. Also, while this card will support 128-bit WEP (wireless encryption protocol), that protocol is not as secure as you may be lead to believe, and not all access points support it. Add the massive security problems introduced by IE, which is required, and any protection you do get is negated.
That said, if you are using Windows, especially XP and don't care about wasting drive space because of sloppy software development practices, this is a good deal based on price, performance and ease of installation. I gave it low marks because of poor cross platform compatibility, terrible software and the false sense of security implied by the 128-bit WEP feature.
27 Microsoft Delivers
I am extremely happy with this networking card. My other network card worked with my Windows XP for a while, but then it simply stopped working. I bought this Microsoft card hoping that it would seamlessly integrate with Windows XP, and it did. Although installation was very simple, getting it to work required a bit of technical skill. If you've ever set up a network before, you should have no problem with this.
The Configuration Utility is aesthetically pleasing, and it is very helpful. Link quality is very good. Most important, though, is the fact that this product will allow you to easily network your computers, sharing files, printers, and an internet connection.
