Supercharge your notebook with high-speed 802.11g wireless. Joining a state-of-the-art wireless network couldn't be easier; just plug this adapter into your notebook computer to access any 802.11b or 802.11g network, and share files, printers, and a single broadband Internet connection with unmatched security and performance.
1 Durability issues
Quite frankly it was a lovely little card thats sleek and easy to use, it ran the connection at my school really nicely the only thing thats bugging me now is that it's a year later and it went and died. Like the Power supply won't even turn on, and it's not the slot in my computer. So I called Microsoft and they told me this item has been discontinued and I have to send it in and they will have to send me a refund instead of a replacement.
2 This thing has real problems
Ok, I installed it and it worked flawlessly with WEP. Then I went on the road and again it worked flawlessly connecting to a public wi-fi without WEP. When I got home, with the same configuration as a week earlier it wouldn't connect. It either tells me the WEP key is incorrect (which I know it's not as I had another machine that connected just fine) or that the WEP key must be ten characters (which it doesn't). I even installed it on an other laptop and it gave the same error. And, I put the other laptop's card in and it connects just fine.
Also, it likes to think that the 64bit WEP key MUST be ten characters long, which it does NOT.
The real conundrum is why it worked fine under WEP and then stopped working. I am stumped.
Also, I did a Google search for the error message it gives and I find a half a dozen postings on various boards with the same problem.
3 Good network adapter
I just bought this Microsoft laptop adapter and find that it is quite good. I have been using it with by linksys 802.11b router (yes not 802.11g) and it works very well throughout the house. It also works flawlessly without any appreciable decrease in signal strength or speed even when three walls separate the router from my laptop. This is especially surprising as my friend's dell laptop is not able to connect to my router from the same place. So this card seems to work better than the one which came default with his dell laptop.
The installation on Windows XP was a breeze and I was able to setup a secure 128 bit WEP connection with my router in about 10 mins without any issues. It also re-connects to my router as soon as I get my laptop up.
I do not have experience with other laptop adapter cards but this one seems to be really good.
4 Not bad
The setup is easy in XP, insert the CD to let XP search for the driver(if not, that'll be a big joke for Microsoft). But the software "Microsoft Broadband Networking" coming in the CD is useless, and the version with the product is out-of-date.
I have tried to connect it to several campus wireless networks. So far so good. Pretty reliable. But all of them are 11b, not encrypted. Haven't tried 11g yet. Initially, the network connections were dropped suddenly for a couple of times. I found that, by unchecking the option "Notify me when this connection has limited or no conectivity" in the Property, this problem is solved. So far I am happen with it, besides I only paid 15 bucks for it during a compusa sale event.
5 An interesting-looking, but useless, blinking bit of plastic
Microsoft has never failed to disappoint me, (I suppose there is something to be said for consistency) and this carries on that somewhat dubious tradition. I bought this with a the MN-700 wireless router, and both worked fine for a couple weeks. However, they both conspiratively proceeded to stop functioning. This card was the most maddening of the pair, because it would find the wireless network every once in a while, yet refuse to connect. I've tried every channel, and made sure its on infrastructure mode, but it still refuses to work. I suppose I deserve it, though, expecting that a microsoft wireless card would connect to a microsoft wireless router with a microsoft operating system. Do yourself a favor and buy your wireless networking from a decent company that has some expertise in networking, like Linksys or Belkin. Whatever you do, give as little money as possible to this shoddy company.
6 So far so good
Main thing is this thing was cheap. 25 clams and you got a g connection. Setup was easy. Just got a linksys wireless g router also. WEP 128 bit security easy to configure. When I take the card out, like when I'm at work, I don't get the annoying 'trying to connect' errors like with my old 3com 11mbps card, but then I had that for about 4 years and it was old school. Maybe that's the way these new cards work now, but the driver doesn't interfere if you remove the card. Why 4 stars? What's microsoft doing selling hardware?
7 do some tweaking on initial use
as my review on belkin card, this card is based on broadcom chip
and I found they have a common problem, that the signal goes down under heavy load (e.g. playing 1400k wav file over network, the signal drops, just not as bad as belkin)
if you're using mixed G or pure G, you may not able to connect due to 54g setting, the default is b only, and there's a simple fix: just change the 54g setting to b-compatible
and, if you'd like to get more stable performance when the signal is low, change the rate to 6Mbps, however, you may not be able to connect pure b network
the installation is easy, as USB version, just put the CD in, and you're ready to go
my personal suggestion, get MN-710 instead due to better bitrate and less hassle
8 Excellent laptop card
This laptop wireless card has worked flawlessly. Easy setup instructions (install software first) and then install the card in your notebook. Excellent (54 MBPS) to good reception (36 MBPS) even at longest distance from access point. Not trying to offend anyone, some other review complained that its not compatible with a DLink router. First rule in wireless, never mix and match brands for your system. I also bought the base station, which was easy to setup. I enabled WPA security and MAC filtering without a hitch. One con - the manual tells you to enter a unique name for your SSID. Just enter 3 or 4 spaces for your name, there's no reason to broadcast any name, your wireless card will pick up all close range broadcasts and you just won't see any name, which is confusing to any one war driving or your neighbors.
Any other setup problems reported by previous reviews was easy to see that they are computer illiterate. Not their fault, just their lack of knowledge. I'm running Win XP with all the latest patches. To run WPA you must download the WPA patch on all computers associated with your devices. If you don't know what WPA is, then you shouldn't be using wireless.
This is a good card...and the base station is just as good, plus.....the price is very affordable.
9 Compatibility Issues Galore
Won't connect to a Dlink router under WEP? C'mon, the other 3 devices we have do, and we sure as heck didn't have to change the router settings - and of course it was the routers fault, never MS! I gave this failed installation about one hour's work, then decided that other products worked without any hassle, and took this back to the store.
I'm normally a MS fan (yes, they exist), and I'll agree that their decision to exit the wireless market is probably a good thing, if this crap is what they (or their 3rd-party vendor) are turning out.
10 Blue Screens of Death!!!
Running Windows XP Pro with every available patch and all the latest drivers, and this card crashes my system (infamous blue screen of death) several times each day. I had predicted that this card would be 100% compatible and very stable ... foolish wishful thinking on my part I guess.
I'm about to give up on this MN-720 and switch to the Lucent/Agere/Proxim Orinoco 11b card that I've been using for years without ANY problems.
I know this must be a driver issue, but I don't have the time or patience to pursue MS support for this, I'd rather just chalk it up to a loss and learn from the experience.
If you don't have time to waste troubleshooting, stay away from this card!!!
11 Great WiFi card for your laptop
I purchased this a few weeks ago so that I could use my personal laptop at work with the company's WiFi network. I shopped around quite a bit, and decided on this card. The reception on the card is great. I have two laptops with WiFi capability. One has this Microsoft card in it, and the other has an Intel Centrino chip built in. When I place them side by side on my desk at work, the laptop with the Centrino chip constantly loses contact with the WiFi network, but the laptop with this Microsoft card has never lost contact with the company WiFi network. And its signal strength is always listed as "exellent." Microsoft . . . I'm impressed.
12 Poor Support
This device installs nicely on a plug-and-play-ready XP system, but heaven help you if things don't go smoothly: I went to install the device on another machine which apparently doesn't have the drivers preinstalled (odd, since it's brand new). Went to find the drivers on Microsoft's site and, after clicking through the usual twenty screens required to actually find something there, wound up being told to "contact the manufacturer." A typical Microsoft customer experience. Is it too much work to maintain a driver library in a convenient place?
13 Not happy
I have been using wireless for a while, and recently purchased the whole kit, base station with ethernet and the 720 card. I am using the notebook card in a HP Laptop, and keep getting popped off line every few minutes for no reason(it just happened again) No body seems to be able to help me with this and I am about to throw the HP out. (Pisspoor customer service)
I need to use it for checking my e-mail on the road, and my wireless orinoco antenna work marvelous, never drops me(ooops, just happened again) I can't even get any help from Microsoft, as they insist it's an HP issue. HP insists (Happened again) that its a Microsoft problem. That's it, pass the buck! For anyone with HP or compaq, get rid of the crap and get Dell. My Dell has been online since November, without a single dropped connection.
14 Easy setup, fast, secure connections...
The notebook adapter couldn't have installed any easier. I was up and running in less than 5 minutes. No problems connecting to B and G networks, even with a secure connection.
The only fault-- but all notebook adapters have this problem-- is that it extends outside of the notebook. Just remember to remove the card before putting your notebook in your case!
15 Solid performance in a variety of situaitons
We run 802.11x both at home and at work. As a network engineer I have used a variety of 802.11x adapters, with PDA's, tablet PC's, and laptops, against Access Points from a variety of vendors. Both at home/work and while traveling. We purchased 3 of these Microsoft 802.11g PC Cards a month ago and have been very satisfied with them. They have solid performance in a variety of situations. I have not tried their tech support, or had any warranty issues. I am looking to purchase another 802.11g PC Card and will again buy Microsoft, even if it means paying a bit more. Should a warranty issue arise I would expect a more professional response from Microsoft than what I have received recently from other competing vendors.
16 Didnt work for me
I had a similiar experience as the other reviewer(2rummage) One thing thats common between the two of us is the HP computer. I also spent countless hours to set right the issue with MS tech support. Finally they asked me to buy some other brand like linksys. I have a linksys now and it rocks. As mentioned before, if the straight install doesnt work, dont waste your time. I suspect it doesnt work well with HP computers and drivers.
Good Luck
17 Sometimes works, sometimes doesn't
I just got the MN-720 and the MN-700 Basestation. I upgraded from the old 802.11b Microsoft basestation and MN-520 wireless card. Using the MN-720, after a while, it will say it's connected and everything looks great, but I have zero network available to me. From what i have read and heard, it seems to be a driver issue. The mn-520 worked great but the 720 is not proving to be as solid. Hopefully they will get new drivers out quickly.
18 Guaranteed Compatability Works Great!!!
I originally had a D-Link 650+, which is a piece of garbage. A lot of these little companies provide bad custom support and there drivers crash, despite the fact that you'll use the latest off their website. Read the reviews, and you'll find that many of these cards have bad software support, and people's laptops would crash from these other cards. I bought the Microsoft adapter a few weeks ago, and it works amazing! Not so much as a flinch. I use the card on a broadcasted network at my college, and it has not lost the signal like my old d-link card, and picks up the signal through thicker buildings that my d-link would not. The signal is always true and strong, and the card connects very quickly. Its true that every hardware device has compatability problems, but this one definately has the least problems. (I run the card on XP Professional)
19 It is wow
I got it installed within an hour including applying a huge patch for the base station. Pros:
1 Easy to install
2 Has WPA which is next thing in wifi
3 Wifi certified
4 Feeling of sitting with a laptop in any room is awesome
5 Good speed though might diminish with distance
Cons:
1 The network adapters for computers costs as much as base station
2 The xp and windows 2000 interface for the network card is different and might be confusing at the beginning though the base is same.
3 WEP code typing is a pain though I havn't figured out a way for automatically changing it on all wireless connected device automatically
4 Microsot might keep sending patches and one has to install it diligently
I havn't tried any more esotoric options in the networking workd like vpn etc. I did download files while cooking and watching the download. I havn't tried any distances more than the 1000 ft apt area. Neither have I tried with other wifi base stations. Prospects of checking email in the restroom is awesome - onestep closer to microsoft's plans to bring computers to public toilets.
Bottomline is I am keeping my wifi. 4 stars instead of 5 because of fear of many more patches coming down the way though some will be nice upgrade and some for bug fixes.
Disclaimer:
I am not related to the company in anyway except as a customer. Every user may not have same experience as me. All persons reading this review read it and deceide for themselves their choices.
20 MN-720 doesn't work, per Microsoft
I bought MN-720 adapter & MN-700 basestation. Basestation seems OK but adapter never worked. I have new HP desktop and new HP laptop and XP Home. Microsoft "Research Team" informed me, after 2nd tech call in a week, that the MN-720 has KNOWN (they know!) problems with NO FIX and they recommend I get their USB version(!!). I spent 10 hours (8 myself, 2 with Msoft tech people)trying various settings, etc. to no avail. The SECURITY software seems at fault per Microsoft. The adapter "physically" gets strong signals but "logically" will not connect at all. What a waste of 10 hours on a plainly, obviously defective product that shouldn't be on store shelves. If yours doesn't work in the firs 5 minutes with the standard install just return it for another brand, save time.
21 I have not got it yet I just ordered it
You already no I will let you'll no when it gets here and how it performs.But I trust Bill Gates products any way. So I hope it works and performs well. The five star is for Bill Gates because i trust all of his products. But that five star can go down if I am not impressed.
