Bring your desktop computer up to speed with an ultra-fast 802.11g wireless connection. Plug this adapter into a standard PC card slot, and join any 802.11b or 802.11g wireless network in your home or small office for fast file swapping, printer sharing, and multiplayer gaming.
1 Covers the distance I need
When searching for a adapter I had trouble finding reviews that talked about how they performed over a extended distance, this one is working great so far, I'm using the mn730 with a linksys wireless G router that is about 350 feet away in a seperate house and although it indicates my signal strength is very low most of the time, I have no problems with the connection (with no additional antennas), i took a speed test and it reports I have about 800k downstream bandwidth, plenty enough for me. installation is simple, just make sure to watch out for static electricity.
2 Great Deal!!
Microsoft is getting out of the network hardware market, you'll find great deals on this stuff. I have 3 of these (got for $15 each), using them on Windows ME and XP (SP2) without any problems. They work with my Netgear WGR614v4 router and I have SBC Yahoo DSL. It's true that XP won't find/load a driver for card, but just load up MSBN from the CD or downloaded from MS site, then delete MSBN, you don't need it with XP. My kids are surfing and IMing all day long, no loss connections, no drop outs, no problems, extremely stable product.
3 Improper description
Recieved the product in a timely manner but the product description indicates this will work with windows 98 version 1 but the box reads that I need Windows 98 SE
4 Much better than some of these negative reviews indicate
I was very skeptical before purchasing this product based on several negative reviews I read. But based on my experiences, this is a great product. Installation was much easier than the three Netgear products I use on other computers, and performance of this adapter is superior as well. I've always been a big Netgear fan, so frankly, I was surprised by this. The configuration utility is better than the Netgear utility as well (e.g. its easier to update the driver online). Overall I'm very happy with this product (my first Microsoft hardware).
5 Great Product
This Product is great. I used to use an MN-510 USB Adapter from Microsoft that worked so-so, often losing connection, and when i had a connection is was good to very good, till it finally stopped working. Then I bought one of these and I haven't had a problem yet. The signal is always Excellent, even when the Base station is downstairs on another wing of the house. It's antenna is even detachable to fit better. This product is 110% better than the USB adapter. A must buy for any wireless network.
6 MN-730 Networkers stay away from this product !!
I just recently baught a Mircosoft MN-730 wireless PCI adapter.
The product looks very nice, .. at first sight.
I tried to install it on a W2K Dell Dimension PC.
Installation seemed to work properly. However once you get to turning on the WEP you find out quickly that Micorsoft has not implemented all features of the 802.11g standard.
First the package advertises that the adapter can be secured using the new 256 bit encryption - well, .. the PCI dapater might be able to do that, the configuration utility (MS Broadband Network Utility) does not support it.
Next you find that installing the WEP key only allows you to use 1 key, other routers allow you to define 4 different keys. Who knows, what happens, if you select one of the alternate keys at the router. I tested it out - And guess what ... it does not work!! The Utility does not even permit me to select an alternate phrase to generate the WEP key myself.
Overall I have to say a very poor product. I have used the Linksys, D-Link, Netgear and US Robotics products in the past. Comparing these brands I am a clear favorite of Linksys, closely followed by D-Link.
Overall it seems to me that Micorsoft cut some coners with their wireless products. This is not the way to gain market share in hardware devices. I recommend they stick to software.
A frustrated Wireless Networker
7 Simple and Swee!
Installaion is easy with accompaning setup disk. Works best when coupled with all Microsoft hardware. Mine setup with MN-700 Microsoft Wireless Base Station. Connectivity is fast and, appropriately positioned, at peak 54mbps connection speed. My first wireless network and I expect to keep it for years and years.
8 Easy to use, but mine drops connection often
I purchased the Microsoft Wireless G Base Station and matching PCI card for my desktop. The base station works great and is rock solid with my notebook.
The Microsoft Desktop Wireless card is a different story. Sure it was easy to set up, but is constantly losing the wireless connection, forcing me to tell it to reconnect. My desktop is just on the other side of the room from the base station, so range isn't a problem. When I'm connected the software tells me I've got a Strong connection, then it just loses it every 5 minutes or so. I can't download any large files on this computer because it loses the connection too often.
This baby is being exchanged for a different brand of Wireless G PCI card.
9 Finally something that works
I had a linksys, d-link pci cards and nothing worked well with my linksys 54g router. For this one to work, I had to use the XP configuration instead of the one provided with the card. But it works, is fast and reliable. I do not have the best connection to my router, but I still get 24-36 mps. Yeah!
10 Impressed
I bought the Microsoft wireless-g pci adapter and wireless router after reading reviews about wireless-g on tomshardware.com, which said the Microsoft hardware had a very fast and reliable connection. The review surprised me, but I had no problems at all with the installation and they've been running with no problems at all for the past 3 months. The router even updated it's firmware online and the adapter updated it's software with the latest version immediately following the installation. I thought I was going to have problems because I already have a Siemens firewall/router with a printer port which I wanted to keep. I wanted to plug the wireless router into the Siemens router and was very surprised that Microsoft's setup for the router included this scenario. I also read online reviews that recommended first installing your wireless network (from any manufacturer) without security to get it working, and then adding security (WPA or WEP) once you're sure it's working. I was too impatient to do this and enabled security during installation without any problems.
11 Easy set up
I had a DLink wired router through which I connected my desktop (Gateway), Laptop (Dell) and IMac. I bought an IPAQ 4100 (built in 902.11b) and thought I might as well get onboard the wireless wave and try it out. I nervously tore the DLink out, followed the directions that Microsft sent with the unit and I was up and running in no time. I had a little trouble at first, but a quick call to Microsoft Network Tech support (free for two years with purchase of product)solved the problem. They just had me shut everything down, then resart everything. It all worked - the laptop through the included wireless network adapter, the IPAQ, and the Imac (wired). The shared printer took a little time to figure out, but that too is now up and running.
Great product. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.
12 not very compatible.
I have an airport extreme network which works fine with my iBook, my Motion computing wireless (intel) and even the xbox MN-740 wireless adapter. I sure couldn't get it to work with this one though. Until microsnots gets their compatibility act together, avoid this product.
