Editorial Review

Early Adopters Pick: January 2003. The first high-speed wireless networking router to use the 802.11g standard, which is four times faster than the current standard (802.11b) and backwards compatible.

The Linksys Wireless-G broadband router is really three devices in one box. First, it's a wireless access point, which lets you connect Wireless-G or Wireless-B devices to the network. There's also a built-in four-port full-duplex 10/100 switch to connect your wired-Ethernet devices. Connect four PCs directly, or daisy-chain out to more hubs and switches to create as big a network as you need. Finally, the router function ties it all together and lets your whole network share a high-speed cable or DSL Internet connection.

To protect your data and privacy, the Wireless-G broadband router can encrypt all wireless transmissions, and it supports the industrial-strength wireless security of 802.1x authentication and authorization. The router can serve as a DHCP server, has NAT technology to protect against Internet intruders, supports VPN pass-through, and can be configured to filter internal users' access to the Internet. Configuration is a snap with the Web browser-based configuration utility.

With the Linksys Wireless-G broadband router at the center of your home or office network, you can share a high-speed Internet connection, files, printers, andmultiplayer games with the flexibility, speed, and security you need!

Wireless-G is the 54 Mbps wireless networking standard that's more than four times faster than the widely deployed Wireless-B (802.11b) products found in homes, businesses, and public wireless hotspots around the country. But since they share the same 2.4 GHz radio band, Wireless-G devices can also interoperate with existing 11 Mbps Wireless-B equipment.

Because both standards are built-in, you can protect your investment in existing 802.11b infrastructure, and migrate to the new screaming-fast Wireless-G standard as your needs grow.

For more information on the differences between an access point and a router with access point, see the following table:

Editorial Review

If good things come in small packages, the WUSB11 from Linksys makes a great addition to a wireless network. Measuring about the size of a deck of cards and weighing just shy of 3 ounces, this little device fits nearly anywhere and is easily stowed in a notebook computer case. Simple USB connectivity makes it compatible with any modern PC, and also makes it easy to swap from one computer to another.

Provided you already have a wireless router or Internet gateway set up, installing the WUSB11 is a snap. We plugged it into a USB port on a test PC, executed the installation program on the included PC, and once the system rebooted we were connected to the network without being tethered to any wires. The unit draws its power directly from the USB port, leaving users with one less cord to lug around and one less device to plug into a wall outlet. We tested the device on a PC located 40 feet laterally and one floor above the wireless router and didn't even need to extend the tiny antenna to get good reception. Should you need to use the antenna, it extends at either 90 degrees or 180 degrees, meaning it will work whether the unit is sitting flat on a desk or mounted vertically on a wall using the included Velcro strips.

Performance was impressive. As an 802.11b product the WUSB11 supports a maximum speed of 11 Mbps and real-world speeds hovered around that mark in our tests. The signal was strong and consistent, making it great for gaming or transferring large files without worrying about a disconnect halfway through. There are only two indicator lights on the unit itself that tell you it's working--a power light and another light that blinks when data is transmitting--but the included software tools allow for a much more detailed picture. Using these utilities we were able to keep an eye on the signal strength (it never dipped below 95 percent), configure the built-in encryption settings, and perform other security and monitoring tasks.

The device is designed to fall back to lower speeds instead of cutting off trans missions completely when it reaches the limits of its range or experiences signal problems. In a normal-size home you should have no trouble maintaining the 11 Mbps signal, but if you wander outdoors with a notebook or are plagued by signal interference, overall transmission speed can step down to 5.5 Mbps, 2 Mbps, or even 1 Mbps depending on conditions. Even at the lowest speed the device is fast enough for speedy Internet browsing (most users won't see any slowdown at all in that area, even for downloads), although transferring files across the network is painfully slow at the lower speeds.

No matter what, if you plan mainly to transfer large files over your network, you'll probably want the extra speed 802.11a or 802.11g devices offer. Of course, you'll also have to absorb the extra cost associated with those products. The WUSB11 is a fantastic 802.11b device for the money, working perfectly straight out of the box, and its low weight and small size make it a viable alternative to a PCMCIA wireless network card for notebook users. Just make sure the computer you want to connect it to doesn't use Windows 95 or NT, because the unit is incompatible with those two operating systems. --T. Byrl Baker

Pros:

• Simple installation and configuration
• Mounts either horizontally or vertically
• Included software provides useful details without overwhelming users with mi nutia

• So light that the weight of the USB cord can pull it off a desk
• Maximum 11 Mbps transmission speed may be too slow for some users

Editorial Review

Early Adopters Pick, January 2003. The first high-speed wireless networking PC card for laptops to use the 802.11g standard, which is four times faster than the current standard (802.11b) and backwards compatible.

The new Wireless-G notebook adapter (PC Card adapter) from Linksys has both the 802.11b and newer 802.11g standards built in, so you can connect your notebook to existing 802.11b infrastructure and also the new, fast Wireless-G networks. The included setup wizard walks you through configuring the adapter to your network's settings, step by step. Then just slide the adapter into your notebook's PC Card slot and enjoy network access with your notebook computer, while retaining true mobility.

Wireless-G is the 54 Mbps wireless networking standard that's almost five times faster than the widely deployed Wireless-B (802.11b) products that are found in homes, businesses, and public wireless hotspots around the country. But since they share the same 2.4 GHz radio band, Wireless-G devices also work with existing 11 Mbps Wireless-B equipment.

Once you're connected, you can keep in touch with your e-mail, access the Internet, and share files and other resources such as printers and network storage with other computers on the network, wherever you wander. At home, you can surf the Web or use instant messaging to chat with friends while sitting out on the patio.

You'll also be able to connect to any of the growing number of public wireless hotspots springing up in coffee shops, airport lounges, hotels, and convention centers. And as those hotspots upgrade to the new high-speed Wireless-G standard, you'll be ready to take advantage of the increased speeds.

Get connected to current standard 802.11b networks today, and be prepared for the future with the Wireless-G notebook adapter from Linksys.

Editorial Review

The Linksys Wireless-G PCI card installs in most desktops and lets you use your computer almost anywhere in the building, without the cost and hassle of running network cables. Now you don't have to drill holes in the walls and climb through the attic or cellar to get connected to the network. Once you're connected, you can keep in touch with your e-mail, access the Internet, use instant messaging to chat with friends, and share files and other resources such as printers and network storage with other computers on the network.

The Linksys Wireless-G PCI card connects you with Wireless-G networks at an incredible 54 Mbps. And for added versatility, it can interoperate with all the 11 Mbps Wireless-B (802.11b) products found in homes, businesses, and public wireless hot spots around the country. And in either mode, your wireless communications are protected by up to 128-bit encryption, so your data stays secure.

Don't hassle with running cables through your house--get your desktop connected the easy way with the Linksys Wireless-G PCI card.

Editorial Review

The versatile wireless Ethernet bridge from Linksys can make any wired Ethernet-equipped device a part of your wireless network. At home, use the wireless Ethernet bridge to connect game consoles, set-top boxes, or computers to your wireless network to share your high-speed network connection. In the office, convert your Ethernet-wired printer, scanner, camera, notebook, or desktop into a wireless networked device.

It's completely driver-free, so it works on any platform and with any operating system. Because there are no drivers to load, setup is a snap--just plug it into your device and configure the network settings through your Web browser.

You can also use the Linksys wireless Ethernet bridge as a kind of "cableless cable" to connect remote areas together. Maybe the Shipping department is all the way across the warehouse from Receiving. Or maybe you want to set up a home office in your detached garage. With a wireless Ethernet bridge in the garage and an other one (or a wireless access point) in the house, you're connected--without the hassle of cabling.

Editorial Review

Enjoy true-to-life photo quality with the HP PhotoSmart 7350 color inkjet printer. Get up to 4,800 x 1,200 optimized color dpi when using premium photo papers and 1,200 x 1,200 input dpi from a computer, or print directly from digital camera memory cards. From either source, you'll see beautiful photos, thanks to HP's six-ink color system and PhotoRet IV resolution enhancement and color layering technologies.

Print 10 pages per minute in black, 11 pages per minute in color. Print fast, laser-quality black text at 17 ppm with an optional HP 56 black inkjet print cartridge. Print directly from your digital camera memory cards using convenient card slots--without using a computer. Or, simply connect your HP digital camera with direct-printing capability to the front USB port, then print your photos (also without using a computer).

Should you want to, you can easily save photos to your PC and print borderless photos using the 4-by-6-inch photo paper tray and HP premium plus photo paper. Photos from the 7350 resist fading twice as long as most traditionally processed photos, up to 65 years (requires premium photo plus paper and six-ink color printing with the included HP 58 photo inkjet print cartridge).

Other features include a save-to-PC button, HP Memories disc-creator software, auto paper-type sensing, an ink backup printing mode (which completes the print job if the cartridge runs out), a convenient 20-sheet 4-by-6-inch photo tray, and a 100-sheet, 8.5-by-11-inch paper tray. An optional two-sided printing accessory (C8955A#A2L) is supported.

Editorial Review

Combining a high-quality 128 MB MP3 player with a compact USB hard drive, Creative Labs has created MuVo, a logical step in hybrid portable devices.

MuVo is compact (about the size of a cigarette lighter) and lightweight, and it stores images, Web pages, and other documents, in addition to your MP3 files.

Installation is a breeze. Simply plug the MuVo into a spare USB port and your PC recognizes it as a mass storage device. No drivers are needed, although the unit does ship with some drivers and a special formatting tool. Transferring files to the unit is as easy as the installation: Just drag and drop files into the player and you're set to go. Once you've transferred data or MP3 files, remove the MuVo from your computer and slide it onto the battery pack. One AAA battery will net you up to 12 hours of power.

One problem we found was that because the unit doesn't ship with a cradle or USB port extension cable, we had to go around to the back of our computer every time we wanted to insert or remove the device. This isn't a problem if you have a USB hub or are using the MuVo on a laptop.