Wi-Fi = no thanks?Wi-Fi is 100% cool. Everybody who uses it loves it. So why, Buzz wonders, is there plenty of returned-and-resealed Wi-Fi gear at retailers? Here's the inside info from one chain. CompUSA stores take back almost one out of three 802.11 h products, and roughly half of faster 802.11a products! Why? Buyers can't figure out how to set it up, even though the gear really does work. Even Buzz has been frustrated frus·trate tr.v. frus·trat·ed, frus·trat·ing, frus·trates 1. a. To prevent from accomplishing a purpose or fulfilling a desire; thwart: by "instructions" that don't cover common real-world variations, such as putting an access point on an existing LAN (Local Area Network) A communications network that serves users within a confined geographical area. The "clients" are the user's workstations typically running Windows, although Mac and Linux clients are also used. (the secret word is "crossover cable A network cable that crosses the transmit and receive lines. It is used to connect hubs and switches together using standard MDI-X ports, which are already crossover ports. The crossover cable crosses the lines first so that after the MDI-X crosses the lines, they are effectively back to "). And what about security? How many of the two-thirds of buyers who get Wi-Fi to work also figure out encryption, or even understand the need? Buzz notes that Microsoft, unlike most Wi-Fi vendors, has security enabled in its new hardware line; too bad the MS gear is so flakey flak·ey adj. Variant of flaky. Adj. 1. flakey - made of or resembling flakes; "flaky soap" flaky 2. . |
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