External wireless card for Mac?

[mabeloos]

Can anyone recommend a good external (USB, ethernet, etc.) wireless card for the Mac that isn't Airport/Airport Extreme, and that has drivers compatible for g and OS X? I am loath to bring my Mac Mini back for complicated card installations, and would prefer a more convenient, and less expensive, solution.

Any help will be much appreciated. Thanks!
-mabeloos

[Mike]

The simplest solution is probably an ethernet to WiFi bridge such as the Netgear WGE101:

http://www.netgear.com/products/details/WGE101.php

It just plugs in to the ethernet port (or an ethernet hub) and connects to any WiFi base station. It doesn't need any drivers so is compatible with OSX or OS9 -- you just need a web browser to configure it.

It might also be worth asking over at Snarkish (http://overconfident-wannabe.com/snarkish/) to see if anyone has additional ideas.

[ElyseC]

Here's a shorter, easier-to-remember URL for the Snarkish forums Mike recommended:

http://snarkish.com/

[Steve Rindsberg]

I don't think that'd fit the bill ... the OP's looking for a wireless adapter for the Mac so as not to have to add a wireless card internally.

Something more like the Netgear WG111
http://www.netgear.com/products/details/WG111.php

Only something with Mac support, which the WG111 doesn't seem to offer. Pity

[Mike]

I don't think that'd fit the bill ... the OP's looking for a wireless adapter for the Mac so as not to have to add a wireless card internally.


What's the problem with the Netgear? It just plugs in to the ethernet port of any computer.

[ElyseC]

What's the problem with the Netgear? It just plugs in to the ethernet port of any computer.Yes, but if something goes awry and you want help to see if the thing is functioning correctly, you have to call tech support and, as a friend found a while back, NetGear support (apparently a call center in India) is openly Mac hostel. The only way my friend got help was to pretend she was using a Windows box (she knew enough of Win to fake her way through the conversation). When she said she was using a Mac, the call center people just threw up their hands and said "we don't support Macs; hook it up to a Windows machine and we'll help you."

[terrie]

>>elysec: is openly Mac hostel.

I really can't resist...bathroom down the hall, bring your own linens and you have to be out by 7am???

Terrie

PS...hostile...'-}}

[ElyseC]

>>elysec: is openly Mac hostel.

I really can't resist...bathroom down the hall, bring your own linens and you have to be out by 7am???

Terrie

PS...hostile...'-}}LOL!!! Typing with distractions (a near-5 year old boy dancing around me and this laptop, begging for juice) yet again!

[terrie]

>>elysec: Typing with distractions (a near-5 year old boy dancing around me and this laptop, begging for juice) yet again!

Figured it was something like that...'-}}

I just got such a funny image in my head when I read it...

Terrie

[Steve Rindsberg]

What's the problem with the Netgear? It just plugs in to the ethernet port of any computer.>>

Er ... [he says after looking more closely at the link] ... er ... [with a sheepish grin] ... er ...

Nothing.

[Steve Rindsberg]

Type Different?

[groucho]

<Something more like the Netgear WG111
http://www.netgear.com/products/details/WG111.php (http://www.netgear.com/products/details/WG111.php)>

Well, gizmos like that are acutally dangerous. It only supports WEP encryption, and that's been vulnerable for a long time. There are now tools which allow the strongest WEP versions to be hacked in three to five minutes. And that's assuming the user picks a really really hard password.

Anyone who is still using WEP, as opposed to the newer WPA or better encryption, *WILL* BE HACKED. The only real question is when, not if.

This is like going online without an antivirus and firewall, it qualifies for a Darwin Award these days. Two years ago WEP was fine, but things have changed.

A "bridge" is more than a casual user needs. A bridge is usually intended to extend the range from one access point (wifi router) to another, not just connect one computer. A USB gizmo that provides WPA would be cheaper, smaller, better way to go for one user.