Airport...is it worth it?

Well, dialup or broadband, Airport extreme wouldn't really help... It's more for networking, file transfers, etc. And anyway, your machine can take one or the other, and iBooks can't use AE. But it is a very convenient, highly adaptable, and highly expandable network option, i think you'l be happy with it... you'll be surprised how much use you get out of it...

pnw

Unless you have DSL or cable, wireless networking will not be worth it since it will be too slow. I currently have a wireless network set up in my house (SBC-Yahoo DSL) and it's wonderful to surf on the net on my laptop around the house.

As for the Airport Extreme vs. non-Extreme (802.11b vs. 802.11g), I would say it is not worth getting Extreme. The theoretcial speed of 802.11g is 54 mbps, but it rarely achieves it. I currently have a laptop equited with an 802.11g card and router, and I rarely get speed above 11 mbps.

yeah i would say if u would like wireless internet in ur house, its the only way to go. don't forget that you can take it to just about every starbucks and use it, and dont forget mcdonalds soon enough

Originally posted by macktheknife
Unless you have DSL or cable, wireless networking will not be worth it since it will be too slow.

Click to expand...

I don't think it will slow down your current modem connection. You should be able to get the same speed wirelessly that you are getting 'wired'.

and dont forget mcdonalds soon enough

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Now why would I want to get my beautiful mac anywhere near a greasy burger?

Dial-up or broadband, wireless is the way to go. Yes, you'll have a lot of unused wireless bandwidth if you connect through dial-up, but the point of wireless is to be wire free so the unused bandwidth is not an issue.

I'm almost completely wireless now; with my university finally getting the wifi net in I can now use my own laptop to connect at school so I can use my own bookmarks, have my email go to my own email client, and use my platform of choice.

Go wireless if at all possible.

Originally posted by macktheknife
Unless you have DSL or cable, wireless networking will not be worth it since it will be too slow. I currently have a wireless network set up in my house (SBC-Yahoo DSL) and it's wonderful to surf on the net on my laptop around the house.

As for the Airport Extreme vs. non-Extreme (802.11b vs. 802.11g), I would say it is not worth getting Extreme. The theoretcial speed of 802.11g is 54 mbps, but it rarely achieves it. I currently have a laptop equited with an 802.11g card and router, and I rarely get speed above 11 mbps.

Click to expand...

well perhaps.
but with an 11 mbit airport you get about 3 mbit.

wireless is worth it. regardless of DSl or cable modem or 56k dial-up. to not be anchored to your phone line is very nice.

go for it!