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Wireless Nirvana

rdowns

rdowns

macrumors Penryn
Original poster
Jul 11, 2003
27,397
12,521
Spent the day yesterday taking full advantage of my new iMac with BT and Airport/Airport Express. Also reduced a lot of clutter.

Airport Express- Plugged it in and set it up to extend my network. Took all of a minute or so. Toslink to stereo system and wireless iTunes. Removed cassette deck and CD player (can always use DVD player if I need to) from stereo shelves (a Tivo will take that space) Plug in HP 1012 and wireless printing. HP now in a cabinet in living room wall unit. Freed up desk space, lost 2 wires and gained printing capability for my iBook.

Desktop - With the clean look of the iMac, decided I had to do something about all the damn cable mess. Also have a Toshiba laptop I use for work on the desk. Bought one of those wooden cubes at Target and installed casters on bottom so it is easily moved.

Inside the cube, which has a door, I put my cable modem and its power brick, D-Link router (needed to connect laptop) and its power cord, speaker power brick, laptop power brick and a good surge protector. Damn thing is a mess but you can't see it. Airport .b base station on top of the cube. External FireWire drive next to it (its power brick in the cube) and a pretty white Apple thin FireWire cable up to the back of iMac. If I need to get at anything in there, all I have to do is wheel it out.

My desk now looks like my mother cleaned it. Set of JBL Creature IIs (wires all hidden in a cable track I attached to back lip of desk), iPod dock and Logitech MX 1000 dock. The cable track has the few cables from the cube routed through it. Where they pop out, they go right into the hole on the back of the iMac.

5 hours to do all this.
Only 2 visible wires on desk (iPod dock and mouse for laptop)
Priceless!
 
Bluetooth mouse and AirPort Express has reduced my cable clutter for my PowerBook down to just the power (which I can obviously sometimes eliminate). Now, when are they going to figure out safe power transmission over the airwaves? :p :D
 
rdowns said:
Spent the day yesterday taking full advantage of my new iMac with BT and Airport/Airport Express. Also reduced a lot of clutter.

Airport Express- Plugged it in and set it up to extend my network. Took all of a minute or so. Toslink to stereo system and wireless iTunes. Removed cassette deck and CD player (can always use DVD player if I need to) from stereo shelves (a Tivo will take that space) Plug in HP 1012 and wireless printing. HP now in a cabinet in living room wall unit. Freed up desk space, lost 2 wires and gained printing capability for my iBook.

Desktop - With the clean look of the iMac, decided I had to do something about all the damn cable mess. Also have a Toshiba laptop I use for work on the desk. Bought one of those wooden cubes at Target and installed casters on bottom so it is easily moved.

Inside the cube, which has a door, I put my cable modem and its power brick, D-Link router (needed to connect laptop) and its power cord, speaker power brick, laptop power brick and a good surge protector. Damn thing is a mess but you can't see it. Airport .b base station on top of the cube. External FireWire drive next to it (its power brick in the cube) and a pretty white Apple thin FireWire cable up to the back of iMac. If I need to get at anything in there, all I have to do is wheel it out.

My desk now looks like my mother cleaned it. Set of JBL Creature IIs (wires all hidden in a cable track I attached to back lip of desk), iPod dock and Logitech MX 1000 dock. The cable track has the few cables from the cube routed through it. Where they pop out, they go right into the hole on the back of the iMac.

5 hours to do all this.
Only 2 visible wires on desk (iPod dock and mouse for laptop)
Priceless!
Click to expand...
I guess I should consider getting Bluetooth installed in my next Mac, then. My iMac doesn't have it.
 
rdowns said:
My desk now looks like my mother cleaned it. Set of JBL Creature IIs (wires all hidden in a cable track I attached to back lip of desk), iPod dock and Logitech MX 1000 dock. The cable track has the few cables from the cube routed through it. Where they pop out, they go right into the hole on the back of the iMac.

5 hours to do all this.
Only 2 visible wires on desk (iPod dock and mouse for laptop)
Priceless!
Click to expand...

Wow, congratulations! I have a cable mess so big under the office table(desk) that I wonder how the G4 tower can get any air. We fixed the cables into neat whaddayacallit...well neatly anyway. I guess there's at least 50 meters of cable there, at least 10 USB cables etc. etc.

My first computer I shall own all by myself (this PM is my dad's) is going to be a 'Book, and it'll have BT and AP Ext. for sure.

BTW, I'm quite interested in both your mouse and speakers. Do the Creatures II's sound good? I understand they're quite a bargain with a low price for such sound performance. And the MX 1000, isn't that the laser-mouse? I just yesterday bumped into one at the mall and hevaily tried to get my mom buy one. I suppose the laser is good enough, but what do you say about the wireless technology? It isn't BT, but is it fast enough, I mean, does it lag at all? have you tried games with the mouse?

From the Logitech website: "Fast RF™ cordless
Cordless performance that equals USB corded connection" Is this true?
 
G4-power said:
Wow, congratulations! I have a cable mess so big under the office table(desk) that I wonder how the G4 tower can get any air. We fixed the cables into neat whaddayacallit...well neatly anyway. I guess there's at least 50 meters of cable there, at least 10 USB cables etc. etc.

My first computer I shall own all by myself (this PM is my dad's) is going to be a 'Book, and it'll have BT and AP Ext. for sure.

BTW, I'm quite interested in both your mouse and speakers. Do the Creatures II's sound good? I understand they're quite a bargain with a low price for such sound performance. And the MX 1000, isn't that the laser-mouse? I just yesterday bumped into one at the mall and hevaily tried to get my mom buy one. I suppose the laser is good enough, but what do you say about the wireless technology? It isn't BT, but is it fast enough, I mean, does it lag at all? have you tried games with the mouse?

From the Logitech website: "Fast RF™ cordless
Cordless performance that equals USB corded connection" Is this true?
Click to expand...

I replaced a set of Altec Lansing ATP-3 with the Creatures. Very happy with the sound. Mainly got them to match my iMac.

MX-1000- only been using for 2 days but I feel it's the best mouse I've ever used. I'm not a gamer so can't speak for any lag. Seems a bit more responsive than the Microsoft wireless it replaced but that could just be the "new toy" effect.
 
rdowns said:
MX-1000- only been using for 2 days but I feel it's the best mouse I've ever used. I'm not a gamer so can't speak for any lag. Seems a bit more responsive than the Microsoft wireless it replaced but that could just be the "new toy" effect.
Click to expand...

I see, what about the software on the CD? Did you install it? Does it work okay, I mean can you enable all the fancy buttons? I'm especially interested in the left-right "scrolling" buttons.
 
rdowns said:
Good excuse to play with iPhoto. Wicked fast compared to my old G3/600 iMac.

Here you go

http://homepage.mac.com/rdowns/PhotoAlbum6.html
Click to expand...
Nice. I like what you've done to minimize the cable clutter. My setup is nowhere near as neat. I've got a whole mess of cables around and behind both my Mac and PC, plus a bunch of other stuff on my desk, like CD cases with CDs inside that I'm not currently using.
 
wrldwzrd89 said:
Nice. I like what you've done to minimize the cable clutter. My setup is nowhere near as neat. I've got a whole mess of cables around and behind both my Mac and PC, plus a bunch of other stuff on my desk, like CD cases with CDs inside that I'm not currently using.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Now let's see if I can keep it this neat.
 
G4-power said:
I see, what about the software on the CD? Did you install it? Does it work okay, I mean can you enable all the fancy buttons? I'm especially interested in the left-right "scrolling" buttons.
Click to expand...

Installed software and all buttons can be configured. Left-right scrolling works (awesome feature, I use it a lot in Excel at work with Msft. Wireless). I particularly like pushing the scroll wheel to double click and the application switching button.
 
rdowns said:
Installed software and all buttons can be configured. Left-right scrolling works (awesome feature, I use it a lot in Excel at work with Msft. Wireless). I particularly like pushing the scroll wheel to double click and the application switching button.
Click to expand...

Ooo. Wow. Now I really gotta get this mouse, or even the quite-similar not-laser corded MX510.
 
Nice set-up rdowns... but it is almost too minimal. I mean you need some fancy-looking stuff with blinky lights around, don't you?

I like the idea of that cube, however, I might pick one up myself. I also find garbage bag ties priceless for cord-management (or electrical tape).

I like the trash can too...very Apple-themed.
 
Nice. I always try to reduce cables to a minimum. Now if Apple could just get that wireless Firewire out, I could free my Powerbook of some other cables like Ext. HD(how fast does wiFW actually go? Does anybody know?) or the iPod dock.
And I am still waiting for the MX1000 to go BT :D Hurry Logitech. :p
 
SiliconAddict said:
I really wish someone would come out with WIFI speakers.
Click to expand...

I think BT would limit this as you could only play stuff at a certain bitrate... but wireless FW should definitely be able to handle even lossless. But this might be well off. We'll see when Apple puts it in their computers and then maybe 1 or 2 years later... :(
 
Diatribe said:
I think BT would limit this as you could only play stuff at a certain bitrate
Click to expand...

BT yes. But standard 802.11x (a.k.a. WIFI) should be able to handle just about any audio thrown at it. After all they Apple does have the airport express.

I'd like to see Apple come out with an 5.1 surround sound 802.11b/g speaker setup. There has been a few instances where I've taken my laptop. (Sorry for now it’s a PC. Come on Apple give me my G5 17" PowerBook damn it!!) Anyways I've taken my laptop over to a friends house hooked up the projector I have and had to drag along the speaker setup I have that is a PITA since I have cables strung all over the floor. An 802.11b/g setup would be sweet.
 
Diatribe said:
And I am still waiting for the MX1000 to go BT :D Hurry Logitech. :p
Click to expand...

Yes, I know we're not here discussing mice but BT would limit the MX 1000 fastness because it's much slower than Fast RF. But yes, it would make it compatible without the "dock" and it'd be better than the MX900 BT because of all the laser-goodness 20x more accurate tracking.
 
johnnyjibbs said:
AirPort Express hooked up to digital speakers via Toshlink = WIFI speakers. What more do you want?
Click to expand...
Too bad I don't have a Toslink-enabled computer yet. I would love a setup like that.
 
johnnyjibbs said:
AirPort Express hooked up to digital speakers via Toshlink = WIFI speakers. What more do you want?
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, unless a hack has been found, the only thing that goes through AE is iTunes. Can you get normal system sounds to go through AE? And even then there is a whole heck of a lot of dicking with setting it up. I mean slap the AE into a power outlet. Connect the speakers to the AE. Connect the power to the speakers. Etc. Etc. Etc.
Vs a solution with an integrated WIFI chipset (Think PDA chipset so its way low powered.) and all you simply have to do is plug in your speakers to the outlet and away you go. For configuration purposes there is a USB port on the side of the speaker that you plug into your laptop for initial configuration (e.g. setting up the AP specifics such as WEP/WPA settings)
 
SiliconAddict said:
Unfortunately, unless a hack has been found, the only thing that goes through AE is iTunes. Can you get normal system sounds to go through AE? And even then there is a whole heck of a lot of dicking with setting it up. I mean slap the AE into a power outlet. Connect the speakers to the AE. Connect the power to the speakers. Etc. Etc. Etc.
Vs a solution with an integrated WIFI chipset (Think PDA chipset so its way low powered.) and all you simply have to do is plug in your speakers to the outlet and away you go. For configuration purposes there is a USB port on the side of the speaker that you plug into your laptop for initial configuration (e.g. setting up the AP specifics such as WEP/WPA settings)
Click to expand...
The problem with that is the 1-2 second lag you get with the WiFi, which is pain in the arse enough with iTunes when you want to scrub through a track to a certain point. The delay on system sounds or DVD playback would be prohibitive.
 
johnnyjibbs said:
The problem with that is the 1-2 second lag you get with the WiFi, which is pain in the arse enough with iTunes when you want to scrub through a track to a certain point. The delay on system sounds or DVD playback would be prohibitive.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah, I didn't come to think of that lag.
Pretty annoying, think yourself playing something like Unreal Tournament 2004, you hear distant footsteps, turn around and be dead.
Though, there is indeed a hack for AirPort Express, the Norwegian programmer who hacked the DVD DRM did it. Here's a TechNewsWorld article about it.
 
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