Rating: 
Summary: My PC and my Mac now share high-speed Internet access!
Review: We have a PC upstairs, which is our primary computer, and a Mac downstairs in the tv room. I wanted both to be able to share our broadband Internet service. I looked at several routers, both wired and wireless. It came down to the Linksys (wired version) and SMC Barricade Wireless. I kept coming back to Linksys because a friend owns one and raves about it. Besides the fact that it looks really cool, it almost took me longer to get it out of the box than it did to set it up. No kidding! Using the QuickStart guide, I was up and running in less than ten minutes. You hook up the necessary cables, restart your computer, log-in to the Linksys website to configure your router, restart your computer again, and you're good to go. I wasn't as optimistic about setting up my Power Mac G3. However, I was pleasantly surprised and it took me all of about five minutes before I was doing some high-speed surfing on that machine as well. Fortunately, my Mac has an Ethernet port so it was just a matter of attaching the CAT-5 cable from there to the Linksys and setting the TCP/IP control panel to the Ethernet and DHCP options. I saved my configuration, opened up my browser and spent the next two hours high-speed surfing with no problems. I have no problem recommending the Linksys, especially for its ease of setup on a PC and Mac network. While I would have preferred a wireless setup, they've received mixed reviews and I was concerned about Mac compatibility. After seeing how well my Mac performs with this Linksys, I'm ready to make ours a wired household!
Rating:
Summary: Perfect for a SOHO
Review: I run a computer consulting business out of my house. I have 14 computers, among them web servers, mail servers and other development machines. I was spending about $80 extra each month for additional TCP/IP addresses to allow access for some of the computers, plus I had some hacker/intruder access concerns over my Cable Modem. I purchased the BEFSR41 while re-doing some of my network infrastructure. Installation was a snap, even with a compicated configuration. Here is my config 1. Surfboard Cable Modem 2. 10MBit Ethernet Hub (for connecting directly outside the router) 3. Linksys BEFSR41 (Yeah!) 4. 3Com OfficeConnect 16-Port Hub 5. All those computers Everything works great. I run a web server, mail server, and ftp server, all on different machines with one TCP/IP address using the Packet Forwarding feature, with a comfy feeling that no one is going to hack through other ports. The only problem that I have had is with some VPN applications, the TCP/IP address can't resolve properly. The Router has paid for itself because I reduced my additional TCP/IP address down to 3 (for some server reasons). Very speedy and simple to setup.
Rating:
Summary: AWSOME! Very easy to install and use.
Review: Ok, this item was referred to me by a friend. I'm not a Linksysemployee or shareholder or anything. (I'm just a network guy with animpartial opinion.) Anyway, I saw that it was a dhcp server AND client, router, firewall, switched hub and allowed for the cascading of hubs in support of 253 users: All for $158! Here's what it takes to set it up. 1. Unpack the item and shut down your computers. (Well, I guess you could do a release/renew to just get a new IP address from the router.) 2. Unplug your systems from your hub or whatever and plug them into the Linksys router. You can probably also use a crossover cable to connect your existing hub right to the "uplink" port on the back. (Which is how you can cascade hubs to get up to 253 users. Amazing.) 3. Anyway, power up your computers and be sure they are using DHCP. 4. That's all I did. You simply open a browser window and go to http://192.168.1.1 and there you have a nice browser window to configure the details. Anyway, check it out. It's cheap and easy to use. =D
Rating: 
Summary: good while it lasts, but doesn't last long
Review: As others have reported, quality is disappointing. Thought it was a good router at a decent price, until it started breaking down, regularly (shows red diagnostic light). Linksys website indicates that company knows about the problem, and will replace (only) if within warranty period. Technically within their rights, but seems unethical to me -- they sold a defective product and aren't taking the responsibility for it. Recommend you avoid this, and be careful about other Linksys products.
Rating:
Summary: Slow, sporadic failures
Review: This router really slowed down my whole network. Often time I would lose connection to the internet and would have to reset the modem and reset windows networking connections. It seems to work well for other people, but I'm rather disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: Reliable, Cheap, Functional
Review: I bought this item from Amazon about 18 months ago based on online reviews and experience with other LinkSys devices. So far, its been a gem. I move big media files -- several gigs -- back and forth between pc and mac across this switch, have used it with both cable-modem and aDSL, have transported it around the world to set up quick and easy lan-parties and video production centers. Firmware updates have been fairly frequent and have added worthwhile funtionality. Port forwarding works well for the basic web, ftp, and telnet ports. This would get a five if I didn't have problems using port forwarding with certain unusual ports, like 8080 and the VNC port, 5901. The forwarding works, but one of the machines on my network can't get outside of the LAN if I turn forwarding on. It could be a hardware problem with that machine. The latest firmware updrade for this device also introduces the ability to install third-party anti-virus and firewall software on the device, a nice feature of which I haven't yet taken advantage.
Rating:
Summary: This Combo Router & Hub Works Great
Review: Networking is confusing stuff to me, but if you have a small group of PCs you need to network, this little guy gets it done nicely. About the size of a desktop radio, it is perfect for a home office (which is what I have). I've connected a laptop and two desktops (Gateways all) to share a broadband Internet connection, as well as files and printers. You'll need an RJ-45 cable and a 10/100 fast ethernet card for each machine you want to connect (got mine here at Amazon). I put a Netgear Ethernet card in an older Pentium I machine, and a Linksys PCMCIA card in the laptop; both installed without a hitch. Note that if you are using Windows 2000, you may need to get new drivers for the cards. Also, first install the 'Client For Microsoft Networks' as well as 'File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks' protocols in the 'Network and Dial-up Connections' folder -- if you don't, you will go insane trying to figure out why your machines can't talk to each other right away. Also, make sure to power down all connected devices before attempting to configure the router, (this includes your modem), as this can hinder each machine's ability to recognize one other. Once you get your machines to talk to one other, you'll also need to set the 'sharing' permissions on folders and printers by right-clicking on the item. To make the network connection to the other machines sharing the router, you'll have to add it in the 'My Network Places' folder. Plan on a couple of hours to work through all of the steps for a small network (like mine).
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Router to Share a Cable Modem and Files
Review: I purchased this to make a small home network between my main desktop computer [WIN2000], my second computer [WINME] and my laptop [WINXP]. We have a cable modem, from which we wanted to share the connection on all computers. The setup was immidiate and very simple, just plug and play. The router worked, i went through the router admin page and within no more than 2-3min i was surfing the internet on all computers. The home networking setup, so that all computers can see each other and print on our main printer was a little bit more complicated, but not because of the router, it was hard to make the WIN2000 grant connection and user rights to the WINME machine. I GIVE THIS PRODUCT AAA RATING - EXCELLENT!
Rating: 
Summary: Customer service? Yeah, RIGHT! "OUTSOURCE" THIS, Linksys!
Review: Wait 'till you hear this one: I have owned this unit for six months. Everything was fine until I built a new PC and attempted to set the PPPoE for the new PC. After accessing the Setup Menu and making the necessary changes, everytime I hit "Save" I would get the logon/password window, and couldn't get past it. I called Linksys Customer Support multiple times over this problem. Each time the calls were answered in India. They kept instucting me to reset the modem, which did not solve the problem. Finally, they told me to RMA the unit, which has to be done online. I was not happy to see that I would be paying for return shipping of the replacement unit out of my own pocket, even though my unit was still under warranty. The replacement unit arrived today, and I plugged it in: SAME PROBLEM. Infuriated, I called Linksys Customer Service again. The guy who answered listened to my description of the problem, said "I know how to fix that", and had me make one change in Windows: VOILA, it works. But, I still have to send the replacement router back on my nickel. When I expressed my frustration by asking the guy why all the previous CS reps didn't know the solution, Here's the really funny part: He asked me "Were you talking to customer service in India?" When I said yes, he said, and get this: "The Indians are all idiots. We're in the Philippines. Next time you have a problem, make sure you're talking to the Philippines." Well, there you have it, "outsourcing" at its finest. The Third World at war with itself for America's hearts and minds. Linksys corporate should be proud. SHEEEEESH!
Rating:
Summary: Transparent for almost 2 years
Review: I've had version 2 of this router for quite a long time, and as the title implies, it was so worry and problem free I'd forget all about it. Two weeks ago I decided to check for new firmware, and attempted to download the newest version from linksys's site. Then the problems started. The WAN port would suddenly cut out, and its DIAG light for that port would stay on solid. Following directions on Linksys's webpage, I re-downloaded the firmware, and it actually got a little better. Now, at least once a day, the WAN port dies, and periodically, while I'm using it, Windows see the network cable as becoming unplugged, then half a second later it goes back to normal. This effectively kills all current connections, including all downloads. Very annoying. I've read online the many problems with version 3 of the router, and reports saying the earlier versions were better. Now I'm thinking I've picked up some firmware bug, and version 3 of this router ships with this same crappy firmware. I even mentioned my router problems at work, simply saying my linksys router is acting up, and a guy i work with goes, "Is it the BEFSR41?, those have lots of problems" Sheese, so bad, its common knowledge. Judging from what I've seen, alot of them do work just fine, so there seems to be more at play then just a firmware bug, which would affect all units. Either way, save yourself some time and go with a netgear router. I will once I get my wireless laptop from work. I just hope this thing holds out till then.
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