Rating: Summary: Totally useless Review: This is the most finicky 802.11b card I've seen; a few minutes after connecting, it disconnects for no apparent reason. The client software is awful. Changing any setting causes the security keys to be forgotten (I typed my security key in so many times, I memorized all 32 hex digits of it). Sometimes, it insists on trying an ad-hoc connection with other PCs around it, even if it set to "Infrastructure" only.
Rating: Summary: Works Instantly! Wireless couldn't be easier. Review: Took it out of the box, plugged it in, popped in the CD, and voila! Instant wireless connectivity. Couldn't be easier. The one I got included sniffer software which is PRICELESS. It automatically detects whenever I'm in range of a working WiFi signal, and tells me whether that signal is open and available or requires a password. ALSO SMC's 24-hour toll-free tech support is surprising and worth noting (I haven't had any problems but was interested in getting more of these cards for my family which uses Macs. No dice. Only works with Windows. But the tech guys surprised me by answering quickly and being quite knowledgeable and helpful). Would definitely buy again!
Rating: Summary: Works well, but no WPA. Good tech support. Review: Unlike some others here and elsewhere, I've had great success with this card, which was inexpensive, easy to install, and worked fine immediately. I have a Version 2 card. However, in spite of the description here, in spite of the description on the box, and in spite of the description on the datasheet at SMC's site, this card does NOT support WPA. A driver update was supposed to have available (according to SMC literature) in Q2, 2004. But there is no such driver yet, and no one I've talked to at SMC will predict when it will be. So it this kind of security is important to you in the predictable future, choose another product. On a plus note, the telephone support from SMC has been terrific. I would deal with this company again.
Rating: Summary: Great product for low price Review: Very good product, although the software installation is kind of confusing because additional and unecessary feature added. The range is not great but okay. Within the range the connection is excellent and the signal will drop sharply out of certain range.
Rating: Summary: not compatible with some systems Review: Watch out before buying: this card IS NOT compatible with some hardware: HP Pavilion ze 4420 US a Compaq whereas it works fine with a PII and a AMD 600
Rating: Summary: Doesn't work in newer HP laptops Review: Works fine in my old laptop running WinMe but doesn't in my new ZE4420US by HP. See this link: [website] The e-mail support wasn't very helpful. The card would indicate it was communicating with my router but tcp\ip communications would freeze after getting a tcp address via dhcp. Struggled with it for a week then brought the laptop back and they put a Linksys 802.11b card in and that worked like a charm.
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