Home :: Computers :: Components :: Networking :: Broadband Access  

Broadband Access

Telephony
Wired Networks
Wireless Networks
3Com USB Ethernet Network Interface Card

3Com USB Ethernet Network Interface Card

List Price: $69.99
Your Price: $54.04
Product Info Reviews

<< 1 >>

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: 3COM USB NIC for Win98
Review: I received my 3COM USB NIC from Amazon.... and attempted to install it on a Compaq Pentium III running Win2000 and realized that on the 3Com package, it clearly states that the device is "USB for Win98" (a fact not specified on Amazon.com). 3Com's website does not contain drivers to download for W2K, so I am having to return the item. If you are running Windows 2000, be careful. I called 3COM for tech support (a long distance call) but hung up after 5 minutes of hold time.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: 3COM USB NIC for Win98
Review: I received my 3COM USB NIC from Amazon.... and attempted to install it on a Compaq Pentium III running Win2000 and realized that on the 3Com package, it clearly states that the device is "USB for Win98" (a fact not specified on Amazon.com). 3Com's website does not contain drivers to download for W2K, so I am having to return the item. If you are running Windows 2000, be careful. I called 3COM for tech support (a long distance call) but hung up after 5 minutes of hold time.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: 10Mbps, not Windows 2000 compatible.
Review: It's not to say that it won't work, and that it won't work for you, but I think it was a poor product release by 3com, who makes many of the best networking devices out there. The 10Mbps only limits your connectivity option wether or not you NEED the speed or not. For instance, you might have a 100Mbps only hub, or a 10Mbps device might make your 100Mbps segment less efficient. Also, this device is not Windows 2000 compliant which makes it useless in my organization. If you run Windows 98, and are a home user, it will likely work for you, but I think the 10/100 Linksys product is superior and is less expensive.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: 10Mbps, not Windows 2000 compatible.
Review: It's not to say that it won't work, and that it won't work for you, but I think it was a poor product release by 3com, who makes many of the best networking devices out there. The 10Mbps only limits your connectivity option wether or not you NEED the speed or not. For instance, you might have a 100Mbps only hub, or a 10Mbps device might make your 100Mbps segment less efficient. Also, this device is not Windows 2000 compliant which makes it useless in my organization. If you run Windows 98, and are a home user, it will likely work for you, but I think the 10/100 Linksys product is superior and is less expensive.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Just as advertised
Review: Just would like you to know that this item worked as advertised. Installation was a breeze. I would say it is almost impossible to make a mistake.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Just as advertised
Review: Just would like you to know that this item worked as advertised. Installation was a breeze. I would say it is almost impossible to make a mistake.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: USB LAN connectivity that makes sense
Review: This was my second attempt to get add a USB solution to my LAN, and it was fabulously more successful than the competitor by D-Link. It is the perfect solution for someone wanting to quickly add (and remove) a portable from a larger network, or to add a desktop that's already used all its PCI slots on other kinds of cards.

Installation was entirely easy. The documentation was superb. I was up and running in literally ten minutes.

There are drawbacks to this solution over the traditional internal card solution, however.

First, it's only capable of 10/Base-T connections. This speed is more than enough for almost any possible current use, but down the road a couple of years, this speed might well be insufficient.

Second, unplugging the device accidentally means re-configuring it when you plug it back in. This kind of thing can't happen with an in-the-box PCI card.

These are minor annoyances though, at worst. Overall, this is clearly an excellent, low-cost solution that doesn't waste a valuable PCI slot on a fairly routine matter of connectivity.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: USB LAN connectivity that makes sense
Review: This was my second attempt to get add a USB solution to my LAN, and it was fabulously more successful than the competitor by D-Link. It is the perfect solution for someone wanting to quickly add (and remove) a portable from a larger network, or to add a desktop that's already used all its PCI slots on other kinds of cards.

Installation was entirely easy. The documentation was superb. I was up and running in literally ten minutes.

There are drawbacks to this solution over the traditional internal card solution, however.

First, it's only capable of 10/Base-T connections. This speed is more than enough for almost any possible current use, but down the road a couple of years, this speed might well be insufficient.

Second, unplugging the device accidentally means re-configuring it when you plug it back in. This kind of thing can't happen with an in-the-box PCI card.

These are minor annoyances though, at worst. Overall, this is clearly an excellent, low-cost solution that doesn't waste a valuable PCI slot on a fairly routine matter of connectivity.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A great solution
Review: We have an older Packard Bell which I was able to upgrade to its maximum of 64 MB of memory and Windows 98. It works well in a small office for word processing, etc but without a network card it couldn't share files with the newer machines. This Packard Bell has no PCI or ISA slots, so there was no way to add a regular network card. Fortunately, it has one USB port, so a USB-Ethernet adapter is the perfect solution. This 3Com USB NIC is easy to install: Run the driver software and plug in the NIC. Then, check the usual network settings, and you're in business. Now the computer is networked to the other machines through a LinkSys router, and has high speed internet access, too.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A great solution
Review: We have an older Packard Bell which I was able to upgrade to its maximum of 64 MB of memory and Windows 98. It works well in a small office for word processing, etc but without a network card it couldn't share files with the newer machines. This Packard Bell has no PCI or ISA slots, so there was no way to add a regular network card. Fortunately, it has one USB port, so a USB-Ethernet adapter is the perfect solution. This 3Com USB NIC is easy to install: Run the driver software and plug in the NIC. Then, check the usual network settings, and you're in business. Now the computer is networked to the other machines through a LinkSys router, and has high speed internet access, too.


<< 1 >>

© 2004, ReviewFocus or its affiliates