Microsoft Networking 10/100 Ethernet 4-Port Router

Rating:
Summary: Very nice, reliable router
Review: Usually, I shy away from Microsoft hardware just because they are such a stinking monopoly. However, I purchased this device on the basis of it's price, features and benefits. I have been running this router for 2 years NON-STOP. It has only been off when the power was out, and when it is on, it is constantly in use. I networked our appartment with it, and my roommate has a sleep schedule exactly opposite of mine, so I use it heavily in the day, and he is on it all night. No hardware problems, it is simply a reliable router.

I do not, however, recomend using the software that comes with the router, the "Base Station Managment Tool" or whatever. This is a useless piece of software unless you like to see useless information that is available elsewhere on your computer arranged in one window. It is a waste of space on your disk and has basically no real benefits. Simply plug your router into your broadband, and into each computer. From any computer, go to the "Router Management Tool", which is firmware located on the router itself (type 192.168.2.1 in your browser address line and hit go) and change any settings you need to from there (such as logon information for your ISP). By the way, the person who had to have the original computer on for any subsequent computer to work, this was the mistake they were making. The logon information for their ISP was stored on HER COMPUTER instead of the BASE STATION. Therefore, her computer had to be on in order for the base station to log on to her ISP. Anybody in my appartment is connected to the internet REGARDLESS of what computers are on or off or whatever, which is how it is designed to work, with proper use.

Anyway, if you use this router correctly, and in its simplest form (plug it in to ISP, plug it into computers, no extra software installation), it is super easy and reliable. I would reccomend this product for even people with limited networking knowledge, its simple and works like a charm.