Apple Advise

[dddd]

Using a powerbook G4 Tiger, wanting simple home use wireless ADSL with potential to add an additional computer etc. Not entering into contracts with Telkom or Mweb. Should I go with Mwebs Netgear, Telkoms Modem, D-Link from digicape, or Belkin from incredible connection.

Thanks

 

[JStrike]

All will work with your Mac. As to which is better, I do not know. They are pretty much all the same.

 

[jabulani]

I have never hooked up my Mac wirelessly. There were some issues way back with Airport compatibility -
( http://jeremy.zawodny.com/blog/archives/002812.html )
I don't know if they still apply. You might talk to your Apple dealer (if they are any use). Or maybe someone here can comment. I would find out before buying, myself!

 

[bees]

Not much help, but I've successfully connected a Powerbook G4 to a NetGear DG834GUK router via wireless. That would be my choice.

 

[BobJones]

I suppose the simpliest solution would be to go with the airport or airport express, but they are a bit pricey. The networking on OS-X is a breeze so setup isn't really a problem. I've used the netgear, dlink and gigabyte routers and they are pretty much all the same, just minor differences in range. If you are thinking of the Belkin, you may as well go for the airport extreme, there's not a hell of a lot of price difference.

 

[jabulani]

BobJones - thanks for your post here and on the other thread - I'm glad there is someone who knows how to get all this right for dddd!

Are there still any compatibility issues connecting a machine like the Powerbook G4 to wireless networks running on non-Apple gear? Or will the Powerbook's wireless see the e.g. Netgear access point? Out of interest.

 

[dddd]

I thought Airport Extreme was only to facilitate wireless. Is it an ADSL modem as well, i.e. can I plug the airport extreme into my phone line and get broad band. I thought for that you need a adsl modem into the airport extreme. If an airport extreme is the equivalant of the belkin, netgear ... then I'd like to know!!!

In my experience whenever there is a residential or commercial wireless network, i've always been able to open up my powerbook and find the network pretty seamlessly.

thanks again guys

 

[krycor]

uhm i dunno about apples products but most routers require you to set it up first with a lan/ethernet cable initially to configure it. I've set up a few apples with other routers and they all work fine like that, provided you set it up as per normal.

 

[GiveMeSpeed]

Powerbook G4

Hi dddd

I have a powerbook G4. At work I connect to a dlink AP and at home to a Netgear wireless adsl router. I have never had any problem connecting to other AP's or routers - be it at friends' houses or hotspots.

Hope this helps.

 

[BobJones]

BobJones - thanks for your post here and on the other thread - I'm glad there is someone who knows how to get all this right for dddd!

Are there still any compatibility issues connecting a machine like the Powerbook G4 to wireless networks running on non-Apple gear? Or will the Powerbook's wireless see the e.g. Netgear access point? Out of interest.

I've got PC's and macs connecting to the same router. There are loads of networking goodies that work out of the box with mac, but I'd still be careful with PCM-CIA and PCI gear, since this is where the hardware is the most temperamental.
Your best bet before buying is usually to check the manufacturers website e.g. dlink has a "mac compatible" list. You can also check the apple support website and google since a lot of equipment that isn't marked mac compatible is. I've found that some of the external USB Creative gear works seamlessly on the mac, even though it comes bundled with Windows only software.

 

[BobJones]

I thought Airport Extreme was only to facilitate wireless. Is it an ADSL modem as well, i.e. can I plug the airport extreme into my phone line and get broad band. I thought for that you need a adsl modem into the airport extreme.

The airport extreme is a pretty beefed-up AP, you'll need something like the Dlink DSL-300t to be your ADSL modem.

I got the following from the apple site.
"Extremely powerful and easy to set up and use, AirPort Extreme offers the perfect wireless solution for home, business or school. Using the 54 Mbps IEEE 802.11g wireless standard, it delivers data rates nearly five times faster than the 802.11b standard. The AirPort Extreme Base Station serves up to 50 Mac and Windows users simultaneously. And it comes complete with all the connectivity you need — including ports for a DSL or cable modem or a local area network, a 56K V.90 modem, a USB port and range-extending antenna connector — to create the wireless world of your dreams." http://images.apple.com/airport/images/index_ports01132003.jpg

 

[habari]

Are there still any compatibility issues connecting a machine like the Powerbook G4 to wireless networks running on non-Apple gear? Or will the Powerbook's wireless see the e.g. Netgear access point? Out of interest.

The built in airport card in the G4 quite happy dealing with most brands.

My 2¢ - buy the Airport Express - 1/2 the price of the Extreme so you can buy a second one later if you want to extend your network. You can still plug a printer into it and you can stream audio to it. Its also highly portable.