TechPatio » Wireless

Best Wireless Routers for Mac Users

Guest Author — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 21:10:05 +0000

Apple Airport Express

There are dozens of wireless routers in the retailers’ electronics departments that infamously claim to be “Mac compatible.” If you or one of your friends has ever purchased one of these routers, they either own a PC or know that compatible is used quite loosely. So what router should you buy if you have a Mac and don’t want to find out what “Mac compatible” means? Check out these three products by Apple:

Apple AirPort Extreme

Admittedly this is not the cheapest router on the market, but it syncs beautifully with Macs and has additional features that make it a top pick. The AirPort Extreme meets most users’ needs working with 802.11n and 802.11a/b/g connections. It also features 2.4GHz/5GHz operation to keep newer machines and older machines working separately allowing for full internet speed to be reached every time. Guest networking for up to 50 simultaneous connections and hard drive sharing capabilities deliver more functionality for those who do more than simply surf the web. Some may find having only three Ethernet LAN ports to be a drawback, but for a strong Macs-Only connection with enhanced features, the AirPort Extreme is the clear choice.

Apple AirPort Express

Staying on the runway and sticking with the Apple theme is the AirPort Express. This router is significantly cheaper than AirPort Extreme. Designed for simpler use, this router has no Ethernet ports, but can still connect up to 10 users. A favored feature of the Express is the ease of wireless printing which involves simply connecting the printer to the router. Though it is an 802.11n router, it still has backwards compatibility for those who use an 802.11a/b/g connection. A fun feature of the Express is the AirPlay function. This allows users to stream their iTunes library to any stereo or speaker system in their home. No longer will you have to balance your laptop in the living room or burn a bunch of CDs to access all of your music and playlists.

Apple Time Capsule MC343LL/A 1TB

The Time Capsule is a pricey piece of Apple equipment, but it offers much more than a wireless connection. This router is very similar to the AirPort Extreme, but has also incorporated a 1TB hard drive which can be upgraded to 2TB if you have a monster of an iTunes library. The Ethernet ports, backwards compatibility and 802.11n connection from the Extreme have all made the transition to the Time Capsule. Your files are backed up automatically, so if you are plagued with a crash or nasty virus, your files will have been saved without any manual work. Though you could probably save money by purchasing an external hard drive and combining it with the less expensive, AirPort Express, those who are looking for an all-in-one solution are likely to fall in love with the Time Capsule.

If you’re a Mac owner, it’s better to keep it in the family than risk your internet connection on a “Mac compatible” router. Though you can usually get those routers a bit cheaper, they were designed with PCs in mind. For peace of mind, choose a router that was designed for you, then surf, shop, download, and email frustration and worry free.

Guest article written by: Katie Campbell is a Computers Expert for Bestcovery.com where she seeks to help discover the best of everything. She is a dedicated Mac convert and hasn’t missed her PC since she made the switch. She is interested in a variety of computer topics including the best wireless router for Mac computers.

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Using broadband overseas

Guest Author — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 19:40:57 +0000

We all know how useful mobile broadband can be, especially if you’re the type who gets out and about, either travelling for work or socially. However, for all of the appeal of Internet on the go and a wealth of mobile broadband offers up for grabs, you still need to exercise some caution when using it overseas.

So, for example, if you’re off on holiday for a couple of weeks then the first thing you’ll probably be thinking about if you value your gadgetry is how to pack up the laptop and take it with you to your far flung destination. In actual fact, the reality of using mobile broadband overseas is less straightforward than that.

Thanks to convoluted rules and regulations, it is still quite complicated getting yourself a mobile broadband deal that will allow you to do this without, of course, incurring very heavy charges into the bargain. Although things are slowly getting better than they were, overseas mobile broadband usage can still be a minefield.

So what to do?

Using your mobile phone abroad is one thing, and that can be expensive, as it’s known as ‘roaming’. If you’re planning on doing much the same thing with your laptop then this is called ‘data roaming’. Many mobile broadband offers may well allow you to use your dongle or data card overseas, but it’ll cost you.

For starters, the data used will not usually be included in any monthly allowance, and the rate at which it is charged, usually per MB, will be much more expensive too. We’ve all read stories in newspapers about tourists with horrendous bills from their mobile providers so make sure that it doesn’t happen to you.

If you’re looking for mobile broadband offers then be sure to pick through all of the terms and conditions in relation to data roaming. A website such as Broadband Genie can help you get an overview of what’s involved, and you can then click through to mobile provider websites to see what their terms are if you spot a deal you like the look of.

Any changes ahead?

You’ll find that using broadband in Europe will probably be cheaper than other more exotic international destinations. The EU has also introduced a law capping the amount that can be charged for wholesale broadband roaming, so it’s now one Euro per MB. Mobile providers must also cap your monthly roaming bills at 50 Euros.

If you get to this point then you’ll essentially be cut off, which is better than receiving a sky high bill that you weren’t expecting. Providers should also send you some kind of warning too when you reach around 80 per cent of the allowance. If you think you’ll need more then speak to your mobile provider as they may be able to give you a higher data cap or remove it altogether, but bear in mind it might come with an added cost. It’s not exact science though, so it’s a good idea to do your homework before you set off on your overseas trip.

Other options?

Of course, the great thing now is that many smartphones make very good pocket companions when you’re on the go, and these are becoming increasingly advanced. You can now carry out most computing tasks on a decent handset, although bear in mind that you will be subject to similar rules and regulations when it comes to roaming overseas too.

One of the great workarounds for laptops, smartphones and even tablet computers such as the Apple iPad is to tap into an available Wi-Fi service at your destination. Most places now have these options available, from paid for services in hotels and airports through to free usage that is often available in bars and restaurants keen to get your custom.

Much of the time, these locations will let you tap into their Wi-Fi broadband service, which bypasses the mobile network altogether, in exchange for a couple of drinks or a light meal. Remember to turn off any roaming options that you may have on your dongle or smartphone though, to ensure that the devices don’t still try and access the mobile network while you don’t realize it.

Guest post written by: Rob Clymo writes on behalf of www.broadbandgenie.co.uk, the independent comparison website for broadband, mobile broadband and smartphones.

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Apple Magic Mouse: Just Got It & I Hate It. Wanna Buy?

Klaus — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 22:35:58 +0000

Magic Mouse (Multi-Touch)

It took me long enough, but I finally got the Apple Magic Mouse. My precious. I was too slow to get my hands on one the first shipments that arrived here in Malta and the next shipment was delayed for several weeks because of bad weather conditions throughout Europe for the past month or so.

But today – I finally got it. I wish I could return it…

Well, it looks stunning. The ergonomics though, terrible. I kinda knew that (I do read reviews…). The old Mighty Mouse sucked so much I cannot believe it (I still have it though, hidden far back in my bottom desk drawer), I figured the Magic one must be better – and it is, a lot better. Just not good enough.

First of all, it’s amazingly slow. Setting the tracking speed to max (fastest) and I still have to move twice the distance with it, than my old Logitech mouse. Means I have to use the entire mouse pad to get from one side of the screen, to another. I didn’t buy Magic Mouse to workout.

Luckily, there’s an app a hack for that. There seems to be a few, but I’m using this one. Simply go into Terminal and copy/paste the following:

defaults write -globalDomain com.apple.mouse.scaling -float 12.0

Now, logout and log back in. It will move a lot faster now. I still don’t like it though, it moves in mysterious ways compared to my other Logitech mices. I doubt it’s a question of getting used to it – and even if I do get used to it, I’m concerned about the long-term affects the poor ergonomics will have on my wrist, considering that I spend most of my day in front of a computer (most of the time with a Logitech MX Revolution mouse though, at the office).

Other things I miss about the Magic Mouse compared to my Logitech’s:

No button I can assign the CMD+H shortcut for hiding windows. I use that shortcut often to quickly get rid of windows that I don’t need to work in, or if I just open up TweetDeck to check for updates, then CMD+H (via the mouse button) to get it out of the way again. It’s just part of my workflow and I love it.
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No buttons to assign next/previous tab in Firefox/Safari. It does have two-finger swipe to go forward/back in websites and other applications, but no tab switching.

I’m gonna give it a few more days just to see how it pans out but I’m afraid I just need to accept a 69 euro loss. Unless somebody comes a long, willing to buy it for, say, 40?
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802.11n Wireless Approved By IEEE After 7 Years

Klaus — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:02:51 +0000

The wireless standard, 802.11n, is no news on the market, you have been able to buy 802.11n enabled devices for years now, but it’s not until recently that IEEE approved it as a “standard”. It took just 7 years…

In theory, the old 802.11g standard has a max transfer speed of 54 Mbps while 802.11n can deliver up to 300 Mbps with a range of up to 90 meter indoors and 180 meters outdoors. But in reality, the transfer speed is probably around half of it.

802.11n takes advantage of MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) which is multiple antennas combined in order to boost the bandwidth.

Besides speed and range, 802.11n also provides improvements in terms of security, stability and network configuration.

The existing “draft N” products should be working just fine with the final version of 802.11n which is actually from the 2007 draft version.
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