The beauty of Apple is the simplicity of their products - the Mac, the iPod, everything just works without having to consult Carl Sagan, Neil Armstrong or Miss Cleo.
A note to those wanting to go wireless with an older computer: The Airport Card and the Airport Extreme Card are two different critters. They look different and this card will not work on older Macs fitted for the standard Airport card. Apple doesn't even sell the old Airport cards anymore. If you have an older Mac and want to get more speed, you cannot hotwire it to do more with the newer card - you'll just blow a gasket on your Mac.
If you're adding a new computer to your existing Airport-based network and are underwhelmed by the performance, you may be using an original Airport Base Station - these older models maxxed out at 11bps, where the new ones max out at 54bps - a nearly 500% increase in network access speed.
This is NOT the model to get for a Mac Mini. The Mac Mini has a different form factor and has a slot for a special Airport & Bluetooth combo card that this card will not work with.
Installation is a snap - literally. Pop it into place and attach the antenna cord and you've got WiFi. I installed one of these on my older 1Ghz iBook G4 and instantly saw all the wireless networks in my neighborhood. Viva la Macintosh! Apple M8881LL/A AirPort Extreme Card
The wireless revolution has seriously altered the way I work. It didn't seem like it was that big of a deal, to be able to work anywhere in the house on a laptop. And then I was home over Thanksgiving and tried my father's - it was incredible. So, soon after I had my own and I love it - I even ended up getting another one for my wife's laptop. Whether it's browsing amazon.com late at night in bed, checking morning email in the kitchen while the kids run around, or being able to set up a writing desk anywhere in the house without worrying about an accessible internet port - the airport system is awesome. Even if you only have a desktop computer it's worth it - you can to put the computer in a place where there's no internet plug, without the 40 foot cord draping your wall to connect it. All in all, a wireless system may seem extravagant, but once you have one you'll wonder how you got by without it. The airport card, along with the base station, allows you to connect several computers, even ones that don't have wireless cards in them (i.e., we have two laptops on the wireless system, and then one iMac that doesn't have an airport card is plugged directly into the base station). You can print, scan - anything - wirelessly, as long as those extra components are connected to the base station.If you have a big house and the base station won't be centrally located, you may want to look into the antenna. I have a 2500 square foot house and the base station is at one end of it. I can get access from anywhere in the house without the extra antenna, though in one or two places it's a weak signal. My father's house, on the other hand, is over 5000 square feet and the base station is at a far end - you can't even get a signal on the other side of the house. However, he purchased the antenna and the signal is now very strong wherever you are. A warning - you should make sure your airport network is password protected, especially if you get the antenna. The signal will be broadcast through half your neighborhood and if not protected, people can get on and use your airtime, clogging up your bandwidth.Make sure you get the right card! There's the airport extreme card and the regular airport card (I believe they are both compatible with either base station). Check Apple's website for direct compatibility between your computer and the two different cards. They are different sizes and will only fit in the right kind of slot. One final word - I've heard from others that certain products from Net Gear or other wireless manufacturers accomplish the same thing as the airport card and base station for much cheaper. I can't attest to the validity of this, but it might be worth looking into. I'd exercise extreme caution, since if you go with Apple products it will be covered with tech support, even if it's more expensive. And putting third party hardware in your computer will likely void the warranty on your computer.
Apple, once again, delivers yet another fantastic product. After doing my research to find a 3rd party wirless unit, I found I had no choice but to buy the Airport Extreme card for my imac G5. I'm using a Linksys Router and It works perfectly. I made the mistake of installing the card first then plugging in the antenna. If you install this be sure to plug in the antenna first making sure the plug is all the way in from tip to collar (which takes a little force) and then insert the card securly in it's seat. If you don't get a very strong signal look at the card and antenna again as it more than likely isn't in all the way. It's very easy to install so If you are comfortable opening up your computer do it yourself. Once you have it installed that's all, go to your airport icon and make sure it's on... and that's it! You're up and running! Easy as Plug in and go! - Airport Extreme - Airport - Mac - Wireless'
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