Newbie Networker

[Mighty_nut]

Hi,

I'll be getting my first Mac soon and want to network it with my PC so I can access the internet. I don't know much about router. Does anyone have any advice or recomendations on which brands are best?

 

[schweb]

Are you looking for a wireless, wired or mixed solution? If wireless or mixed I'd say go with the Airport, it works great. If you're looking at wired, I hear the Linksys or D-Link products work pretty well.

 

[Mighty_nut]

I was planning on going wired but I hadn't heard about the mixed method. How exactly would that work and is it costly?

 

[The mac 13]

GET A BELKIN! IF IT SUXS, THEN GIVE ME..lol.. belkin will set up EVERYTHING for your wi-fi. NO need for hassles of linksys or whateva. once u BELKIN u neva go back.

 

[Mighty_nut]

I did a search on ebay for the brands you ppl recomended...I came across a Belkin with a starting bid of $4.99 and only 3h left till the auction ends. Now, is there a reason nobody has bid on this item yet?

 

[The mac 13]

Dear Mr Nut,
the one that u got, is not WIRELESS. i suggest you go wireless. thats y i recomend belkin. wireless is neater and cost less.
http://www.ebay.com.sg/viItem?ItemId=5735255729
http://www.ebay.com.sg/viItem?ItemId=5734155056
http://www.ebay.com.sg/viItem?ItemId=5734941675
http://www.ebay.com.sg/viItem?ItemId=5734282559
http://www.ebay.com.sg/viItem?ItemId=5734291467
http://www.ebay.com.sg/viItem?ItemId=5734720042
http://www.ebay.com.sg/viItem?ItemId=5733807988
http://www.ebay.com.sg/viItem?ItemId=5734415434
http://www.ebay.com.sg/viItem?ItemId=5734778622
I wouldn't recomend the above. I recomend Belkin F5D6231-4 Wireless Cable/DSL Router
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...50599-6637748?v=glance&s=electronics&n=507846
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/offering/list/-/B00008IHQO/used/1/102-5450599-6637748
Its a VERY good router. read the review from
http://www.circuitcity.com/rpsm/oid/73700/rpem/ccd/productDetailReview.do
invest in a wireless. invest in a Belkin F5D6231-4 Wireless Cable/DSL Router. its GOOD. oh ya, forgot. u must have an ethernet modem too! tell me if this post is helpful!

 

[schweb]

The way a mixed network would work is that you'd have a wireless router that would work with any wireless enabled notebook or desktop, etc and then you can also run a cable from it to a non-wireless computer.

For example I have an Airport Extreme base that is wireless to my iMac, iBook, and PowerBook and the connected via lan to my Dell. That's a "mixed" network.

And IMHO, Belkin is not a good networking product. Stay with the Linksys or D-Link if you don't want to get an Airport.