Microsoft takes the network plunge

Posted on 19 Sep 2002 at 11:47

Networking is easy, honest.

Microsoft has today launched a complete range of wired and 802.11b wireless networking kits aimed at easing consumers into networking their home.

Called Broadband Networking, the big sell is on the benefits sharing a broadband Internet connection throughout the home, as opposed to the more prosaic file and printer sharing capabilities.

Microsoft has attempted to make the fundamentally complex discipline of networking bearable with its set up wizard, that detects the ISP and modem settings and configures the PC and Base Station. This information is then stored on a floppy disk which can then be taken round to all the other PCs to be networked.

Security features come in the form of a hardware firewall and Network Address Translation. 128-bit WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) encryption is turned on by default.

We had a sneak preview of the products a few weeks ago at Microsoft's Redmond HQ and posed the question that 128-bit WEP had already been cracked. Microsoft execs told us that no security is impenetrable, that adding more robust and complex security features would have hiked up the cost, made the products more complicated while not improving overall security by a great amount. The choices it has made represents the best balance between robust security, value for money and ease of use, and should afford most users the level of security they need.

The UK will not see the Wireless Broadband Networking range for some time, because of the use of USB modems as well as the Ethernet routers that are standard in the US.

However, for the record, the product line up looks like this:

Wireless Base Station (MN-500), $149.95
Wireless USB Adapter (MN-510), $79.95
Wireless Notebook Adapter (MN-520), $79.95
Wireless Desktop Kit (MN-610; Base Station plus USB adapter), $219.95
Wireless Laptop Kit (MN-620; Base Station plus Notebook adapter), $219.95
10/100 Ethernet Wired Base Station (MN-100), $79.95
10/100 Ethernet USB Adapter (MN-110), $29.95
10/100 Ethernet Notebook Adapter (MN-120), $39.95
10/100 Ethernet PCI Adapter (MN-130), $24.95
10/100 Ethernet 5-Port Switch (MN-150), $39.95

Author: Matt Whipp