Pros: Requires no PCI port, portable to any computer, and easy as pie.
Cons: Requires major processing power, has shaky software, a flimsy design, and messes up mp3 playback.
The Bottom Line: While it's cost effective, easy, and a simple solution for people with no open PCI slots, the MA101 is way too flawed to be worth the cash. Find another option.
ruff's Full Review: NetGear MA101 (MA101NA) Network Adapter
Definitions
802.11b, for those who don't know, is a standard connection type for wireless networking. Wireless networks are used to string together computers as a local network, and/or for broadband internet sharing, and are usually found in ultra-tech-cool places, like university lounges, or any household that contains more than 2 ubernerds. My network is of the latter type.
Netgear's MA101 Wireless USB Adapter: Set-up
What we have is a cable modem connected to a Netgear router/hub/wireless access point, with three computers wired into the router, and my computer downstairs connecting wirelessly with Netgear's MA101 USB adapter.
In essence, the MA101 is a little flat box with a little antenna and a USB cable that connects to your computer. It's USB-powered; no other cables are required. Set up takes about 3 minutes, after which the Windows Wireless Networking icon pops up on the system tray, announces that networks are available, and offers a connection to the network.
The bundled software is supposed to add more options to the default Windows networking. I couldn't get it to work. I ran the installations, everything seemed fine, but nothing really happened. A taskbar icon was to have appeared on start up, and didn't, and Netgear's software was far too stupid to even tell me where this little program was supposed to be.
In any case, I didn't feel their software was necessary at this time, since Windows takes care of all of the major settings, and I just didn't want to deal with the frustration of a bad software set up.
The Connection: What really matters.
Maximum connection speed is 11 Mbps (much faster than a regular modem, about the speed of a cable modem, but 10 times slower than a cabled ethernet connection).
A connection strength indicator in the taskbar tells you how well connected you are on a 5 point scale, from "Excellent" on down. I have yet to see a connection below "Good" (3/5 cells); however, I've had one occasion where a "Good" connection was miserably slow and timed out for about 15 minutes.
Networked Gaming: What really, really matters.
Yeah, I play games. I play games like crazy. And although the MA101 allows me to play games against my upstairs roommates, the connection is most unimpressive. Pings are usually in the low 30's, but lag spikes are frequent and can really spoil a good fragfest. A wireless connection is not the best option for seriously bandwidth intensive activities, unless you're like me, and need to be handicapped in order to play fair against your much suckier roommates. :)
Resource Hogging: What matters even more.
This is a big, big drawback to the MA101. While I haven't used many other wireless adapters, I can't imagine they'd be more processor/memory intensive than this one. Expect to see a noticeable slowdown whenever the wireless network is active (I was on a cabled ethernet connection before, and never had this type of slowdown), especially during mp3 playback.
I'm not exactly sure why, but playing mp3s while the network connection is busy causes artifacts to show up in the music. Imagine a very soft morse code crackling in the background of all of your songs. This is very serious, since most people enjoy a little music while websurfing.
(In case you're wondering, this doesn't seem to be due to the adapter interfering with the speakers themselves. Even at 10 ft from the computer and speakers, the distortion was present.)
By the way, the MA101's little antenna is flimsy. It can snap off and break. Mine did.
Pros
But to be fair, there are a lot of benefits to a USB adapter. For one, it's portable, and can be attached to any computer with a USB hub and Win 98 or higher. Someone dealing with multiple laptops might find this especially useful. Secondly, it doesn't tie up a PCI slot inside your computer, and doesn't require opening the box--a major reason for going USB, in my case. Finally, although I couldn't get Netgear's proprietary software to do more than waste my time, it's fully Plug-and-Play.
Bottom Line
Unfortunately, the poor utility software and performance hit caused by the adapter seriously hurt its rating. If all you need is a cheap 802.11b receiver, give it a shot. But if you're a true ultra-dork like me, you'll be seriously unhappy with the effects this little adapter has on your overall computing. Cough up a little more cash, and find another option.
11 Mbps wireless desktop PC networking Reliable, 802.11b standards-based networking USB Powered--no need to open your computer WEP encryption to ensur...More at Amazon Marketplace
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.