Pros: Stylish, small, lightweight, reliable so far. Detailed user manual.
Cons: light weight, tipsy. so so range. couldn't find hits about MN500 in MSFT site.
The Bottom Line: MN500 is like Honda Civic: it does many things well but it does have obvious weak points. If you can get it for a good price, go for it.
ertuzi's Full Review: Microsoft Broadband Networking MN-500 Wireless Bas...
Nice looking but a bit too small to stack up on my cable modem. A bit tipsy to stand up with its vertical stand. This router is less than half the weight of D-Link 614+.
MN500 has many features regarding DHCP, NAT, DMZ zone, MAC address filtering, firewall, VPN just like most brands. One thing short: it doesn't show the DHCP client pcs' MAC addresses, making it difficult to notice if your neighbour is "squatting" on you(Linksys has this).
The user manual has much content than those brands that provide only a 8-page installation guide and put the manual on CD. On the downside, I really got confused reading through first few chapters(because it's too long and non techno). I figured that I am a C(isco)CNA I can do w/o it. So I finished it w/o reading the book, and skipped the software install.
It's been working fine and the indicator lights are so large and stylish. Rangewise it's so so. It's three walls from my laundry room(where MN500 is) to my small bathroom, and I don't have enough signal in the small bathroom, even after trying an USB interfaced wireless adapter. Guess what, my neighbour's Linksys from 5 walls away is up for grab in the very same bathroom. That's how I know Linksys router has that feature to spot "squatters"(because the neighbour didn't turn on WEP, and I got caught for squatting!).
I can't find firmware update from the the link on router's management page. For its premium price, MN500 still doesn't support WPA, the new security feature.
Overall it's good. But few rebates available to make the buying decision easier.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 59.99 Driver Availability: Windows only
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