| Groove |
07-12-2004 06:49 AM |
Gigabyte Wi-Fi USB Stick - Anyone got one?
This sounds too good to be true. It's a 128MB USB memory stick, wireless adapter and wireless access point all in one, and it's only the size of a highlighting pen.
Anyone using it? If so, is it any good? I'm particularly interested in knowing if the access point feature works OK.
http://smh.com.au/ffximage/2004/02/2...s2_feb21,0.jpg
Quote:
This delightful new twist on the USB memory key is sure to bring a gleam to any gadget-lover's eye.
Gigabyte's WiFi USB Stick (more officially known by the oh-so-boring moniker of GN-WLBZ201) is no larger than a highlighter pen but combines a generous 128MB slab of flash memory with a wireless networking unit.
Dock it into the USB socket of any Windows PC, load the supplied software and you're instantly able to join any 802.11b wireless network in the office, home or local cafe. This makes it an especially smart kit for older notebooks that missed out on Intel's wireless-ready Centrino superchip.
But what really takes this into the realm of 007 is that you can turn the host PC (geek-speak for the machine into which it's plugged) into an "access point" into which other wi-fi-equipped PCs can tap. Take a desktop PC with a broadband internet connection, add the gigabyte key, set the bundled software from "station" to "access point" and any nearby notebook equipped with 802.11b can check email and surf the net by piggybacking onto the desktop's broadband link.
In effect, it's a pocket-sized do-it-yourself "hotspot" for the home or office.
The antenna socket rotates vertically and horizontally to give you the best signal strength, the wireless transmitter's power can be wound
down to reduce drain on a notebook's battery, and the software includes all the necessary settings such as standard WEP encryption to keep your network private.
You can even stow the wireless software on the memory key itself, meaning you don't need to carry around the supplied CD, as long as you remember to manually run the setup file from within Windows Explorer.
If you only want wi-fi access for your PC then you're better off buying a dedicated USB box for your desktop or a PC card for your notebook. But if you're on the go, or simply a sucker for gadget goodness, this one can't be beat.
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http://smh.com.au/articles/2004/02/2...072834506.html |
