Microsoft MN-700 Wireless 802.11g Base Station Router
by Microsoft
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List Price: Our Price: $11.93 You Save: $46.06 (79%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: CE See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Microsoft MN-700 Wireless 802.11g Base Station Router
Customer Review: Easy and reliable
Summary: 5 Stars
First, a disclaimer - I am an ex-Microsoft employee (but not in this area). I bought this at retail after I had left, so my experience is as a normal customer.I bought this to replace a Linksys wireless router that I had set up on an existing network as a wireless access point for my wife's laptop (which wasn't located in a spot convenient to our Ethernet connections).
The Linksys was very unreliable as an access point and I am not a networking expert. So I decided to try the MS solution (where I knew the focus was on ease of installation). Since I was upgrading anyway, I bumped up to G.
Installation went completely by the book (including an auto update after I installed the base software). Within 30 minutes, I had the hardware set up, the software installed, the new notebook adaptor in my wife's laptop and the connections made.
It has worked flawlessly for 6 weeks since then. I also have a Dell laptop with the Centrino B wireless adaptor built in and it connects easily and reliably as well.
I also like the vertical setup over the Linksys. It looks better and is more space efficient. And the status lights are visible from more angles.
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised at how easily this setup and how well it has worked. Recommended.
Customer Review: Easy and reliable
Summary: 5 Stars
First, a disclaimer - I am an ex-Microsoft employee (but not in this area). I bought this at retail after I had left, so my experience is as a normal customer.I bought this to replace a Linksys wireless router that I had set up on an existing network as a wireless access point for my wife's laptop (which wasn't located in a spot convenient to our Ethernet connections).
The Linksys was very unreliable as an access point and I am not a networking expert. So I decided to try the MS solution (where I knew the focus was on ease of installation). Since I was upgrading anyway, I bumped up to G.
Installation went completely by the book (including an auto update after I installed the base software). Within 30 minutes, I had the hardware set up, the software installed, the new notebook adaptor in my wife's laptop and the connections made.
It has worked flawlessly for 6 weeks since then. I also have a Dell laptop with the Centrino B wireless adaptor built in and it connects easily and reliably as well.
I also like the vertical setup over the Linksys. It looks better and is more space efficient. And the status lights are visible from more angles.
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised at how easily this setup and how well it has worked. Recommended.
Customer Review: Nice router backed by Microsoft reliability
Summary: 5 Stars
Despite all the negative comments that all the Microsoft haters post here, I can say that I have had this router for more than a year and haven't had any problems with it. It has a pretty good admin interface, and you can get used to it quickly. It is stable, and I don't remember having any disconnects when I finalized all the settings. I had a D-Link Super G D-624 (?) and that product was x2 expensive and wouldn't work, period.
I can open ports on this router and make my webcam, or my webserver available to my friends, I can access it's settings from the intranet or internet; it's protected by the password. I disabled SSID broadcasting, setup encryption, using only MAC address recognition, changed the password for the admin access, and totally forgot that I have a router somewhere on my network.
Would be nice to see if MS comes up with the next model sometime later. But, there is an MS Broadband Network client running on some of my PCs and it tells me when it's time to upgrade a firmware or local software. And, the router itself is running Windows CE OS. If you have problems with your current router, you may look for this one as a safe replacement.
Customer Review: This Unit Seems To Run As Solid As It's Predacessors...
Summary: 5 Stars
I read the other reviews, and I admit I was a bit apprehensive in buying the G verison of the Microsoft's Wireless Base Station. But after having so many problems trying to get the one from Linksys running, and how great Microsoft's Wired Base Station worked out for me, I threw caution to the wind and purchased one (just don't let my wife know).Just like the wired version, the setup of this wireless Base Station is easy. It only took 5 minutes to get setup and running. Kudos to Microsoft for getting this right.
As far as hang-ups and connections problems, I have been spared of this. I have two XP machines connected via ethernet, and an older XP laptop connected via Microsoft's Wireless G card, and having downloaded various XP and Office service packs, and the AOL 9.0 update (all of which took longer than 3 to 5 minutes mind you), I have yet to experience any problems.
The only complaint that I have is that the laptop connection is sluggish, but compared to 100mps, a max of 54 would be I suppose.
Now if only I can get the Win 98 machine to setup as easily... but that is another question...
Customer Review: Perfect for first time networker.
Summary: 5 Stars
This was my first wireless network setup. I was worried that it was going to be a long tedious setup process & require tons of tweaking before I could actually use it....BOY was I pleasantly surprised! Out the box; plain simple instructions Step1.Install software before you install hardware. Step2. Follow directions on screen. After 3 or four easy steps my base station was installed in 10 minutes!!! Next I installed the wireless adapter on my 2nd pc in under 20 minutes with the same degree of ease (took me longest to open up the PC & install the card, but once that was done the software pare took 10 min). With both pieces of hardware up & running, the software simply walked me right through configuring the network; ACTUALLY IT did ALL the work while I sat & watched as it basically set my network up on autopilot. I highly recommend this to everyone thinking about seting up a wireless network at home. The software interface works seemlessly with Windows XP as most microsoft products are designed to do. I trust that everyone will be as pleased with this product as I am.