mac mini with wifi usb adapter

[hubes]

Has anyone ever used their Mac mini with a WiFi usb adapter? I know that if you want AirPort installed in your Mac mini it is a built to order option. I was offered by a friend a Mac mini but it didn't have AirPort built in. If I decide to buy it I just want to be sure that I could connect it to my network wirelessly.

If it is possible then I might get a D-Link AirPlusG or a D-Link Air. Any other recommendations? I checked out the Linksys usb adapter but in their website it didn't have Mac OS X as one of their supported OS.

[booblanco]

I've been successful connecting my Airport Extreme-equipped iBook with our PC-based 3com wifi router. We just had to manually configure our WEP security settings to allow connection with the Airport. Since then, it's been working like a charm. Go ahead and buy the Airport Extreme - it works.

Should you wish to use 3rd party solutions, D-Link's AirPlus Xtreme G (the PCMCIA card) has been proven to work with Powerbooks, but you would have to install OrangeWare's Wireless Driver for Mac (www.orangeware.com), a driver for many 3rd-party wireless adapters to get it going.

D-Link's AirPlus Xtreme G DI-624 wireless broadband router also works with Airport networks, but you'll have to get used to its browser-based configuration tool.

Good luck!

[Maccess]

I'm not a big fan of USB wireless dongles. I'd rather use ethernet attched wireless dongles. they're usually the same size and shape as as USB dongles, but have the advantage of NOT needing a driver. The computer simply thinks it has a wired ethernet connection.

[hubes]

Originally posted by Maccess
I'm not a big fan of USB wireless dongles. I'd rather use ethernet attched wireless dongles. they're usually the same size and shape as as USB dongles, but have the advantage of NOT needing a driver. The computer simply thinks it has a wired ethernet connection.

Thanks! Just to verify, are you referring to a wireless bridge such as the Linksys WET54G? I'll have to find out how much it costs because if it costs more than an AirPort card then maybe I should have the Mac mini built to order.

Originally posted by booblanco
I've been successful connecting my Airport Extreme-equipped iBook with our PC-based 3com wifi router. We just had to manually configure our WEP security settings to allow connection with the Airport. Since then, it's been working like a charm. Go ahead and buy the Airport Extreme - it works.

I already have the wireless network set up. In fact I have three networks that I normally use: one at home, another at work, and one more at my parent's house. I use AirPort Express at my house and at my parent's house while at work I use a Linksys WRT54G. Since I have been offered a Mac mini (w/ Bluetooth, wireless keyboard, and wireless mouse included) at a very reasonable price I need to know if it will be possible for this Mac to join the network using devices other than the AirPort card. If it is possible, will it be a hassle to configure?

[booblanco]

hubes, it will. As i mentioned, you can use the OrangeWare driver (not free) for most wireless router and gateway brands that do not include a native mac driver. it has been tested to work with macs using the Linksys' DI-624, as well as other wireless routers. Just make sure to drop by orangeware.com and check if your preferred router is supported.

[booblanco]

hassle din nga pala to configure pag ung network ay may security settings like WEP, but that's the price of joining non-Mac networks eh? it's worth it for the most part, kaya lang you may be spoiled like me by OS X's dialog box-driven configuration. and i don't know jack about network configuration, IP addresses, hex passwords, etc..

[Maccess]

I suppose these things should cost around 5-6T

Here's another one:
http://www.dlink.com/products/?sec=1&pid=241
http://www.dlink.com/products/?sec=1&pid=333
and another one by Asus
http://usa.asus.com/products/communication/wireless/wl-330g/overview.HTM

It really depends on your intended use, the built-in AE is of course, much neater; but an external dongle can be transferred among different computers and can certain models can support more than one device (e.g. several Macs and a network printer wired to the Wi-Fi device via a small ethernet hub).