Thread

Hi everyone,

I’m looking into making the switch over to a Mac.  So, I was doing some research and I read some things that said I need to have an Apple router (AirPort Express) for WiFi to work on a Mac.  That sounds completely ridiculous and I’m pretty sure that it’s just Apple pimping their own product, but I just thought I’d check.

WiFi is WiFi, no?

You do not need an Apple product to have Wifi.  That’d be quite silly. 😉

WiFi is WiFi, no?

Yes. A Mac works fine with “Windows” WiFI, whatever that is. It’s all the same… mostly. Apple’s Airport models are generally easier to set up and run than comparable products from D-Link, Linksys, et al (and cost a bit more).

I’ll admit I like my Airport Extreme but my $90 dollar Linksys WiFi router worked fine for 5 years until it conked out on me.

So yep, any router should work fine.

I’ve run into a couple of cases where a non Apple router was set to a frequency that caused problems with my non Apple machines but thankfully every router allows you to change that.

Jamie

I figured so.  But just wanted to make sure :-p.  Thanks guys

I am sharing a cheep solution between win and mac laptops and works fine although I would recommend spending at least >$50.Then again depends on what you need to network.

I have used 3 different routers over the years with my Mac and PC set up - Buffalo, Linksys and the current Netgear. The Linksys was my favourite so far - but I couldn’t get the replacement I wanted so tried the Netgear - which is OK. Oh I also have a BT router as well (spare broadband as the cable has been unreliable in the past) You might want to think about the Apple Router with 1G network Hard drive built in - very good for automated backups.

I like traveling with the Airport Express. It’s small, doesn’t weigh much, and many hotels that don’t have wireless often have ethernet. Plug in the Airport Express and your notebook is no longer tethered to the ethernet cable.

WiFi rules.

I like traveling with the Airport Express. It’s small, doesn’t weigh much, and many hotels that don’t have wireless often have ethernet. Plug in the Airport Express and your notebook is no longer tethered to the ethernet cable.

WiFi rules.

I’m thinking of starting to do the same thing.  There have been just too many times lately where the ethernet jack was just not in a convenient spot, especially b/c I have a stupid little 4 ft. retractable ethernet cable (i hate wires, so the smaller, more out of sight, the better)

There have been just too many times lately where the ethernet jack was just not in a convenient spot, especially b/c I have a stupid little 4 ft. retractable ethernet cable (i hate wires, so the smaller, more out of sight, the better)

Exactly. Usually, you’re stuck with the notebook on the desk, which is seldom as convenient as moving around in a hotel room. Plugging in the Airport Express gives you the mobility WiFi provides. That said, I have my MacBook in a nice, light bag to carry wherever, but I also have an additional “travel bag” which holds Airport Express, a few cables, media reader, power cord, modem, ethernet cable, etc. I just grab it and drop it into the suit case.

My experience with a non-Apple wireless station (D-link) is that the Airport Extreme have much better range. With the D-link I only had about 1-2 signal bars in some places of my home. With Extreme I have always maximum signal.

But the new dual band Extreme would be nice 😊

Magnus