May 07, 2003 (Computerworld) -- More than three years ago, when Apple Computer Inc. first began shipping computers with wireless hardware it called Airport, the computer maker was decidedly ahead of the Wi-Fi curve.
Only in the past couple of years have computer users and companies taken to the idea of wireless computing, and Wi-Fi access points are quickly popping up in airports, coffee shops and hotels. In March, Intel took the wraps off its wireless initiative, Centrino, and it is backing it with a megabucks marketing campaign.
So it's not surprising that Apple is again trying to stay ahead of the wireless game with its newest iteration of wireless networking, which it unveiled in January and has dubbed Airport Extreme (see story).
But Apple, which tends to lead the way in the computer industry, may have gotten a bit ahead of itself on this rollout. The faster 802.11g standard it's using hasn't yet been formally ratified by the Wi-Fi Alliance, and the Airport Extreme access points it sells have come under fire by users complaining about dropped connections and sensitivity to interference.
For most of April, I used one of the new Airport Extreme base stations -- the distinctive Apple variety looks like a white plastic UFO -- that the company loaned to Computerworld for a hands-on test drive. It was generally set up for a mixed-use environment, meaning it could be accessed by computers with either the new or old 802.11 cards, although I did at times set it exclusively for 802.11g access. That way, I could test data transfer speeds between two 802.11g-equipped Powerbooks.
The base stations, which also offer USB ports so printers can be connected and accessed wirelessly from computers on the network, sell for $199. For $50 more, there's a version that also has a dial-up modem and an external antenna port. The cards for laptop computers or desktop Power Macs cost $99 each. More information is available from Apple's Web site (download PDF).
While my Airport Extreme did indeed deliver faster transfer speeds -- usually about double what I was used to -- it, too, was plagued by mysterious dropped connections and couldn't deliver a connection for more than a few days without needing to be restarted.
A quick scan of Apple's online discussion boards shows that I'm not alone in seeing this problem. Dozens of users have written in complaining of basically the same thing: The base station is working fine, then seems to "disappear" from the network. To reconnect, users have to unplug the station, let it reset and then try to connect again. And sometimes even that doesn't do the trick. By contrast, my older 802.11b base station chugs along without a hiccup.
Apparently, Airport Extreme connections are much more sensitive to interference from microwaves and phones than the much more stable 802.11b, and in just the past month, Apple has released three software and firmware updates, which have helped with the problem. But with 802.11g still in flux, companies looking to jump on Apple's 802.11g bandwagon will probably want to wait until all the kinks are ironed out (see story).
First, a bit of background about wireless networks.
The new 802.11g wireless networking standard is an updated version of the older 802.11b standard. Its chief advantage: Up to 54Mbit/sec. data throughput, almost five times the 11Mbit/sec. offered by 802.11b wireless LAN products that operate in the same unlicensed 2.4-GHz frequency band. It's also backward compliant, meaning anyone using a new computer with an 802.11g card can connect to an older 802.11b network. (My PowerBook 17 works just fine with my older base station, for example.) And anyone using 802.11b can connect to an 802.11g access point. (There's another version, called 802.11a, that also offers speedy wireless transfers, but it's not compatible with either of the other two.)
For enterprises already using 802.11b, compatibility will be key. Moving to the faster 802.11g would mean simply buying equipment based on the new standard as needed. Moving to the 802.11a variety could mean starting from scratch. Another selling point: Airport Extreme base stations can handle 50 users up to 150 feet away from the base station -- and data can be protected using 128-bit encryption (although at that distance, maximum speed drops back to what you'd normally get with an 802.11b network).
But for IT managers eyeing new wireless hardware, there's a hitch: The Wi-Fi Alliance hasn't yet adopted a final standard for 802.11g, meaning it could change once that happens later this summer (see story).
Apple and other manufacturers have said that any changes can be incorporated into the 802.11g hardware through software and firmware updates as needed. Still, Gartner Inc. warned companies in March to hold off buying the new hardware until at least later in the year (see story).
I'd recommend the same thing about Apple's Airport Extreme base station, but for a different reason. Those dropped connections are an annoyance when used in a home environment and would be a nightmare at work. Imagine sitting at your desk, checking something on the Web or transferring files to a co-worker when your connection dies. Your IT people, after restarting the Airport Extreme base station, find that they still can't get the network back.
That sound you hear is productivity (and dollars) going down the drain.
For users new to wireless networking who are intent on getting an Apple product, Airport Extreme is your only option. You'll have to hope that 1) Apple can find a quick fix for sketchy connections, or 2) you manage to set up your network in an environment free of interference.
(Anecdotally, a co-worker here has his own Airport Extreme base station that has been working fine since he updated the software. And since it's now working well -- after initially dropping connections whenever he turned on his microwave -- he refuses to install the latest update, fearing he'll mess things up. Another Airport Extreme base station buyer I know had the dropped-connections problem when his phone rang. The latest updates seemed to help his problem, but his connection still drops out occasionally.)
Given Apple's track record, I'd bet on the company figuring out how to get its hardware working reliably. The number of updates it's putting out is a good sign. But it serves as a reminder that those who want to be on the cutting edge of technology sometimes get cut.
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The base stations, which also offer USB ports so printers can be connected and accessed wirelessly from computers on the network, sell for $199. For $50 more, there's a version that also has a dial-up modem and an external antenna port. The cards for laptop computers or desktop Power Macs cost $99 each. More information is available from Apple's Web site (download PDF).
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