This pocket-sized Wi-Fi adapter scores with its eye-pleasing and innovative design, ease of setup and great performance. Strong security makes it a handy networking tool for corporate users, too.Thanks to the ubiquity of the USB standard, users can conveniently enjoy the virtues of wireless networking even on different computers. Unlike PC Card variants, a portable USB-based Wi-Fi adapter offers instant out-of-box compatibility with both deskbound as well as mobile PCs. The main drawback for these devices, however, is their obtrusively elongated design. The last time we tested such an adapter (read our review of SMC's EZ Connect G Wireless USB 2.0 adapter), our laptop ended up looking like it had an erection.
But in an inspired bit of origami engineering, networking giant 3Com seems to have solved this problem: The 3Com OfficeConnect Wireless 11g USB Adapter's hinged design allows users to tilt the unit's torso at various angles, thereby saving on lateral space and improving signal reception. Performance-wise, this 802.11g stick delivers consistently excellent throughput and has a good indoor reach. Add to that solid security and an approximate price tag of AU$100, and what you have is a well-conceived Wi-Fi adapter that should appeal to both home and corporate users.
The 3Com OfficeConnect Wireless 11g USB Adapter's box is almost entirely devoid of accessories, which is a bit peculiar given 3Com's standards. In addition to the adapter and a quick install guide, a single installation CD rounds off the rather barren and uninteresting package. The disc itself contains a well-organised PDF manual -- plus the needed drivers and setup software -- but why 3Com has left out the USB cable is anyone's guess. Desktop users cursed with hard-to-reach ports will have to fork out extra for a separate extension cable.
Minor niggles aside, the 3Com OfficeConnect Wireless 11g USB Adapter is quite easy to install and operate. It plugs conveniently into any Windows 98 or newer machines (sadly, there's no Mac or Linux support -- yet) and 3Com's wizard-friendly software handles most of the preliminary configurations including driver updates and encryption entries. The entire installation process took us roughly 3 minutes, after which the 3Com OfficeConnect Wireless 11g USB Adapter managed to identify and associate itself with our Motorola SBG 1000 router.
Security ranks high on most 3Com networking products and this USB adapter is no different. While 40-/64-/128-bit WEP encryption is sufficient for most household and SOHO users, at the higher end of the security spectrum, the 3Com OfficeConnect Wireless 11g USB Adapter's WPA and 802.1x encryption support also allow corporate users to tap into wireless networks enforced by those latter two protocols.
Perhaps the most outstanding trait of this adapter is its unique design. Unlike their PC Card counterparts, USB-based adapters have a tendency to jut out from the sides and rears of laptops. This is where the 3Com OfficeConnect Wireless 11g USB Adapter -- and its origami-like flexibility -- has the ergonomic edge over other models. It bends to an accommodating angle. Not only did our laptop setup look much neater with the 3Com's body arched at a space-saving upright position, it also had fewer problems fitting into the crammed confines of our test desk.
And there's more. How you angle the adapter's antenna has a direct effect on its wireless performance, too. Straighten the 3Com back to its original state, for example, and transmission speeds start to drop dramatically.
The 3Com OfficeConnect Wireless 11g USB Adapter's consistently strong 802.11g performance was the highlight in our benchmarks. In our Q-Check tests, the device chalked a maximum throughput of 17.8Mbps at close range, outperforming SMC's EZ Connect G Wireless USB 2.0 adapter -- if you're looking for a wireless USB adapter for audio-video streaming, this 3Com will surely suit. And it has impressive range, too, boasting an effective indoor reach of around 20m.
Note: The 3Com OfficeConnect Wireless 11g USB Adapter operates in 802.11g (54Mbps) by default, but that's assuming the adapter is plugged into a USB 2.0 port. The unit will automatically switch to 802.11b (11Mbps) mode when inserted into slower USB 1.1 ports.
3Com backs the OfficeConnect Wireless 11g USB Adapter with a solid limited lifetime warranty. Technical support (for regional users) is primarily through email but the company's well-stocked Web site does provide a handy knowledge base, including an easily accessible archive of drivers, firmware, and software updates for the device.
3Com OfficeConnect Wireless 11g USB Adapter
Company: 3com
Price: AU$100 (Estimated Retail Price)
Phone: 1800 644 606
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