D-Link's USB-Powered Access Point

Roger Ryder writes "D-Link announced the AirPlus G DWL-G730AP Wireless Pocket Router/AP, a pocket Access Point for travelers. It can be powered by a USB cable and works as an 802.11g access point, client or router. A 3-way configuration switch on the bottom of the unit changes the mode of operation. In AP mode, the DWL-G730AP can be used to create a wireless network in a room where a single Ethernet port is provided. In Router mode, it can be used to share a single broadband Internet connection. The internal DHCP server automatically assigns IP addresses to ensure everyone in the room can connect to the Internet. It supports VPN Pass-through and firewall features including Network Address Translation (NAT) and MAC filtering to protect your wireless network from malicious attacks. When set in Wireless Client mode, the device allows connection to an existing wireless network, without having to install complicated drivers or additional software. For added mobility, the DWL-G730AP can be powered over USB if power outlets are not available. Similar devices are available from ASUS, SMC, Apple's AirPort Express and Netgear."

Not as neat a package as the AirPort Express

[nickovs]

This seems to serve the same purpose as the AirPort Express for the business traveller except that it has a separate power supply (unless you want to tether yourself to it with a USB cable). The fact that the power supply is not built in seems to me to limit its utility quite a lot. Given it costs 80% as much as the AirPort and also lacks the printer sharing (and non-sequitur music streaming) I have a hard time seeing this being a commercial success.

Re:Again?

[Alcimedes]

Because new technology is interesting to geeks? This is the first (to my knowledge) USB powered access point. That's news, at least to people who travel a lot.

Every day I get people walking into my office asking me advice about technology I personally haven't had a chance to play around with. An article like this gives me a shot to read about a cool new product that I probably wouldn't have thought to look up until a day or so before I was leaving for a trip. Dunno, I don't mind having articles posted that give out info on new tech. that has unique features.

Laptop Battery

[lateralus_1024]

Congrats..Your laptop battery life has just gone down from 2hrs45min to 20 minutes(10 if you're trying to achieve FP!).

Re:Please Enlighten Me

[tftp]

There are three ways to connect from a hotel: a modem, an Ethernet jack, and a 802.11b network. If you have the #1 or #3 then the device does not apply at all. If you have #2 then you can surf while in the bed, for example.

Even the bed example is not a best fit; business travelers are usually tired enough, and they spend more time in restaurants (between 6pm and midnight) than in bed.

Even more detached from reality is the claim that you can share the connection. Sure you can, but with who? When you travel you have your room to yourself. I don't see any scenario when a bunch of people suddenly needs to share some Internet connection. I travel with other people sometimes, and we have notebooks... but sneakernet with USB flash disks is the media of choice; besides, we all have Internet access in our rooms, often included into the bill which we don't pay ourselves anyway, along with newspapers which we don't have time or desire to read.

This device may be useful to someone - anything is useful to someone, somewhere. But when I travel I need an Access Point much less than a spare battery, for example, or a stack of CDs. I do not need this AP on the road, and I don't know anyone who would need it.

Besides, most of business travelers are sales people, not very familiar with computers and rightfully afraid to mess with them. These guys know how to turn the thing on and how to start their PowerPoint presentation, and that's pretty much all they know. The good part is that they don't even need to know more.

Are you happy to see me?

[Anonymous Coward]

Nobody seemed to mention that there is a lot of stuff to carry here. Compare this to the very, very compact size of Airport Express. How is this thing from D-Link convenient?

Re:Okay...

[jrockway]

It's not a fucking ad. It's slightly interesting. How else would have you found out about this AND gotten to hear comments about it, anyway.

Even if it is an ad, what right do you have to complain. You're not paying for slashdot. Go elsewhere if you don't like it. I'm a subscriber (read: I pay money to see slashdot) and I love articles like this. Okay!?

This is becoming the new cliché on slashdot... "this is an ad... slashdot sucks... whine whine"

It's been said so many times that it's not interesting, insightful, or funny. That makes it -1 Redundant.

You know..

[Large Green Mallard]

I've been reading slashdot since 1998. These two stories from michael today have got to be the lamest entries I've ever seen on here. I'm very disappointed. At least this one isn't as bad as the Nokia one.

Umm peer to peer?

[s88]

Has no one in this thread ever heard of peer to peer?
All the examples of "I could have used this when..." could easily have been solved by simply setting your wireless cards into peer mode and making an ad hoc wireless network. This is quick and easy with every network client app I have seen; does no one use this feature or what?

Why is this device any better than just bridging your ethernet to your wireless peer network?

Re:Again?

[howlatthemoon]

So I need to hook it to the the USB port on my computer and then plugin the ethernet cable into wall? IS THIS WIRELESS? Or, I need to carry this device and YAB (yet another brick). The Apple product's design is much more user friendly for travel. They should do something like that. It is easier for me to plug the ethernet into my laptop and make it into an access point.

What is the big deal about USB power? It doesn't free you from being attached to the wall. And, if I want to share my wired connection, my internal wireless card is a lot easier to carry.

Re:Welcome!

[thedillybar]

Are you physically capable of reading the headline D-Link's USB-Powered Access Point and just skipping over it? Don't read the comments, don't post a comment, don't click on the link.

We don't need to hear about it everytime you don't like an article.

Re:Okay...more info

[jhoffoss]

Okay, first off, this is a link to the product description page, nothing else. At least with the previous story (re: nokia phone) one of the early posters posted a link to a very good review from the Register, which was written over a month ago. THAT would have been worth posting to the front page of Slashdot.

Second, I would know about this product because I read slashdot and have seen Airport Express postings, which have had comments referring to these. I also recently purchased the aforementioned Asus WL330 access point. (Which has been revised; see a review of older model here [tomsnetworking.com].) This is a very good product that I've been very happy with.

In my opionion, a PR page on a small access point, which follows the same from Apple, ( here [slashdot.org], here [slashdot.org], and here [slashdot.org]) is not newsworthy.

Frankly, if I _were_ a subscriber, which I have considered doing at length, I would be pissed that stories like this show up. I want insightful reviews and bleeding edge stuff I won't see other places for weeks. Not product pages to DLink products. I can go to dlink.com for that.

THIS is why I said what I said.

It's been said so many times that it's not interesting, insightful, or funny. That makes it -1 Redundant.

As opposed to your post?

Re:wow

[Anonymous Coward]

The reason almost every new Apple product gets a story is because almost every new Apple product is innovative.

Thats kind of like complaining about all the stories about Tiger Woods winning this tournament and that tournament. There were 30 other golfers there but Tiger always gets his picture in the paper. What gives?