OSNews

While the history of wireless computer networks dates back to the 1970 with the University of Hawaii's ALOHAnet (I wish we retained that name instead of 802.11x), it has only been during the past, say, 10 years that the technology started to make serious inroads into the consumer market - your home. The latest and greatest variant is 802.11n, and while promoted as the best thing since sliced bread, Frank Ohlhorst has his reservations, and debunks 5 myths concerning 802.11n.

The 5 myths are, according to Ohlhorst:

Personally, I have issues with anything that is wireless. I'm old-fashioned in that I try to avoid the technology as much as possible, since for most use-cases, it offers more disadvantages than advantages. I don't have a wireless mouse and/or keyboard, because the fiddling about with batteries (whether it has a charger or not) is too cumbersome, and the lack of a cable doesn't make it any less so.

When it comes to wireless networking, I use it where it makes sense: mobile devices. My PowerBook uses a wireless connection, but my 'stationary' equipment all use good old ethernet cable, because for a desktop machine I simply see no advantages in using wireless networking - only disadvantages. It's slower, less reliable, costlier, far less secure, and quite problematic on most less-popular operating systems.

What do you all think? What do you use at home? Wireless all around, or do people trip over strands of CAT5 cable draped all over your apartment?