Think twice before you go wireless

[admin]

However, long-time users of such devices have uncovered an inconvenient truth: wireless doesn't necessarily mean practical and some things just work better hard-wired.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/digital-life/articles/the-perils-of-wirelessness/2009/04/28/1240684443218.html

[dr_ml422]

I just got a cell for 1st time. so i agree a bit w/this, maybe more so because of what he said about needing it. i'll see how it goes w/the cell, and if I see no real use then I'll ditch the no contract.

Common Sense needs to come into play w/wireless stuff. For instance, he was right about the keyboard and mouse. Unless you have a Big Screen Monitor what's the use? You still have to peck n click.

[PurpleDemon]

Why use a wireless mouse and keyboard anyway? How far away from the computer do you intend to sit?

I don't like cords in my way. That's why I use a wireless mouse and keyboard . I use a wireless router. I have not used a land line phone in 2 years. Very happy with my cell. I don't miss any of it.

I guess I may be an exception to the rule? I do have wired things as backup. (except the phone)

[admin]

The only wireless connection that I don't like over wired is for ethernet, especially to devices that I stream HD videos to. But that's only because I don't use draft N compatible hardware, although I can see the problem if the wireless point is far away from the device you want to connect to.

Wireless mouse/keyboard has come a long way since I got my first, and they're every bit as good, if not better, than the wired ones (battery replacements costs asides - but you can solve this by buying rechargeable ones).

Even my multi-functional printer is now wireless, which is great because the whole house can share the same printer.

So wireless is good in most situations, and I hope they get the short range high bandwidth wireless things up, for use with monitors, TVs, DVD/Blu-ray players.

[copyless]

Wireless mouse/keyboard has come a long way since I got my first, and they're every bit as good, if not better, than the wired ones (battery replacements costs asides - but you can solve this by buying rechargeable ones).

I agree, when I first read the article, I checked two of my wireless keyboards and their mouse, against one of my wired sets and found the only difference to be the cord. My mouse does use a pair of batteries about every 5-6 months, but my main keyboard hasn't had the batteries changed in it in like a year and a half.

Now with my laptops they all use rechargeable batteries.