networking kits

The Linksys HPN 200 is one of the best phone line networks out there. The setup is extremely easy. Just plug in the hardware into a free PCI slot, and insert the drivers CD for Windows 98/Me. Windows XP includes the drivers, so it will be setup automatically! Its great for playing games (compatible with IPX games), sharing files, printers, and Internet connections. If you are using Windows98 Second Edition or later, you do not need 3rd party software to share an internet connection. I have had my network for over a year, and it works great!

Made this setup harder than it should have been. One of the cards was DOA but instead of testing another card in the machine I assumed that I had a software problem. I called the toll free number and had no trouble at 4 pm EST on a Friday getting support personnel. Replaced the card and now have 3 computer network with 2 98 machines and a 95. (Had to buy an extra card, only two comes in this box.) Don't run your modem through it though-- It'll slow the connection down. Also I was not impressed with the Lanbridge software and uninstalled it. Stick with Wingate or one of the other good internet gateway programs.

This product worked great for me and was very easy to set up. I wasn't too pleased with the Internet LanBridge software that came with it, though. Also lacking were details of where to download the drivers for Linux. The first information I found gave me erroneous details about which driver to use and eventually got lucky when someone told me where the obscure FTP site was to download the correct driver ... I also did not like the fact that it had to be opened in Windows and was not a *.tar.gz or *.rpm file. Once the driver was found and installed, it worked great and was easy to set up. I have installed this on Windows 98SE, Mandrake Linux 8.1, and Windows 2000 Professional with no problems except those minor ones mentioned earlier. I read another review that said that Windows XP includes the drivers, but the XP hardware compatibility test told me the device was questionable, so I have not tried it with XP.