Other Features

CES 2007: Networking creeps forward

CES 2007 is fast fading into yesterday's news. But before the memories completely die, Tim Higgins offers some thoughts on whether anything has changed in the past year in home and SOHO networking.

NAS News

Linksys gets into the consumer NAS game

Ads in the current version of PC World provide a peek at some of the products that Linksys may announce during CES. The Cisco division won't be present in any of the show's venues, but will hold private meetings in an offsite hotel suite.

Wireless News

Ralink announces “long range” draft 11n chip

Wi-Fi chipset maker Ralink Technology today announced what it claims is the industry's "longest range" draft-802.11n Wi-Fi chipset. The company said its RT2800 chipset "doubles the range of high-performance wireless systems" through the use of patented, low-noise circuitry. Ralink also said the chipset is designed so that changes to the current draft-802.11n standard can be done via firmware upgrade.

Wireless News

Xirrus adds draft 11n upgrade guarantee, for a price

Wi-Fi Array maker Xirrus today announced the launch of the Xirrus 802.11n Upgrade Guarantee Program. The program provides customers with a pay-for 802.11n technology upgrade path on Arrays purchased in advance of the standard's ratification, which is expected sometime in 2008.

Xirrus said it can offer the upgrade due to the Array’s modular design. All RF components are located on modular printed circuit boards which can be replaced when 802.11n radio modules are available. An upgrade to an Array's firmware-based 802.11 MAC will also be required.