Would the Real Network Administrator Please Raise Their Hand?
Written: Jan 06 '00
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Pros: Great Support, Reasonable Price.
Cons: Included cable is only ten feet.
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| happy2000usa's Full Review: NetGear SB104 Network Starter Kit Networking Hub |
Author's Note: This review is not entirely about the SB104. In fact, the "Network in a box" that I bought was from a competitor. Fortunately, I also added a Netgear ISA card for my "boat anchor." Netgear technical support saved my sanity.
This Christmas Santa, bless his fat, jolly self, gave my son just what he'd requested for Christmas. When I was 12, I wanted a BB Gun. Those days are gone forever. My son wanted access to my computer. He wanted a home network.
It fell upon me to install said network and, not long into the project, I realized why the jolly old soul was always going "Ho Ho Ho!" The cards went into the computers just fine. Running the wiring was a chore, but save the occasional fight with a Black Widow, uneventful. The problems started with the software.
The primary system was a D-Link system and I, being naive, once again was duped by Microsoft. The Windows 98 System Manual said all would be easy and effortless. I had but to sit and watch Microsoft perform the magic. (You'd think after these many years of running Windows, I'd be smarter than that, but I wasn't.)
I should say that I'm strong in some computing areas, but networking is not one of them. When Windows said it found the new card, I was ecstatic. When I discovered it was installing the wrong one, I got nervous. (You must remember, this is automatic. You can't scream "no" and tell Windows it is the wrong card.) Needless to say, after all of the magic was duly performed, my Network Neighborhood didn't see one. I consulted the Windows 98 Manual and it gave me the sage advice that I needed to talk to my Network Administrator. I had met the enemy and I was the Network Administrator.
I removed the card drivers from the system, went through another detection process, and finally figured out how to get Windows to load the correct drivers. It was a pain, but the Network Neighborhood now had one occupant. Repeating the process, I got the second Pentium online, but there was a problem. Each computer had itself on a network, but didn't recognize its neighbor. I went back to the book and was once again referred to this mythical System Administrator.
I did the next best thing. I tried D-Link Tech support. I tried on line. I tried on the telephone. I never got them. I gave up and installed the old 486 "Boat Anchor" card for its antique ISA bus. For this application, I used a Netgear EA 201 card. I got the same results on this one. I now had three computers that recognized they were on a net, showed no errors in their diagnostics, but were not communicating. I was beginning to think that I had performed a marriage ceremony rather than set up a network.
This time, I called Netgear. There was a reasonably long wait, but soon I had an expert on the line. I explained my problems, even admitting to him about his competitor's part in my system. It made no difference. He was there to help and help he did. We installed NETBUI protocols on all three machines and I had my network. He even stayed on line and helped me clear up some hardware conflicts that had reared their ugly head as a result of the network. (Related to Windows, not the networking products or drivers.)
The Windows 98 Manual talks about making a floppy disk for modem sharing. The wizard takes you through it, but they leave out the simple fact that you use that disk on your Windows 95 machines if you want them sharing the network modem. Once again, the tech support man at Netgear explained how that worked and what I needed to do.
I cannot say enough about the Netgear support. We were on the telephone less than ten minutes to solve all of my problems. During this time, I was treated courteously and there was never any mention of my apparently inferior intelligence level. (Except in my own mind.)
I know this review must tickle Elgiac and others with far more expertise, but this reviewer is a common computer user, not an expert. Since these products, as part of their sales pitch, tout how easily they're installed, I felt it necessary to warn other future Network Administrators.Considering the friendly and helpful support received from Netgear, I wish I had purchased their "Net in a box," rather than D-Link. I had read the other reviews here at Epinions and noted the complaints about a fan in the hub. The D-Link was fan free, so I bought it.
Although I am a newly annoited "Network Administrator," I would not presume to recommend the merits of the D-link product over the Netgear System. I will say, however, that if you're relying on the Windows 98 Manual for guidance, you probably will need support. If that's the case, Netgear is the system to buy.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 28 (For ISA Card/Cable)
Driver Availability: Windows only
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Epinions.com ID:
happy2000usa
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 - Top 1000 |
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Member: Wayne Arnold
Location: Tracy, California, USA
Reviews written: 97
Trusted by: 171 members
About Me:
Writer, editor, beta tester, pilot, traveler. I'm an easy mark, always evaluating new software.
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