Klaxon_Oil's Full Review: NetGear WGR614 Wireless Router
Over View 3.5/5 Fedora is my main operating system due to flexibility and remaining reliable in the clutch. After many times using different operating systems in the past the configuring and usability of a Net Gear router has always remained the same. For me this great little box represents a lot of good things and one of them is affordability. In configuring routers the important thing is giving limited users and even those with the most time spent behind the wheel so to speak all the sticker information. In the past routers have been pains to configure and for me more so in Windows then in Linux. The configuring wasn't all that hard to do however certain pieces of information which had been established in several Net Gear routers I've used has been taken out of the manual. Yes, I know this makes it easier for Windows users but confound it all there are six Linux users out here.
Manuel 2.5/5 In the past Net Gear was famous for giving a hefty information which read like a technical wizards dream. Since the invention of Vista however that has sank into the far corners of the earth. No longer is there a smarter way to use connections but rather pop in a disk and go. This hinders efforts however due to the long sustaining drive which Net Gear once had. In truth the information is as vague as a test written by a new teacher. No long hefty manuals and point and click simplistic dreams for Windows users. Meaning the long versed http codes have to be hunted for through the Internet which took me nearly half a day to read and relate too. But, the price you pay is the price which you pay.
Technical Level 3/5 Normally Net Gear is much better at getting information out to different operating systems users. However, the router doesn't even come with a single piece of automatic detection which makes it viable. More or less so pushing resets on both my router and modem finally configured it. Which of course is more of a real bother because most question and answer FAQs don't really hold the true answer and for configuring purposes I'll post what I've discovered into a comment on this review. In other words the technical details are lacking and this configures jointly with the manual or lack thereof.
Ease of Use 4.5/5 Configuring and discovery of trouble shooting methods finally led me down the right path of hooking it up and configuring it. Fedora still remains for me proof that there is an easier style of blending high technology and effortless networking combinations like a one two punch. Put, that came from a night of studying, discovering various sources, and finally putting them together. Scaffolding for computer users should be also listed as a psychology. Although it wasn't easier to configure but that was due to lack of technological motivations.
Setup 3/5 Again with the setup it was easier to configure but harder at times various bits of information missing hadn't help this poor routers case. At times to start with it looked active and then again it took more begging and prodding of information to finally piece it together. In the end it configured just fine but shame on Net Gear for taking it's bread and butter manuals and not sustaining customer information for those who don't use Windows. And, don't make me laugh in the times of viruses a dual boots to dangerous.
Total 3.5 In the ending results Net Gear is firmly routed. However, not having strong technical information hinders it's case. As much as I've learned personally about running Linux, Fedora, and getting training exposure for networking it shouldn't have been this hard. In the end result you learn and live possible though that maybe sometime in the near future Net Gear could give Linux users a manual instead of Windows and Macs a free and easy pass.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 29.99 Driver Availability: Windows, Linux, and Mac
NETGEAR's WGR614 Cable DSL Wireless Router lets you experience blazing-fast network wireless speeds of up to 54 Mbps making it a snap to surf the Web,...More at eBay
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