TrumpetPower!
01-19-2006, 09:29 PM
-Would upgrading from 802.11b to 802.11g really impact my transfer rate? (Kind of a duh question, but I'd still appreciate some affirmation)
Duh. Absolutely.
-Would connecting my PB into my router via ethernet increase my speed at all?
It'd be about twice as fast as 802.11g.
-Would installing a Gigabit ethernet card into the Windows box increase my overall transfer rate (802.11g being assumed).
A qualified ``no.'' GigE cards are generally better performers than 100 Mbit Ethernet, but you'll only get a significant boost if everything else is GigE as well. (Certain other restrictions apply, but I personally wouldn't bother unless I was also going to get GigE for the clients and a GigE switch.)
-Should I just use the wireless transfer method for tinier stuff and directly connect the Windows box with the PB directly?
Essentially, yes. But keep in mind that 802.11g is only about half the speed of 100 Mbit Ethernet (assuming good signal, etc.).
I've also read on the Apple support pages that you can do this with a simple ethernet cable-- have we officially moved on from needing that pesky crossover cable?
Apple NICs will auto-detect what kind of cable, etc., you've got plugged in and re-configure appropriately. I've not heard if other manufacturers are doing this, but one would hope that eventually everybody would.
So, you can plug a reasonably modern Mac into anything with either a straight or crossover Ethernet cable and it'll Just Work (TM), regardless of what that other device may or may not be.
Cheers,
b&
Duh. Absolutely.
-Would connecting my PB into my router via ethernet increase my speed at all?
It'd be about twice as fast as 802.11g.
-Would installing a Gigabit ethernet card into the Windows box increase my overall transfer rate (802.11g being assumed).
A qualified ``no.'' GigE cards are generally better performers than 100 Mbit Ethernet, but you'll only get a significant boost if everything else is GigE as well. (Certain other restrictions apply, but I personally wouldn't bother unless I was also going to get GigE for the clients and a GigE switch.)
-Should I just use the wireless transfer method for tinier stuff and directly connect the Windows box with the PB directly?
Essentially, yes. But keep in mind that 802.11g is only about half the speed of 100 Mbit Ethernet (assuming good signal, etc.).
I've also read on the Apple support pages that you can do this with a simple ethernet cable-- have we officially moved on from needing that pesky crossover cable?
Apple NICs will auto-detect what kind of cable, etc., you've got plugged in and re-configure appropriately. I've not heard if other manufacturers are doing this, but one would hope that eventually everybody would.
So, you can plug a reasonably modern Mac into anything with either a straight or crossover Ethernet cable and it'll Just Work (TM), regardless of what that other device may or may not be.
Cheers,
b&
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