With something set to be announced tomorrow at Apple’s campus in Cupertino, CA tomorrow, I thought this blast from the past fitting to set the mood. Hapy wrote about the introduction of AirPort for this newsletter August 2, 1999. We’re well on our way to one thousand issues of Tech Tails!
The AirPort is Apple’s wireless LAN technology, introduced with the iBook, that allows you to use your iBook without the constraint of wires. The two products that you must purchase include a LAN card for your iBook and the AirPort base unit. The LAN card is installed easily underneath the keyboard of the iBook. The AirPort is a small, spaceship-looking device that includes a 10BaseT ethernet connection and a 56K modem. You can use the ethernet connection if you have a DSL or cable modem. Currently, the only way to use the ISDN would be to get an ISDN router.
Apple includes its Software Access Point with the AirPort card. This software includes Setup Assistant, Wireless Network Application, Wireless Control Strip Module, and Wireless Access Point Configuration Utility. These tools allow easy setup of the wireless network. The network features 40-bit data encryption, 11Mbps access speed, and the ability to share a single Internet account among up to 10 users (though TidBits reports successful networks with 30+ iBooks).
AirPort uses the IEEE 802.11HR Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) standard, which transmits data at up to 11Mbps, but it is also compatible with the 802.11 2Mbps. This gives the AirPort compatibility with a wide range of wireless devices for your other computers. I will be adding additional devices to Small Dog’s product list for your PowerBook and Power Mac computers in September. The AirPort uses the 2.4GHz radio band and has a maximum range of 150 feet.
I think that the AirPort is a truly revolutionary device that will change the way in which homes and schools use computers. I would hope that anyone who purchases an ibook (even if it is your only computer) would also add the AirPort base unit and card for the ultimate in portability. However, sending email from the bathroom is frowned upon!