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Microsoft To Make Wireless Networking Hardware

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the well,-their-mice-are-pretty-good dept.

traskjd writes "Microsoft are looking to increase their strength in the hardware market with wireless and conventional networking hardware according to this story on cnet. Microsoft has always been slow at moving into the hardware market... could they be testing the waters for making things like switches and routers in the future? Lets hope not..." There's also a Reuters article. There was a story last year that mentioned Microsoft was working on Win-WiFi - 802.11b hardware that exported some of the processing to the CPU in much the same manner as a winmodem, and thus was cheaper to produce. These stories don't mention anything about that, so probably these are conventional 802.11b devices.

9 of 310 comments (clear)

  1. What's the big deal? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I'm sure if they make hardware, they'll make it compatiable to work with *other* operating systems. Right?

    Hehe... ;)

  2. Wow by Phil+the+Canuck · · Score: 5, Funny

    Microsoft...entering...wireless...market...
    too...many...security...jokes...
    head...exploding...

  3. A new meaning for BSOD by The+Slashdolt · · Score: 3, Funny

    Blue Sky Of Death. Those aren't clouds, they're core dumps and stack traces. I can see Fatal Exception right there next to the cloud that looks like Bill Gates giving you the middle finger.

    --
    mp3's are only for those with bad memories
    1. Re:A new meaning for BSOD by laserjet · · Score: 3, Funny

      Yes, try plugging in 75 hard drives (5 JBODs) into a fibre channel HBA (emulex) and watch windows blue screen within about 10 seconds.

      --
      Moon Macrosystems. Sun's biggest competitor.
  4. I heard this on NPR by teamhasnoi · · Score: 4, Funny

    When you buy a MS Wireless Router, it comes packed in powdered chalk.

  5. Re:EULA by Jondor · · Score: 3, Funny

    The moment you install a windows machine with the network the could do that already anyhow..

    On the other side, I can imagine the little LCD screen saying "Packet recieved, please reboot to continue."

    And once in a while a LCD-Gray screen of death..

    (hmm.. or where the routers the ones with the blinking leds.. oh well.. they can do "please reboot in morse")

    --
    Nobody expects the spanish inquisition!
  6. I just can't believe it! by Dutchmaan · · Score: 3, Funny

    I just can't believe Microsoft will be making hardware for people who warchalk..

    They must be thieves!

    For those who may be humor impaired, this post was tongue in cheek

  7. More NEW MS Innovations by BurritoWarrior · · Score: 4, Funny

    New bookmarks:
    http://nouters.windowsupdate.com
    http ://security.microsoft.com/routers

    New Licensing:
    Your router subscription has expired. Would you like to pay another $79 dollars for the next 12 months?

    New Animation:
    Paperclip: Hi! I see your trying to access the internet. Can I help you?

    New Monitoring:
    We have deteted a P2P application running on your network. Your router has been disabled. Please call 1-800-RIAA-Pal to correct this.

    New Dialog boxes:
    You are using an inferior browser. Are you SURE you want to do this? [Yes] [No]

  8. Re:MS Hardware? by inkfox · · Score: 5, Funny
    What is up with all the negative articles on MS Hardware? Take a look at your mouse! Have you ever used an MS Joystick? Sure, lots of you have complaints with MS's OS's. Some of you hate the whole "Major Corportation" thing. But, damnit, MS MAKES GOOD HARDWARE!
    I've said many a time that I look forward to the day when Microsoft is fondly remembered as "that rather nice mouse manufacturer."
    --
    Says the RIAA: When you EQ, you're stealing bass!