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Realtek's Wireless Driver Drives Thoughts of an Apple Netbook

Posted by timothy on from the can't-get-there-from-here-in-cupertino dept.

Slatterz writes "With Macworld 2009 mere weeks away, one rumour that seemingly won't die is the idea of a Mac OS X Netbook PC. Asking a company to provide OS X drivers for their netbooks has, up until now, been met with silence, and probably a little quaking on the vendor side as they wait for the heavy footsteps of Apple's army of lawyers. It seems, however, that Realtek, who provide the WiFi chip found in the MSI Wind U100, are dipping their toes into the legally iffy world of the Hackintosh. Forum users at MSIWind.Net asked politely for drivers, and after a lot of patience, Beta drivers were provided."

136 comments

  1. Nothing in the EULA by actionbastard · · Score: 4, Insightful

    There is nothing in the Apple EULA that prevents anyone from creating a driver for their hardware to work with OS X. The fact that RealTek does not make -or may never make- hardware for Macs is immaterial.

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    1. Re:Nothing in the EULA by nacturation · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I think the bigger thing that component manufacturers are worried about is that Steve Jobs will call up MSI and say "Hey, we'd like to contract with you to develop a Mac netbook based on the Wind to run OS X. Oh, and by the way... don't use any RealTek chips in it."

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    2. Re:Nothing in the EULA by p4ul13 · · Score: 1

      And even if there were something in their EULA stating that other companies are not allowed to make drivers for their OS, how would that be enforced? I mean they need other companies to provide drivers for their devices, so they can't really be that picky about what drivers they allow or not.

      --
      Paul Lenhart writes words!
    3. Re:Nothing in the EULA by yttrstein · · Score: 3, Insightful

      And not only that, but this is one of the reasons that Darwin was open sourced in the first place. My company has done the odd bit of consulting here and there with other entities that provide all sorts of weird hardware drivers for OS X, and they don't call Apple and ask them for one first.

      Because they don't have to. That's part of what Darwin is for. This is FUD, and should be treated as such.

    4. Re:Nothing in the EULA by Hal_Porter · · Score: 1

      I think the bigger thing that component manufacturers are worried about is that Steve Jobs will call up MSI and say "Hey, we'd like to contract with you to develop a Mac netbook based on the Wind to run OS X. Oh, and by the way... don't use any RealTek chips in it."

      I am not a lawyer but that sounds like tortious endangerment of interstate commerce to me.

      --
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    5. Re:Nothing in the EULA by TheRaven64 · · Score: 1

      But why would he do that if there is a RealTek driver already? It's not like Macs don't come with expansion card slots (PCI or ExpressCard) that could take a WiFi card with a RealTek chip. Provide drivers for OS X that allow people to buy these cards and use them in a Mac Pro or a MacBook Pro, and then when Apple's looking for their next supplier you can say 'oh, and we already have drivers for your OS so you don't need to spend any money developing them.'

      --
      I am TheRaven on Soylent News
    6. Re:Nothing in the EULA by Albanach · · Score: 3, Informative

      It's not like Macs don't come with expansion card slots (PCI or ExpressCard) that could take a WiFi card with a RealTek chip

      Actually the MacBook doesn't have an expansion slot - that's what caused the big hoo-ha about the lack of Firewire support, there's no way to add it in later.

      For the other Macs you're absolutely right - especially if they had a wireless N driver as I could conceive of some Mac users upgrading toa third party card to provide wireless N functionality.

    7. Re:Nothing in the EULA by nacturation · · Score: 4, Informative

      I think the bigger thing that component manufacturers are worried about is that Steve Jobs will call up MSI and say "Hey, we'd like to contract with you to develop a Mac netbook based on the Wind to run OS X. Oh, and by the way... don't use any RealTek chips in it."

      I am not a lawyer but that sounds like tortious endangerment of interstate commerce to me.

      Quite right, you're not. If you're Apple and you approach a manufacturer, nothing prevents you from stating that you don't want to have a particular supplier's products in your custom built product. Now if Apple were to tell MSI that to do business with Apple, they would have to completely drop RealTek as a supplier from all of MSI's products then you might have a point.

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    8. Re:Nothing in the EULA by Tubal-Cain · · Score: 1

      Apple doesn't strike me as a company that would contract out such a project.

    9. Re:Nothing in the EULA by giminy · · Score: 1

      The fact that RealTek does not make -or may never make- hardware for Macs is immaterial.

      But they do! RealTek makes chips which are placed on PCI wifi cards (check out the RTL8185).

      With this driver, those wifi cards can be used in a Mac Pro or Power Macintosh with PCI slots.

      So Realtek has a legitimate reason to make these drivers. osx86 support is just a side effect.

      --
      The Right Reverend K. Reid Wightman,
    10. Re:Nothing in the EULA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      Macs _do_ have wireless N cards.
      They just call them airport cards and don't make a big deal about it.

    11. Re:Nothing in the EULA by nacturation · · Score: 1

      But why would he do that if there is a RealTek driver already?

      As retribution for encouraging running OS X on non-Apple brand hardware.

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    12. Re:Nothing in the EULA by jellomizer · · Score: 1

      MacBook Pros do. I have never used it... But it is there. Also a lot of older Macs do as well. And on old system you are more likely going to need a replacement Wireless card.

      --
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    13. Re:Nothing in the EULA by WhatAmIDoingHere · · Score: 1

      The only thing they could really do is add a driver signing system like Vista has. And unlike Vista, they could actually enforce their rules.

      --
      Not a Twitter sockpuppet... but I wish I was.
    14. Re:Nothing in the EULA by tlhIngan · · Score: 1

      It's not like Macs don't come with expansion card slots (PCI or ExpressCard) that could take a WiFi card with a RealTek chip

      Actually the MacBook doesn't have an expansion slot - that's what caused the big hoo-ha about the lack of Firewire support, there's no way to add it in later.

      For the other Macs you're absolutely right - especially if they had a wireless N driver as I could conceive of some Mac users upgrading toa third party card to provide wireless N functionality.

      Well, MiniPCIe is certainly available on the MacBooks - it may not be exposed as a connector, but the old wireless card most certainly is connected via MiniPCIe (really, PCIe x1). So RealTek may pitch to Apple to use their chipsets in future Macs. (It's not like the crab isn't used elsewhere - unless things have changed recently, Apple uses the Realtek audio chips).

      Anyhow, USB is available on the MacBooks as well - as USB2 is fast enough for 802.11n.

      And the lack of Firewire/Expresscard on the MacBook was because the circuit board only runs along two sides of the case - and the edge where there are connectors already has connectors down its entire side. The only option Apple has is to put the connector on the back (fugly), or put the connector on the other side (oh wait, there's an optical drive in the way) with a ribbon cable. Or use one of those godawful 4 pin connectors (seriously, given the weight of a Firewire cable, it feels like the cable will rip that thing out just from gravity).

    15. Re:Nothing in the EULA by fermion · · Score: 1
      Many manufacturers do not make drivers for the Mac for the same reason that many do not make drivers for *nix. The simply do not want to have the responsibility of support.

      This does not mean that no one supports mac. I use a third party wireless device for one of my old Macs. I wanted the 'n' spec, and the only way to get it was to hook up through the USB. It works well enough, not as seamless as built in Airport, but it is, obviously, faster.

      And this brings up a second issue. Many things have always work out of the box with Mac simply because these things are standards compliant. For instance, PS printer, PIP cameras, and external drives, all work without drivers. It would be nice if there were a standard for wireless network devices so I would not need a special driver. But this is a difference of philosophy. On the PC side, every device was to take over your computer. In the old days, even the internet service wanted to take over you computer. So a custom device driver was written, and other malware was installed. Sometimes this provided nice integration, but most of the time it just lead to driver conflicts. I much prefer a generic abstraction layer that can accept many devices and a front end of the users choice.

      --
      "She's a scientist and a lesbian. She's not going to let it slide." Orphan Black
    16. Re:Nothing in the EULA by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 1

      Only if you are super blatant about it. Nobody(who isn't a complete idiot) is going to call up and tell the other guy about how he has a personal grudge against RealTek because of their driver support for hackintoshes.

      On the other hand, if Steve just happens, on the good faith advice of his engineers, to have some legitimate concerns about the quality of upcoming Realtek chipsets... Well, maybe another supplier would mean reduced liability exposure...

    17. Re:Nothing in the EULA by uglyduckling · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Sorry, are you really claiming here that Apple left the firewire port out for the sake of aesthetics and/or to protect us from the tyranny of a four-pin port?! It was left out as a profit-maximising measure because they know that the MacBook is incredibly popular with musicians and they want to force people who rely on FireWire (i.e. anyone who wants to get multi-channel audio into a laptop at a decent sample/bitrate) into buying the MacBook Pro. Simple as that.

    18. Re:Nothing in the EULA by code4fun · · Score: 5, Interesting

      One point about RealTek's driver, it looks like a plain Ethernet device from OS X. From what I understand, you need a special program to set the wireless settings. That is, you can't use existing wireless configuration. It also doesn't work as smoothly as Airport, either. What others have done on the MSI Wind is buy a wireless card off eBay that uses the same chipset Apple uses. This way, OS X sees it as an Airport device.

      I'm more interested in Apple coming out with a netbook based on the ARM processor that will give me a day's worth of use instead of 4-5 hours on the current netbooks. In addition, I would like to be able to use the device as a tablet so I can jot things down and read PDF documents. Now, that's a netbook! Build it and I will buy.

    19. Re:Nothing in the EULA by DrgnDancer · · Score: 1

      Not the earliest model MacBook Pros, and not any of the G-4/G-5 laptops. All of those do have card slots though (Well probably not all of the G-4/G-5 models do, but most do, and the early MBPs do).

      --
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    20. Re:Nothing in the EULA by bhtooefr · · Score: 1

      They never made any G5 laptops. ;)

      As for the G4s, they're all Mini-PCI, but with a proprietary form factor, IIRC. (And, IIRC, G3s with the original AirPort card had a hidden PCMCIA slot for it.)

    21. Re:Nothing in the EULA by DrgnDancer · · Score: 1

      Ehh... I'm sketchy on the pre-Intel models. I know for a fact that my early MBP had G-wireless and a micro port though :-)

      --
      I don't need a million points of light, just two points of multi-mode fiber and a 10 Gig-E router.
    22. Re:Nothing in the EULA by BLKMGK · · Score: 1

      So you've found a reliable way around Vista 64bit driver signing? Do tell!

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    23. Re:Nothing in the EULA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, it's not that simple.

      They left it out for design reasons mostly. There's a very good analysis of this if you google around a bit. Here, let me do it for you, you lazy ass.

      http://tinyurl.com/6hfhnh

    24. Re:Nothing in the EULA by sirsnork · · Score: 1

      No one mentioned 64bit, 32bit Vista you can just say install anyway, which is what Apple wouldn't allow you to do if they implemented such a system

      --

      Normal people worry me!
    25. Re:Nothing in the EULA by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      Apple knows how to make a USB port that can also function as firewire - every iPod was like that until they dropped firewire. So, I don't buy the design argument - at least one of those USB ports could have doubled as a firewire port.

      --
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    26. Re:Nothing in the EULA by Gilmoure · · Score: 1

      Are these cards cheaper than current 802.11n gear for Macs?

      --
      I drank what? -- Socrates
    27. Re:Nothing in the EULA by hierophanta · · Score: 1

      unfortunately i would have to read the entire EULA to dispute that with you. i'd do that but a friend of mine died of boredom trying to read one of those

    28. Re:Nothing in the EULA by hierophanta · · Score: 1

      mod parent up

    29. Re:Nothing in the EULA by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      A year and a half ago the Airport card in my G4 iBook died and I had to use a USB dongle from Belkin. Belkin does not support Mac, but the guts were a RealTek. I went to RealTek's website and there were Mac drivers. So it seems to me that RealTek has been producing Mac drivers for quite a while.

      It makes business sense... they can sell their chipset as "Mac compatible".

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    30. Re:Nothing in the EULA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      RealTek has a history of making Mac drivers for their chipsets. Their ethernet cards had drivers for Mac OS 9 and you can drop a RealTek-based card into an OSX Mac and it'll just work.

      It's not like this is a new thing.

    31. Re:Nothing in the EULA by uglyduckling · · Score: 1

      Wow, some truly insightful "analysis" there, mostly one-line quotes which state that they 'had to' get rid of Firewire to fit the motherboard in a certain way. If Apple wanted Firewire, they could have fitted it in easily (like, for instance, by only having one USB2 port). Every 'pro' user of the MacBook that I know (musicians, photographers, graphic designers) makes extensive use of Firewire peripherals, in fact the MacBook has pretty much been the only reason why companies such as Lacie have continued to make Firewire hard disks. Apple knows this, and their design 'rationale' has come from marketing who want to drive sales to the MacBook Pro.

    32. Re:Nothing in the EULA by toddestan · · Score: 1

      Do you really think that Apple got almost done designing the MacBook, then went "Huh, I guess there's no room left for the FireWire port, bummer."? I suspect that the Apple never intended for the MacBook to have FireWire from the start, and the design reflects this.

    33. Re:Nothing in the EULA by Firehed · · Score: 1

      Yeah, well only Vista64 requires signed drivers. It's merely a recommendation for Vista32, nor as anyone ever tried to claim otherwise (this was done, AFAIK, to ease the upgrade from XP to Vista, before MS found out that nobody was upgrading... ironically, bad third-party drivers have caused almost all of my bad experiences in Vista, and having required signed (read: tested to be not utter crap) drivers from the start probably would have gone a long way in avoiding the current disaster). Hell, I think even XP complains if you try to use an unsigned driver. I can't speak for OS X, as the only time I need to worry about it is when I tried to set up my printer, in which case I was the one complaining about drivers (fucking printer manufacturers...)

      --
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    34. Re:Nothing in the EULA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The first MacBook Pro had 802.11A/B/G wireless. 11n came a year later.

    35. Re:Nothing in the EULA by el+americano · · Score: 1

      How about a USB wireless adapter? No expansion slot needed for that.

      --
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    36. Re:Nothing in the EULA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Apparently, you don't understand the moderation system.

    37. Re:Nothing in the EULA by walshy007 · · Score: 1

      Postscript printers are a far cry from your average printer for a household though, I have an a3 ps printer which recently set me back $2.2k an a4 only version costs about $1k, I see most average people spending about 1/5th that much on a crappy non post script printer.

      I completely agree with you though, standardization is the key, like we're seeing with usb video, now most new usb webcams are supported out of the box etc.

    38. Re:Nothing in the EULA by BLKMGK · · Score: 1

      Yes exactly, it's only 64bit where signed means jack - he was talking out of his ass. They were going to require it with 32bit Vista but the screaming from vendors caused them to back off and use Vista as a stepping stone to the next version.

      Next version of Windows will be 64bit only and also require signed drivers supposedly. So what he wants will be in the next version, I am sure there will be whining about it then too since you can never please anyone...

      --
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    39. Re:Nothing in the EULA by BLKMGK · · Score: 1

      It's only REQUIRED in 64bit which is what he is dreaming for Apple to do. It's not a requirement for 32bit. He's apparently claiming Vista doesn't properly enforce driver signing, I'm asking him to tell me how he got around it in the ONE version where it's REQUIRED - 64bit. Neither he nor you have an answer for that I'm betting short of using the driver development shortcuts which anyone creating such a system would have to have too.

      --
      Build it, Drive it, Improve it! Hybridz.org
    40. Re:Nothing in the EULA by WhatAmIDoingHere · · Score: 1

      Actually, yes. There's a little program you can run that automates the process of pressing F8 and selecting "Disable Driver Signing Enforcement."

      And do the guy below, I wasn't talking out of my ass. If you re-read what I said: "And unlike Vista, they could actually enforce their rules." Referring to how Vista lets you click "Install it anyway" or use the program I mentioned earlier to get around the signed driver 'enforcement.'

      And I don't want it. I simply said that the only way Apple could keep you from running their OS on hardware they haven't specifically blessed would be to do that.

      I don't think you people bothered to actually read my post before you replied to it.

      --
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    41. Re:Nothing in the EULA by BLKMGK · · Score: 1

      No I read it, I also know how hard it is to get around Vista 64bit driver signing. Sorry but a program to press F8 isn't what I'd be interested in but sure I'd love to know where I can find it :-) I'd like to learn how they got something running that early in the boot process to do this. I'd also like to see just how unobtrusive it is.

      On Vista 64 NO you cannot just say install it anyway, if you have an unsigned driver at bootup the system refuses to boot with it and gives you a warning naming the file. You can do the F8 thing of course but there's warnings there too blah blah. Vista 64 actually does enforce the signature stuff and they have a revocation - first used to revoke the signature by a guy who wrote a signed driver to load unsigned drivers (lol)

      Frankly for the purposes of this don't even bother telling me how to do it on 32bit Vista as that's not secured. 64bit is where the security was actually turned on and is how you will see it in the next release of Windows IF they follow through on what they have said. 32bit wasn't trying to prevent this, on 64bit it's a security mechanism and I'd be interested in how folks think it can be circumvented. Patching files isn't a good way, exploiting an existing installed signed driver on the other hand might work - and work as well if Apple tried it too I'd bet.

      You make it sound like the system in Vista is somehow poorly done or broken, I would claim that on 64bit it's working fairly well. Yeah they allowed a backdoor for development purposes but it's not exactly wide open. Are you even running 64bit Vista?

      P.S. Yeah, I check my posts - Slashdot mails me updates on repsones ;)

      --
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    42. Re:Nothing in the EULA by hunterkll · · Score: 1

      Er... there were separate pins for usb and firewire on the iPod... looked at that connector lately? A lot of pins... they didn't "double" in a single connector, to say, besides the fact that the connectors are physically different and can't "double" .... and the voltage/signal spec is different. sure, i'm sure you could make a port with adapters or something or put an ipod port on the laptop but...that'd be insane and so easy to break!

    43. Re:Nothing in the EULA by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      Why would it be insane? I was just pointing out that it is possible to use one small connector to do both firewire and usb. Yes, it would require an adapter - but that doesn't stop Apple on the monitor port. Keep one of the USB ports standard and make the other dual-use... space problem solved and most people won't be inconvenienced. Most laptop manufacturers use the little 4-pin firewire connections, so use of an adapter is nothing new.

      --
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  2. About time by dread · · Score: 5, Funny

    Suddenly I think I will play with the Wind tonight.

    --
    I've had a wonderful time, but this wasn't it -- Groucho Marx
    1. Re:About time by maxume · · Score: 1, Funny

      That's a horrible euphemism and you should be ashamed of yourself.

      --
      Nerd rage is the funniest rage.
    2. Re:About time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Suddenly I think I will play with the Wind tonight.

      Just don't break it.

  3. darwin by leuk_he · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Doesn't OSX run on Darwin, An open source bsd based OS? Why would you not be allowed to create drivers for darwin?

    1. Re:darwin by falcon5768 · · Score: 5, Informative

      The story is bunk. Its making a lot of assumptions due to lack of knowledge on just why a Hackintosh is illegal, and how this is not.

      Nothing prevents ANY company from making drivers that will run in OS X. The ONLY prevention is from someone putting OS X on a non-apple machine due to the licensing agreement.

      So Dell, HP, MSI any of them can make drivers for their machines that work in OS X, they just cant put OS X ON their machines nor inform you how to do it.

      --

      "Slashdot, where telling the truth is overrated but lying is insightful."

    2. Re:darwin by Joe+U · · Score: 1

      nor inform you how to do it.

      Oh really? I seriously doubt that Dell, HP, etc... signed into a contract with Apple forbidding them to explain how to install OSX.

      They just don't want the hassle of an Apple SLAPP.

    3. Re:darwin by Wumpus · · Score: 1

      I think falcon5768 refers to the DMCA, and to the fact that to install OS X on non-Apple hardware you must circumvent the copy protection, which you're not allowed to do or instruct others about.

    4. Re:darwin by Joe+U · · Score: 1

      Last time I checked, the protection in OSX is not copy protection, it's a hardware lock in system, but in no way does it prevent copying or access to OSX.

    5. Re:darwin by Dare+nMc · · Score: 1

      can make drivers for their machines that work in OS X, they just cant put OS X ON their machines nor inform you how to do it.

      And that is what makes this story likely to be true. IE Realtek has been asked to provide drivers by people who clearly plan to use those drivers to extend the functionality of devices that apple lawyers keep a real close eye on, with the intent to prevent this application. While Realtek's work wouldn't aid in overcoming copy protections, it probably encourages people to overcome those protections. Clearly taking a close look at laws like the DMCA was required before proceeding, and they apparently came to the conclusion that they were in the clear.
      I see that with things like mod chips, catering to businesses/people that violate US laws, is usually a fuzzy line.

    6. Re:darwin by gnasher719 · · Score: 1

      Last time I read up on the subject, I found Amit Singh's article claiming that various executable files in MacOS X are encrypted and require a 64 bit code delivered by the SMC chip to decode them. Quite foolproof (little chance of things going wrong for users of Apple hardware), not very difficult to circumvent, but 100% necessary to circumvent to get full MacOS X running. It doesn't prevent copying the installer DVD with the encrypted executables, it doesn't prevent installing MacOS X with the encrypted executables, but it prevents the _real_ code from every being available to your computer.

    7. Re:darwin by Ilgaz · · Score: 1

      If Realtek helped they can kiss their contract renewal goodbye.

      In fact I fail to understand what realtek chip does inside an Apple computer.

    8. Re:darwin by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In fact I fail to understand what realtek chip does inside an Apple computer.

      You fail... Period.

    9. Re:darwin by Whiney+Mac+Fanboy · · Score: 1

      they just cant put OS X ON their machines nor inform you how to do it.

      The first part of your statement is yet to be tested in court. The bolded portion is simply not true.

      --
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  4. Non-Story by Benanov · · Score: 4, Informative

    Really, this is a non-story. RealTek makes GPL drivers for *nix, so I'm sure at some point it wasn't going to be really hard to make a driver for Darwin.

    I'm also certain that RealTek makes chips that can be used in USB dongles (RaLink certainly does) so therefore it's a cheap way to provide connectivity to an older Mac which has USB but no wireless (I'm sure there are a few models still in production; I'm not a mac head).

    1. Re:Non-Story by NCG_Mike · · Score: 1

      The API for mac drivers is quite different from Linux so it's not just a simple recompile and test. Not that you said that's all it has to be of course!

    2. Re:Non-Story by jonbryce · · Score: 1

      Yes, but I don't think any of them run OSX.

      Apple has had airport for a very long time now.

  5. Since OS X is based on Darwin by olddotter · · Score: 1

    Since OS X is based on Darwin, and Darwin is open source. What is the legal problem with making low level drivers available for Darwin?

    --
    Think Deeply. ...
    1. Re:Since OS X is based on Darwin by db32 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Because when you think about it that way it doesn't make for sensationalist flamebait articles on slashdot. Duh.

      --
      The only change I can believe in is what I find in my couch cushions.
  6. Odd. by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 2, Interesting

    So the realtek driver doesn't show up as an "airport" device; but as some other sort of connection. Does anybody know if this is just realtek being realtek(that is to say, painfully mediocre and not really adequate), or is "airportness" like CD-Burning support, something that is confined to Apple-shipping hardware by design?

    As somebody mentioned, OSX's lower levels are largely open, at least enough to write drivers for; but that doesn't mean that the higher level polish stuff is. Anybody know?

    1. Re:Odd. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      If they integrated into Apple's Airport utility, they would probably be violating some agreement with Apple.

      By providing drivers to a separate bluetooth device, it provides a workaround that hopefully keeps Apple away.

    2. Re:Odd. by julian67 · · Score: 1, Funny

      Wow, if I buy an Apple I can burn CDs with a wireless adapter! I'm bending over now...

    3. Re:Odd. by Gizzmonic · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I don't know, but some early revisions of the Linksys WMP54G were compatible with Macs, simply because the Linksys and Apple Airport card used the exact same reference design with no changes. They show up in the Airport menu as "third party" but work exactly like the built-in airport. Later revisions used a smaller version of the chipset though, and they weren't Mac compatible.

      --
      (-1, Raw and Uncut is the only way to read)
    4. Re:Odd. by ericrost · · Score: 1

      Educate us non "Mac People", what the HELL does a wifi adapter have to do with burning CD's?

      --
      My Babylon
    5. Re:Odd. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Unless Apple changed it in Leopard, the Airport interfaces are SPI, not public API. That essentially means that nobody other than Apple can produce drivers that even link against those parts of the I/O Kit. So no, this has nothing to do with any agreement and everything to do with why every third-party wireless device has to have its own configuration tools.....

    6. Re:Odd. by xouumalperxe · · Score: 1

      Re-writing the GP's point "is airport-support like cd recording support, so third party wifi cards suffer from the same integration issues as third party CD-Rs, which aren't quite supported?". It wasn't that unparsable to begin with though.

    7. Re:Odd. by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 1

      Sorry about the bad wording. On Apple machines, Apple's built in CD burn support works only with optical drives shipped by apple. My understanding is that there is something baked into the firmware that identifies them to the system.
      Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipping Drive)
      is what you will see in system profiler.

      This is a deliberate move on Apple's part, since third party burn tools work with any drives, and there have been various hacks at various times to make Apple tools work with third party drives. CD burning has nothing to do with wireless. I was asking if "airport" functionality was analogous to CD burning functionality in that Apple arbitrarily restricts them to 1st party hardware.

    8. Re:Odd. by ericrost · · Score: 1

      ahh. I'm not plugged into the Apple or Windows world at all anymore (never was plugged into Apple).

      --
      My Babylon
    9. Re:Odd. by nxtw · · Score: 1

      So the realtek driver doesn't show up as an "airport" device; but as some other sort of connection. Does anybody know if this is just realtek being realtek(that is to say, painfully mediocre and not really adequate), or is "airportness" like CD-Burning support, something that is confined to Apple-shipping hardware by design?

      According to this page last updated in 2007, the driver that provides a common API for wireless devices appears to be poorly documented and closed source.

      Ralink's USB wireless driver doesn't show up as AirPort device either. It reminds me of wifi in the pre-Windows XP SP1/SP2 days; there was no standard API for wireless device management, so wireless devices were implemented as Ethernet devices with vendor-specific setup utilities.

    10. Re:Odd. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      CD's what? That's a possessive apostrophe and all.

    11. Re:Odd. by socsoc · · Score: 1

      were implemented as Ethernet devices with vendor-specific setup utilities.

      And unfortunately still do install vendor-specific setup utilities, despite adding nothing positive to the process and only yielding more confusion to the end user as to whether to a use vendor-specific or Windows solution.

  7. I can do better by kikito · · Score: 1

    Real Realtek's Tech Wireless Driver Drives Thoughts of an Apple net Netbook book.

  8. On the legal issue by Spad · · Score: 3, Insightful

    While everyone is asking why this would be a legal problem, I can only assume that the writers of these articles are taking the view that if Realtek have produced these drivers as part of some future OSX-based netbook then they would probably be protected by some kind of NDA with Apple. Obviously if this rather unlikely scenario is assumed correct then Realtek would potentially be breeching said hypothetical NDA by providing the beta drivers to members of the public.

    Or something like that anyway.

    1. Re:On the legal issue by olddotter · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Which is probably as good as saying Realtek has no such agreement with Apple.

      I don't think Apple will produce a traditional net book. Look for something like a larger iPhone/Ipod Touch or a 12" Mac Book Air (that is so light weight you can tie a string to it and use it for a kite).

      --
      Think Deeply. ...
    2. Re:On the legal issue by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Yes, Apple will decrease the weight of the Air further by removing all components which Apple considers non-essential. Like the keyboard (it'll be touchscreen-based) and the battery.

      How will the Air be powered without a battery you may ask? Use it as a kite. In a lightning storm. Also, you need some wire, a key, and a Leyden jar...

      Initial reviews will claim that the new Air has excellent tactile feedback. :)

    3. Re:On the legal issue by arminw · · Score: 1

      ...Look for something like a larger iPhone/Ipod Touch....

      Doesn't the iPhone/iTouch do everything that any net-book can do plus more? Apple could make an accessory for these that supplied a larger screen and keyboard. The iPhone could dock into the larger unit whenever a larger screen/keybord is wanted/needed.

      --
      All theory is gray
    4. Re:On the legal issue by hunterkll · · Score: 1

      The IO80211 inteface the airport status software pulls from is not open source, and requires reverse engineering to get the driver to pass data to/from it to provide normal airport interaction. There's just no easy way to do it unless apple takes your driver and polishes it up with their own interfaces. Same thing happened with "OS X " compatable wifi cards i've bought in the past.... required the included program to set it up. Quite frankly, there is are ways to do it - but it's just so much easier to it this way.

    5. Re:On the legal issue by hunterkll · · Score: 1

      meant to post this in the thread above, sorry.

  9. PCI Cards et al. by Midnight+Thunder · · Score: 5, Insightful

    While this effort might be targeted at the MSI Wind, the work performed should allow any device that use the chipset to work with MacOS X. Think of PCI cards for MacPros, or USB sticks allowing older Macs to get 802.11N support.

    --
    Jumpstart the tartan drive.
    1. Re:PCI Cards et al. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

      802.11N is not finished yet. Stop buying draft N hardware. You're ruining the standard.

  10. No thoughts of a Netbook by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This actually does absolutely 0 to drive thoughs of an Apple netbook.

              If *Apple* tried to release a netbook, it'd probably cost over $900, which puts it well out of the netbook category; one defining characteristic of netbooks (that distinguishes them from just being a slow, small, notebook) is the low cost.

              As for running it *on* a Wind... should be possible I guess, people have been hacking OSX onto machines for years.. but IMHO, running OSX on a machine doesn't make it an Apple either. I'd rather run free software like Ubuntu that they *want* to be freely run though, rather than software like OSX where, even when you bought and own it, they are going to try to tell you what you can and can't do with it. (Example: Psystar... they bought every copy of OSX they shipped out full retail, and Apple still takes them to court.)

    1. Re:No thoughts of a Netbook by xouumalperxe · · Score: 1

      I'd rather run free software like Ubuntu that they *want* to be freely run though, rather than software like OSX where, even when you bought and own it, they are going to try to tell you what you can and can't do with it.

      Irrespectively of discussions on the morality of the specific things asked, Ubuntu has loads of (is mostly?) GPL software, which is vastly criticized by BSD aficionados precisely because "they are going to try to tell you what you can and can't do with it", so you might want to be more careful about the criticisms you level at people.

    2. Re:No thoughts of a Netbook by arminw · · Score: 1

      ...If *Apple* tried to release a netbook,...

      They already make two, the iPhone and iTouch. Maybe they'll add a larger screen/keyboard unit for these to dock into.

      --
      All theory is gray
    3. Re:No thoughts of a Netbook by Haeleth · · Score: 2, Funny

      They already make two, the iPhone and iTouch

      If your iPhone has a hinge, I think you may just have been ripped off by an unscrupulous and rather lazy counterfeiter.

  11. OMG someone is writing drivers for Mac OS X?! by Henriok · · Score: 3, Insightful

    OMG OMG OMG! Some company is actually writing drivers for Mac OS X! That's about bloody time! Everyone is wining on Apple to write drives for every thinkable gadget out there when it should be pretty obvious to ask the manufacturer of that gadget to do just that. Is this so hard?! It's not Apple's fault nor responsibility that MP3 player X doesn't integrate with iTunes, or cell phone Y with iSync, or video card Z.. or.. or..

    --

    - Henrik

    - when the Shadows descend -
    1. Re:OMG someone is writing drivers for Mac OS X?! by m50d · · Score: 1
      Everyone is wining on Apple to write drives for every thinkable gadget out there when it should be pretty obvious to ask the manufacturer of that gadget to do just that. Is this so hard?! It's not Apple's fault nor responsibility that MP3 player X doesn't integrate with iTunes, or cell phone Y with iSync, or video card Z

      And yet people use those same arguments as the reason Linux isn't ready...

      --
      I am trolling
    2. Re:OMG someone is writing drivers for Mac OS X?! by cdrguru · · Score: 1

      All Linux needs is a dedicated hardware manufacturer that is creating complete solutions for users in hardware and software. For example, the entire OS X, iTunes, iPud, iTunes store solution. Where are the applications like that?

      Get some and we can talk.

    3. Re:OMG someone is writing drivers for Mac OS X?! by Abreu · · Score: 1

      Ok, I'll bite.

      There are several hardware resellers that will build you a 100% Linux-compatible computer from the ground up (and it would probably be cheaper than buying from Apple).

      There are also several open source tools that are equivalent to all the software you mentioned.

      Now, I do not have an ipod, so I'll let someone else respond on that gadget's compatibility...

      --
      No sig for the moment.
    4. Re:OMG someone is writing drivers for Mac OS X?! by Redline · · Score: 1

      All Linux needs is a dedicated hardware manufacturer that is creating complete solutions for users in hardware and software. For example, the entire OS X, iTunes, iPud, iTunes store solution.

      Dell PC with: Ubuntu, Rhythmbox/Amarok/Songbird, almost any mp3 player, Amazon Music Store/Magnatune or whatever (I don't buy media online).

      Happy?

  12. Bullshit. by petard · · Score: 2, Informative

    The driver is not specifically for the wind. That's the same chip used in cheap USB wireless adapters like this one and RealTek has been providing their OS X driver for some time. The driver and associated utility do not work very well, FWIW, and I don't suggest trying to use them with a Mac unless you really have no other option.

    --
    .sig: file not found
  13. Re:There is no need for this speculation by Ethanol-fueled · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    An ancient Egyptian god who performs sexual activity on hoofed mammals in exchange for money

  14. Done Before by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Wasn't the MacBook Air their failed attempt at something to comepete with the eeePC and the numerous clones?

    1. Re:Done Before by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, it was their failed attempt to compete with business class ultralight notebooks.

  15. What is a netbook? by germansausage · · Score: 1

    A netbook should have the following characteristics:

    1. Small (10" or less screen)
    2. Long Battery Life (4 hrs +)
    3. Light weight (under 2 kg)
    4. Cheap (under $500 US).

    Apple can do 1 and 2, and 3 but 4, I don't think so.

    1. Re:What is a netbook? by Hal_Porter · · Score: 3, Interesting

      A netbook should have the following characteristics:

      1. Small (10" or less screen)
      2. Long Battery Life (4 hrs +)
      3. Light weight (under 2 kg)
      4. Cheap (under $500 US).

      Apple can do 1 and 2, and 3 but 4, I don't think so.

      No, but they can convince people that netbooks are an unsustainable business model

      http://theappleblog.com/2008/12/15/netbooks-the-race-to-the-bottom-has-begun/

      --
      echo -e 'global _start\n _start:\n mov eax, 2\n int 80h\n jmp _start' > a.asm; nasm a.asm -f elf; ld a.o -o a;
    2. Re:What is a netbook? by larry+bagina · · Score: 1

      iPod touch much?

      --
      Do you even lift?

      These aren't the 'roids you're looking for.

    3. Re:What is a netbook? by arminw · · Score: 1

      ...Apple can do 1 and 2, and 3 but 4, ...

      Here is an opportunity for an enterprising company. Make a "dock unit" for the iPhone/iTouch which has a screen/keyboard and battery. I don't think Apple's lawyers would get antsy if someone turned Apple's handheld computers into a net-book this way. How much do screens and keyboards cost? After all, how many "sound docks" are available for iPods?

      --
      All theory is gray
  16. AIr Book is a netbook in everything but price by peter303 · · Score: 1

    The AirBook is only 2-some pounds, has limited core and disk memory and peripheral connectability. Except it costs four times other netbooks. But I can barely read the fuzzy screens the cheap ones.

    1. Re:AIr Book is a netbook in everything but price by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      We can barely understand your posts the incoherent ones.

    2. Re:AIr Book is a netbook in everything but price by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The MBA uses much better components than any of the netbooks do. While it lacks a lot of the useful features of other thin&light/ultraportable notebooks in its price range (like the x200), it is far beyond a netbook in performance.
       

  17. Re:There is no need for this speculation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Well, I thought it was funny anyway.

    Keep drinking that ethanol!

  18. realtek hackintoshers delight by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Hackintosh community has been delighted to have realtek drivers for OSX for some time now. Asus P5W-DH mobo, for example, comes with realtek 8187 wifi and is fully working with OSX for more than a year.

    1. Re:realtek hackintoshers delight by MacColossus · · Score: 2, Informative

      Realtek has been awesome at providing Mac drivers for years. xlr8yourmac.com has talked about this extensively. A lot of third party pci ethernet cardsbased on realtek chips were made to work via realtek drivers in the past. This goes back to before 2000 when OS 9 was the current Mac operating system. http://www.google.com/search?as_q=&num=10&btnG=Google%2BSearch&as_epq=&as_eq=&lr=&as_ft=i&as_filetype=&as_qdr=all&as_occt=&as_dt=i&as_sitesearch=www.xlr8yourmac.com&safe=off&as_oq=realtek

  19. I don't know why they would risk it by Bullfish · · Score: 1

    Apple has a history of allowing development by third parties for a time, and then ordering a "cease and desist" leading to a loss of the development costs and killing any future profit. I suspect Jobs fears someone actually doing apple better than apple. Just a guess on my part, but it would no doubt erode his business model. As I remember he killed the upgradable Umax clones etc This is only a driver, but...

    1. Re:I don't know why they would risk it by Ilgaz · · Score: 1

      They could buy a Apple mini, download XCode (or install from DVD), launch XCode and code kernel extension of whatever chip they will support. Others could ship PCI/PCI-X cards based on their chip and put "OS X compatible" to the box.

      They don't do it and yet they help hackintosh community or something?

      It seems Apple got rid of Realtek junk on next edition of Macs and someone is out to take revenge.

  20. Re:There is no need for this speculation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Come on. The Eye of Horus. Just BEGGING for a goatse link.

  21. Netbooks aren't small computers, they're large PDA by JSBiff · · Score: 1

    I saw someone make a comment, and I don't remember who or where, but I think it's insightful. Netbooks should be thought of more as larger, more capable PDA's/Smartphones, than they should as smaller, less capable computers. Given that premise, it would make sense to use a modified version of Apple's iPhone/iPod Touch OS with slightly expanded capabilities, instead of trying to get a stripped down Mac OS X to work well on a netbook.

    I think Apple might find they *could* build a winning Netbook if they took that approach. Maybe they already are. Apple likes to deny they are doing something right up until they announce at WWDC.

  22. Re:Netbooks aren't small computers, they're large by Hal_Porter · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I saw someone make a comment, and I don't remember who or where, but I think it's insightful. Netbooks should be thought of more as larger, more capable PDA's/Smartphones, than they should as smaller, less capable computers. Given that premise, it would make sense to use a modified version of Apple's iPhone/iPod Touch OS with slightly expanded capabilities, instead of trying to get a stripped down Mac OS X to work well on a netbook.

    I think Apple might find they *could* build a winning Netbook if they took that approach. Maybe they already are. Apple likes to deny they are doing something right up until they announce at WWDC.

    That's not true. As one of the comments on the Apple Blog put it

    wait a minute... on an iphone, can i...

    view flash-based websites? nope
    edit word docs? nope ...edit any docs? nope
    copy/paste? nope
    multi task? nope
    install any application i want? nope
    change my background? nope
    delete all the icons on my desktop? nope
    instant message across different networks? (even messaging on single networks suck) nope
    video chat? nope
    connect to bluetooth devices? nope
    replace the battery? nope

    You must be retarded if you think itâ(TM)s possible to do the same things on an iphone than on a netbook. I have an iphone, and while itâ(TM)s an excellent smart phone (despite its flaws), Iâ(TM)d shoot myself the day I had to rely on it as a computer. You must also think Iâ(TM)m stupid if you think I consider your post to be a legitimate response instead of a failed attempt at defending the un-defendable.

    See that's the problem. An x86 PC with a desktop OS is a hell of a lot more flexible than a typical PDA or Smartphone.

    Though I suppose Apple being Apple they could take an iPhone, take out the baseband ASIC and the crippling lockdown, add a larger screen and keyboard and sell it cheaper than the cheapest MacBook and their fanbase will say it is the best thing since sliced bread.

    And since it's ARM based rather than x86 it won't run desktop applications and thus won't compete with the Macbook Air.

    --
    echo -e 'global _start\n _start:\n mov eax, 2\n int 80h\n jmp _start' > a.asm; nasm a.asm -f elf; ld a.o -o a;
  23. Re:Netbooks aren't small computers, they're large by JSBiff · · Score: 1

    From my original post. . .
    ". . .it would make sense to use a modified version of Apple's iPhone/iPod Touch OS with slightly expanded capabilities. . ."

    There's no reason the modified version of the OS for the Netbook couldn't have a lot of those things added to it. The iPhone OS already has the capability to add applications. So, Apple could either port Open Office, or their own iWork productivity suite (perhaps a stripped down 'express' edition). Apple could port iChat for the netbook to add instant messaging and video chat capabilities. The point is that the iPhone core OS is more lightweight than the full Mac OS X, and can be used to run lightweight applications. You'll probably not be playing WoW or editting video with such a netbook, but you could probably do some image editing (a lightweight port of iPhoto).

    As for your last comment about replacing the battery - what on Earth does that have to do with the iPhone OS?

    My point, which you seemed to have missed, is that creating a successful netbook is about managing user expectations. Don't market it as a full Mac computer, and don't design it that way. Build upwards from the iPhone OS, adding things like cut-and-paste which won't measurably bloat the OS, instead of trying to remove things from the full Mac. Then create some lightweight versions of apps for document viewing/editting, basic photo editing, etc, and you have a product that a lot of people would probably like. You can even charge people extra for some of the apps (but keep the prices in perspective with the market you are targetting - think about charging $30 for the stripped down iWorks Suite, instead of $100-$200, for example).

    BTW, for anyone curious, I'm not an Apple fan-boy. I use a Dell which dual boots Windows XP and Vista. I just don't think that the netbook market is an impossible business model. There are lots of people on Earth who probably can't ever afford a full Mac computer (even a discounted used unit), but who might be able to afford a $250 Apple netbook (particularly when it hits the used market and drops to $150 or $100) .

    Make sure it is *compatible* with Mac, of course, so that files can be transferred back and forth easily (maybe via firewire, usb, or bluetooth), and users can chat/IM with Mac user (and Windows and Linux users for that matter).

  24. Re:Netbooks aren't small computers, they're large by germansausage · · Score: 1

    As an owner of both PDA and netbook, I don't think this is correct. If you compare with my PDA (Palm Tungsten E2) and with my full sized computer, my netbook (ASUS Eee 900HA) is about 95% computer and 5% PDA. My netbook came with XP, and can run pretty much any PC software except newer 3D games. Older games like starcraft run great. AutoCAD 2005 runs fine. My PDA fits in a shirt pocket, and is fine for reminders, phone list and games to kill time, but you wouldn't want to try to "create" anything on it, like compose documents or build spreadsheets etc.

  25. nonsense. just plain wrong by CdBee · · Score: 1

    I just finished a disk burn in my PowerMac G4 which has a Lite-On LTR24826 dvd-burner - a drive that has never been officially fitted to any Mac. Apples disk burning works with any drive

    --
    I have been a user for about 10 years. This ends Feb 2014. The site's been ruined. I'm off. Dice, FU
    1. Re:nonsense. just plain wrong by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 1

      Perhaps they've changed something, I don't really follow the issue; but these guys seem to believe that something is going on enough to have bothered hacking around it.

    2. Re:nonsense. just plain wrong by hunterkll · · Score: 1

      I've got an external sony dual layer dvd+/-RW that OS X 10.3-10.5 worked perfectly with via USB or firewire too.

  26. Re:Netbooks aren't small computers, they're large by arminw · · Score: 1

    ...Though I suppose Apple being Apple they could take an iPhone...

    and make a "dock unit" with screen/keyboard, bigger battery and appropriate software which existing iPhones/iTouch handhelds slide into. The millions of existing users of these gadgets would be able to expand their handy pocket computers into net-books whenever they wanted to.

    --
    All theory is gray
  27. Re:Netbooks aren't small computers, they're large by DrgnDancer · · Score: 1

    A lot of the weaknesses you bring up are either the fault of or related to the limitations of the device, not the software. Copy/paste seems to be a mechanical issue (I'm not sure how you'd work highlights using multitouch). The OS can actually do multitasking: The phone, texting, and mail apps all run at least some background processes and the phone and text app can both foreground themselves. A decision was simply made to prevent other apps from multitasking in order to conserve the very small memory footprint.

    Several of these complaints could be adjusted on a machine with more muscle, a bigger screen, and a keyboard/mouse based input system without significantly changing the underlying OS.

    --
    I don't need a million points of light, just two points of multi-mode fiber and a 10 Gig-E router.
  28. 802.11n is the Duke Nukem Forever of wireless by Dogtanian · · Score: 1

    802.11N is not finished yet. Stop buying draft N hardware. You're ruining the standard.

    I might have agreed with this (or rather, with criticism of manufacturers releasing "Draft N" hardware) 18 months back. However, 802.11n has been awaiting final release for ages, and it supposedly *still* isn't due until the end of next year. That's a ridiculous length of time.

    According to the date on this article, the first "draft N" routers were already out more than 2.5 years ago. Slap another year on that and you're talking up to 3.5 years wait for someone who wanted an official 802.11n device instead of enjoying the benefits of Pre-N/Draft-N in the meantime.

    I couldn't in good conscience criticise someone for not waiting another bloody year, even if it's not 100% clear if all the current routers will definitely support the final 802.11n standard.

    --
    "Slashdot - News and Chat Sites Deviant". (Click "homepage" link above for details).
  29. four-pin port tyranny by commodoresloat · · Score: 4, Funny

    It's true, and thanks to Apple, we are spared the wrath of these genocidal monsters. Four pin firewire has led to the deaths of countless thousands while millions of others slowly starve in the death camps. Thankfully Apple put an end to these Pinochets-in-plastic when they built the new MacBook without the four-pin port. Remember, folks, first they came for the floppy drive, but I did not speak out, because I didn't like floppy disks at all. Then they came for USB 1.1 but I did not speak out because I'm actually fond of faster protocols. Now that they are coming for these Little Eichmanns I can only jump for joy. Apple macht frei!!!

  30. Re:There is no need for this speculation by MightyYar · · Score: 1

    As a Mac user, I'm comfortable with that.

    --
    W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
  31. non story by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    There are a number of 3rd parties providing WiFi drivers for various cards, Realtek is late. I the back of my mind I think that someone produced a driver for Realtek PCMCIA cards.

  32. Already got an Apple netbook... by atwalls · · Score: 1

    Gee, I've already got a netbook from apple. Detachable keyboard, touch screen, lightweight. Works great. It's called a Newton 2000...

  33. Re:Netbooks aren't small computers, they're large by Hal_Porter · · Score: 1

    Yeah, but it's better to sell them a whole new gadget.

    --
    echo -e 'global _start\n _start:\n mov eax, 2\n int 80h\n jmp _start' > a.asm; nasm a.asm -f elf; ld a.o -o a;
  34. Or just maybe... by XDirtypunkX · · Score: 1

    Realtek is making drivers so Apple will consider using them in their future low-cost designs?

  35. Re:Netbooks aren't small computers, they're large by XDirtypunkX · · Score: 1

    Yes, but Windows Mobile/Pocket PC/CE can do all of those things (some requiring additional software, many out of the box).

    So, if your "typical" PDA is a Windows Mobile one, you can actually do all those things.

  36. Re:Not worth it by porl · · Score: 1

    looks like we have stumbled upon the anti-twitter.... oh, and look up the word monopoly... i don't think it means what you think it means.

    porl

  37. Re:Netbooks aren't small computers, they're large by socsoc · · Score: 1

    Why do you keep quoting Apple Blog as if it is official?

  38. USB was on my mind as well by Britz · · Score: 1

    A friend of mine has a Macbook. His Wlan connection didnt work, because aps he was using were too far away. I advised him to buy a cheap usb stick so he could attach it to a usb cable in order to move the antenna around the desk to receive better signal without having to shove the whole Macbook around. I was also warning him about first checking which were supported with his Macbook.

    Next time I saw him he had a Linksys. And it worked perfectly-

  39. total non-story - it's not a custom driver by minimis · · Score: 1

    I have the same driver and utility installed on my old powerbook which has Belkin WiFi PC card, I bought it as a replacement for one that broken by my son.

    Belkin previously used Broadcom chips which are supported by Airport software, but switched to Realtek without changing the model number.