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The Software Router As MiFi Killer
An anonymous reader writes "The MiFi Mobile Router has been getting a lot of positive reviews these days, for combining a cellular modem, WiFi radio and battery pack in a portable device. But playing with a beta release of a software based wireless router for Windows 7 has me wondering if there's any future to these dedicated, multi-radio routers. Is the future that every PC should be a router? Or is that a job best left to a cell phone?" I just drove across the country and back with a MiFi (using Verizon's service, which was not zippy but very reliable); it strikes me that being nicely cross-platform and not requiring a laptop with its own cell-network connection is a serious advantage for the MiFi or any similar device.
I see exactly one use for the device.
Assume for a moment that we have a family - a mother, a father, two and a half kids, and the dog. We're on a vacation (as opposed to staycation), and we're driving to [popular tourist destination] because it's cheaper than flying, even if it takes 19 hours of non-stop driving to get there.
This family has a netbook for the children in the backseat to play their little saved games (perhaps you stuck an emulator on there and are letting them get acquainted with the golden age of gaming). The father has a mobile broadband card that is plugged into his laptop so that he can get at email.
The kids get bored eventually of playing whatever game it is (Earthbound, perhaps), and want to log on to neopets to check on their zafara and their shoyru. You're at hour 8 of the drive.
Decision time!
Do you:
* Hand dad's much more expensive laptop to the kids in the back seat and hope they don't screw it up?
* Drop the mobile broadband card into a device designed to share the connection, and connect the kids this way over their netbook?
* Powder your hands and recite the Pimp's Prayer, then reach back and smack a bottom or two, telling them to settle down and keep playing those emulated games you got them, even though they [barely understand how to play them|are bored by your choice of games]?
I'd not hand the kids dad's laptop. That's just a no-go. That's why they got the netbook, so they can stay off the big computer.
It's a little hard to reach back and slap that kid on his ass when you're doing 70.
It's easiest to tell the wifey to drop the card into the mobile router and share the connection. Maybe she'll stop paying as much attention to Facebook and actually, y'know... talk to you while you're driving.
(there are other scenarios that are similar to this, as well.)
One of these days, I am going to flip out. When I flip out, I'll be back in five minutes.
"The water jug as faucet killer."
Isn't that a little like saying you've removed the transmission and only drive the car on weekends? Ooooooo, a car analogy!
Some bring out the best in others, some the worst. Some bring out far more.