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.

Comments

I've never really understood this device

[lidocaineus]

I mean if you're travelling, you either have something built in, a plug-in card, bluetooth tethering (I find this very convenient), and usb tethering. I've never been in a situation where I need to share internet access while travelling to multiple devices, and while I can see it being a possible need, it doesn't seem to be much more than a niche thing? Also, it's not TOO difficult to share a mobile internet connection provided you know the ins and outs of such things (though yes, this device would make it dead simple).

Maybe someone can enlighten me.

Re:I've never really understood this device

[kent_eh]

Perhaps a group of musicians/athletes/performers traveling on a tour bus? With laptops, Wii, wi-fi PDAs, etc.
I'm sure there are other examples, but that's the first that popped into my head.

Re:I've never really understood this device

[suomynonAyletamitlU]

This got modded funny? Really?

I'm 24. The typical age for someone to seriously be saying "In my day" is probably twice that at least. And yet, "In my day", kids weren't supposed to be brought up by electronic babysitters. I'm still not sure they're supposed to be. Kids grow up to be whatever they're taught to be, and if you teach them to spend their whole lives wrapped up in the digital world, hey presto, it's probably gonna happen.

Is the GP really saying "The only way for a group of people to share the same space is for each to be lost in their own world, hiding from the despair that is any attempt to actually enjoy each others' company"?

Re:I've never really understood this device

[TimothyDavis]

My group does onsite visits to customer facilities. Often these locations do not have a network for us to tether into - which is why the MiFi is perfect for us. The group (under 5) can all connect out on my MiFi device and get very reasonable speed network access. This allows us all to stay on email, or RAS back into our corporate network.

Note: We only need one device for this - and not an telco account for every user.

Re:Windows 7? More like XP. And OS X. And Linux. A

[oldspewey]

I used to run FreeSCO on an old P-133 box. Then one day I realized I was using about $50/yr in electricity just so I could have a "free" replacement for a $59.99 router.

I don't want to have to lug around a win 7 laptop

[Chris Mattern]

Just to have internet access for my DSi or PSP. Mi-Fi gives me world internet access for anything that speaks Wi-Fi and fits very comfortably indeed in any pocket. Battery lasts longer than most laptops, too.

MiFi sucks; Cellular+Wifi for the win.

[GiMP]

I tether my laptop to my Android phone via wifi. The advantage is that I don't need to carry a cellular modem for my laptop, have a separate data plan, or swap sim cards (on GSM networks). The fact that someone else can use the connection is an additional bonus. I used to have a separate data plan and 3G modem, and I'd even share this connection via iptables/NAT from my Linux laptop. It worked, yes, but it is much better to just let my phone handle this now.

As for a MiFi, this is different in that you're using a special device, losing the advantage of leveraging your phone hardware, and ultimately pay more. The advantage being that you're not breaking your service agreement, have a carrier-supported solution, and you don't need to root your phone. With all of the limitations of the MiFi, it is not significantly better than using a cellular modem.

Personally, I hope that carriers start to loosen up and allow (wifi) tethering, because this really provides the best of all worlds.

Re:Windows 7? More like XP. And OS X. And Linux. A

[BuddaLicious]

Or even worse.... I bet as this is a M$ program, it doesn't even really have two separate networks, rather just masks that the network traffic is really visible to both.

Re:NAT is a good thing

[bberens]

I don't see why a "separate device" cannot live within my laptop clam-shell and be powered by my laptop battery. It could even have a separate external power button for the wifi.