D-Link DWL-920 802.11b USB Wireless Networking Kit

Why do we all like the Internet? What can you do on the Internet? In my opinion, the Internet embodies everything that humans as a whole think. The Internet is the world's largest hub of information, many times greater in number of pages than the congressional library, many times more popular than soccer, many times more frustrating than a Chinese finger-trap.

Frustrating? That can't be right, can it? The Internet was made to simplify everyone's lives and how can it complete that endeavor if it's not simple enough for everyone to access it? To tell you the truth, 3 years ago, I thought we would be technologically advanced enough to deploy massive, citywide wireless Internet access that everyone could access with just a simple PCI card you can buy at the local store.

Sadly, that isn't a reality. But we have progressed tremendously in the past 3 years, going from 28.8 modems, to 56k modems, to Cable/DSL. With some thought, one could say that the Internet is easier to access now than it has ever been before. As the world becomes more enthralled by networks and computers, there will be a big boom in the networking market as more people purchase computers. There will be a huge demand for faster Internet access; there will be a massive demand especially for products that will simplify everything.

What am I getting at? Wireless. The el facto talk of the town for the past decade. Wireless technology is the apex of technological evolution. Think, if everything was wireless, how could you make it better? Everything we ever knew about the future embraced wireless technology.. Star Trek, did you EVER see wires in an episode of Star Trek? No, how about the company roadmaps of D-Link, 3Com, Linksys, etc… wireless dominates. Before you pass off my theory as bull, there are some things that will probably never be wireless such as RAM, processors, video cards, etc. There will be no Intel Pentium V featuring a wireless motherboard interface. I'm off to a bit of a rant here so I'll just get on to introducing the product we have the spotlight on today. From D-Link today, we have their new USB Wireless Network Kit. Although I was a bit hesitant on reviewing it, it turned out to be one of the best pieces of hardware I ever tested and used.

D-Link DWA-652 Adapter

Wireless N is the new emerging standard in wireless networking, which provides greater range over a longer distance and extreme speed. Today at Benchmark Reviews we have the new D-Link DWA-652 Xtreme N wireless notebook adapter for testing purposes. Let us find out if the DWA-652 delivers performance as promised.

The D-Link Xtreme N™ Notebook Adapter (DWA-652) is a draft 2.0 802.11n wireless client that delivers unrivaled wireless performance for your notebook computer. This wireless adapter delivers up to 14x faster speeds and 6x farther range than 802.11g while staying backward compatible with 802.11g and 802.11b networks. Once connected, you can share a high-speed Internet connection, photos, files, music, videos, printers, and storage.

The Xtreme N Notebook Adapter is powered by Xtreme N technology to provide superior wireless reception in your home or office. This adapter is designed for use in larger homes and offices, or for users running multiple bandwidth-intensive applications. This adapter enables you to simultaneously make or receive Internet phone calls (VoIP), surf the Web, transfer files, and stream High-Definition (HD) media when connected to an Xtreme N Gigabit Router (DIR-655)*. The DWA-652 supports WEP™, WPA™, and WPA2™ encryption that allow you to connect securely to a wireless network.
D-Link’s Quick Adapter Setup Wizard guides you step-by-step through the installation process. Configure this notebook adapter without having to call a networking expert to help you. The D-Link Wireless Manager is also included with this product to keep track of all your most frequently accessed networks so that you can join them quickly and easily.

With unmatched wireless performance, reception, and security, the D-Link Xtreme N Notebook Adapter (DWA-652) is the best choice for easily adding or upgrading wireless connectivity to your notebook computer.

The adaptor looked very similar to most notebook adaptor and it becomes very hard differentiate them in looks, but I personally prefer the black and silver finish it comes with.