D-Link DIR-628 5GHz 802.11n on cheap price & performance
I have heard a news about this router last week that it was the first sub $100 dual band router; it actually $119 MSRP, but only $79 on BestBuy. I’m so thrilled to get one to be able to achieve 300Mbps and don’t have to plug in CAT5e for Gigabit anymore. Although I don’t expect to get Gigabit performance with draft 802.11n, I still think I would get any better than 2.4GHz 40MHz channel width 802.11n that gives me 130Mbps connection regularly (but it’s only a bit better than 802.11g in practice)
Then I don’t hesitate to grab it @ Bestbuy. It really looks better than DIR-625 the one I have.
The selling point of this router is dual band; Dlink doesn’t forget to remind customers that this is dual band antenna as well =)
Setting up part was flawless like every router. Plug and Play; change WAN MAC address a bit; then you are good to go. I, however, tested this router as only Wireless LAN (802.11n) access point; I just connected this LAN to my main router (D-Link DIR-625) and disabled DHCP server on DIR-628 also.
It was very exciting to have 300Mbps via the air; imagine that was 3 times faster than Ethernet even though you would lose a bit throughput for header. Just so you know that this was 5GHz band and it’s the only way get 300Mbps connection with Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN. In a router configuration, there were choices of only 802.11n or only 802.11a or mixed. I tried with only 802.11n and both. I haven’t found any different though.
Yep, there is no difference at all. From 2.4GHz to 5GHz, the speeds Windows reports were different, but it’s different story in practice. I don’t have any scientific result for this since I copied back and forth between my Thinkpad X61T (802.11n) and my media center box (Gigabit LAN) several times. What I got was only about 4-6MB/s and 7-8MB/s for copy from and to media center box respectively for both 2.4GHz and 5GHz mode. There is no reason to test for that low performance; it’s so disappointed because it’s only 48Mbps and 64Mbps which were only about 802.11g theoretically speed. At least, I expected to see 100Mbps throughput (approx. 12MB/s) for 300Mbps connection. Just so you know, I got over 40MB/s via Gigabit LAN, so sometimes, most of the time in fact, I prefer to plug the cable in at all time. It really has a significant difference, no lag while transferring data since most of my data were on network drive. I hope final 802.11n would gain what it aims soon. When the time comes, I’m ready to switch immediately. Now, I just have to return this and stick with what I already have.
Popularity: 5% [?]
What’s so good about TrackPoint?
I always hear people around commenting Lenovo ThinkPad (formerly IBM ThinkPad) series is great, but they are rarely buying one just because of “the red stick” in the middle of one of the best keyboard ever. I were among that group of people as well; however, time changes; people also change too. Ever since I got my X61T, I had been forced to live with the only choice of mouse called “TrackPoint”. I have started changing my mind then.
Everybody around me knows that I naturally hate using touchpad. You will hardly find me using touchpad. Thus, I’m always carry a little USB mouse with me since I have a laptop although that loads me a bit more. However, it doesn’t mean I use touchpad as slow as one who haven’t ever touched a computer. The thing has been changed since I got ThinkPad X61. From the very first feeling of using TrackPoint, I did feel somewhat awkward and found it not as fast as my weak touchpad skill. But it was just a time when I was a stranger to TrackPoint. For the time being, TrackPoint is a breeze comparing to touchpad and unfortunately better than a mouse in some ways.
To get into why it’s so good, you may have to know a bit of how it works out. In order to move a cursor, you have to gently push on the red stick in a direction you want. Right-button and left-button are right below spacebar. For the middle button, it doesn’t work as a standard middle button but it will works as a wheel by hold the button and using the red stick to scroll in whatever direction you want–two or eight directions depending on the program.
Sound normal to you, right? It is. However, the advantage of TrackPoint is the position itself. While the touchpad is below the keyboard, TrackPoint is on the keyboard. While you have to move your hand a bit to use touchpad, you don’t have to move your hand at all using TrackPoint. Imagine typing and scrolling the page back and forth, you will see how pain it is when using touchpad but it’s so easy to TrackPoint. For a Trackpad–Apple’s stuff, they requires your 2 finger–mostly index and middle one which you have to move your whole hand–to scroll the page, but for TrackPoint you just use your thumb to hold the middle button and your index to control the direction; you don’t even have to move your hand. That’s easy! For more example, scrolling the page, you have to drag your finger from top to bottom many time ’til the end of page. Nonetheless, you don’t have to move any part to use TrackPoint; you just gently press on the red stick, how convenient. That’s the point why I prefer TrackPoint to mouse when I read stuffs; it’s so smooth like using MicroGear™ Precision scroll wheel of Logitech in VX/MX series but better in term of controlling.
IMO, the real disadvantage of TrackPoint is when you are using programs like Photoshop, using a mouse is a way much better! I don’t think you will find any cons of TrackPoint comparing to touchpad though. Also, I found that TrackPoint is creating for a regular work, not intending to make it very accurate, or fast in any way, so it does not give you a perfect experience when you are playing a game like shooting, or any requiring accuracy.
Another point is finger pain, it does happen but it probably the same as touchpad. In addition, by setting to highest sensitivity and using the soft rim–type of TrackPoint cap, I think you will use it comfortably by now.
For who you don’t believe me, try it by yourself; you’ll know what I’m talking about.
Types of TrackPoint Cap:
Classic Dome: The Classic Dome cap is for users who prefer the touch and feel of the cap traditionally associated with the TrackPoint.
Soft Dome: With a large, convex surface area and soft texturing, the Soft Dome cap provides a soft touch and feel.
Soft Rim: The large, concave design of the Soft Rim cap provides a completely different touch and feel and creates a mechanical advantage whereby less force is required for pointer motion.
Edited on Jan 23, 2008: Soft Rim really helps you use trackpoint easier and lesser effort. You should try ;-P and, then, be happier with this
Popularity: 8% [?]
