Why Is It? (Such Incompatibilities)
You know... I really do love Apple. I would never got back. Over the week I've screwed with Linux and Windows ( - been screwing with that for years) and there are just some things I don't understand... but realize why.
At home there is Windows and my Mac. No one bothers my mac, it's like my car - since it's a stick - no one wants to borrow/use it. But there are some things that I have to let the family down with:
1) Wireless network refuses to work if there is a WEP password/key. All of the Windows XP boxes at home will do just fine connecting to it for (hopefully) a little security but mine does not. No matter what I try, I enter the password like I enter it in all the windows boxes but it doesn't let me connect. As soon as I turn the home network into an open network (meaning anyone can connect) I finally get my connection. But I don't want to have to sacrifice the security of my parents visiting their bank accounts online just so that I can do so.
3) Since I am a pack-rat, I want to make sure I have plenty of space on my hard drive. So (If you have noticed around the forum I have asked the best way to do this): I created a file server running on XP. It works; I connect via SMB:// command and it works okay for sending/storing my iTunes library and playlists, and photos form iPhoto.
How easy is it to set up Macs on a connection to the Airport Base Station?
I understand why some computer environments clash, and I am not asking for a resolution to this - in fact I'm giving in to Apple - but I hope that you don't find great offense in my rant here, and I hope that you could offer some suggestions for my puzzlement.
P.S. I don't want to bother with Bonjour for Windows.
At home there is Windows and my Mac. No one bothers my mac, it's like my car - since it's a stick - no one wants to borrow/use it. But there are some things that I have to let the family down with:
1) Wireless network refuses to work if there is a WEP password/key. All of the Windows XP boxes at home will do just fine connecting to it for (hopefully) a little security but mine does not. No matter what I try, I enter the password like I enter it in all the windows boxes but it doesn't let me connect. As soon as I turn the home network into an open network (meaning anyone can connect) I finally get my connection. But I don't want to have to sacrifice the security of my parents visiting their bank accounts online just so that I can do so.
- What is the best way to set up a safe wireless internet?
3) Since I am a pack-rat, I want to make sure I have plenty of space on my hard drive. So (If you have noticed around the forum I have asked the best way to do this): I created a file server running on XP. It works; I connect via SMB:// command and it works okay for sending/storing my iTunes library and playlists, and photos form iPhoto.
- But I am just damned tired of anything but Macs now. I know how much of a breeze it can be to have an old Apple desktop and cram some hard drives in there, install OS X Panther (Or in the case, Tiger) and have a great network, hassle free. (By the way, how do mac connect to each other over an ethernet connection? Do they appear in the networks panel with the server/disk images? Do they automatically appear on the desktop? Could replies also offer a screen shot of the setup?)
How easy is it to set up Macs on a connection to the Airport Base Station?
- Can I plug my printer in there and they all can use all of the defined qualities of the printer? (Duplex printing, color, and photo qualities) - BTW: Currently my printer is just a USB printer, no server or anything.
- Can I have a secured connection this way with the Airport Extreme Wireless cards? I would imagine so since all of the computer would be running the same OS (OS X), and that always seems to be a plus.
I understand why some computer environments clash, and I am not asking for a resolution to this - in fact I'm giving in to Apple - but I hope that you don't find great offense in my rant here, and I hope that you could offer some suggestions for my puzzlement.
P.S. I don't want to bother with Bonjour for Windows.
Comments
If you try to set up the AirPort connection elsewhere (like with the Network Setup Assistant) it seems to default to an open network and therefore the password won't work.
Wouldn't it be nice for OS X to try each with the specified password and then remember which one is the right one?
... off to apple's feedback page i go.
I'm sure you realise this, but it's the first thing that springs to my mind.
Originally posted by david101
you say you enter the password/key in exactly the same way as you do on the windows machine, but if you are entering a hex key then you need to preceed the key with a dollar sign ($) when you enter it on the mac.
I'm sure you realise this, but it's the first thing that springs to my mind.
I've never done this I just tell the Mac it's a 128-bit HEX and enter it exactly the same.
Originally posted by iShawn
Wireless network refuses to work if there is a WEP password/key.
I had the same problem and wasn't happy having an unprotected network, however I did find the solution. I have a G4 with Mac OS 10.3 that I use as the base station to share my internet connection with a friend's PC running XP.
One would think using the same password for both Mac and PC would be the logical thing to do, not so. Turns out the Mac uses ASCII Equivalent Password and the PC uses Hex Equivalent Password.
Example for a 128bit WEP networks password
(Use the quotes in the password exactly as shown for the Mac)
Password for Mac: "fffffffffffff"
That's 13 fs within quotes
PC: 66666666666666666666666666
That's 26 6s
Click here for a step by step instructions
Originally posted by iPeon
One would think using the same password for both Mac and PC would be the logical thing to do, not so. Turns out the Mac uses ASCII Equivalent Password and the PC uses Hex Equivalent Password.
My D-link Wireless-G router lets me specify to use an ASCII or Hex password, so I never had that problem.
Originally posted by jabohn
My D-link Wireless-G router lets me specify to use an ASCII or Hex password, so I never had that problem.
my netgear gives me the option but I chose WEP because Windows supports that one best. I had no problems on the Mac and no dollar sign was needed.
Originally posted by MacCrazy
my netgear gives me the option but I chose WEP because Windows supports that one best. I had no problems on the Mac and no dollar sign was needed.
I set it to WPA because, after some 'net research, I found out it was supposedly the most secure. While my mac works with it, I don't have a PC to try it out on.
Originally posted by MacCrazy
my netgear gives me the option but I chose WEP because Windows supports that one best. I had no problems on the Mac and no dollar sign was needed.
Um, ASCII or HEX key has nothing to do with whether it's WEP or WPA. I have a Linksys that only supports WEP, and I have the option of entering ASCII key or HEX key. I don't think that the list of options when you are asked for your key is router-dependent... It could be though, I guess.
Originally posted by pyr3
Um, ASCII or HEX key has nothing to do with whether it's WEP or WPA. I have a Linksys that only supports WEP, and I have the option of entering ASCII key or HEX key. I don't think that the list of options when you are asked for your key is router-dependent... It could be though, I guess.
Sorry but what is the difference between WEP and WPA?
Originally posted by AquaMac
Sorry but what is the difference between WEP and WPA?
Some info here on WPA vs. WEP:
http://www-106.ibm.com/developerwork...wi-roam11.html
Originally posted by sunilraman
just get the rest of your family to Switch to macs.
Ha, I already brought that up, even after they said they wanted an inexpensive new computer without all of the hassle. My mom could care less because all she uses the computer for is filling out tax forms from Tax Cut and checking email/surfing. None the less, she's not good with computers and has to relearn how to work the software every time they come out with an outlook etc.
Dad said he wouldn't mind; and even had me teach him some of the windows equivalents, but he needed a way to program .NET since he's learning that and some other languages for work. He has some sort of software that he uses to log into his network at work, along with software for the .NET that I doubt would work on the mac. Maybe XCode has it... I never looked into it that much though.
Originally posted by iShawn
Ha, I already brought that up, even after they said they wanted an inexpensive new computer without all of the hassle. My mom could care less because all she uses the computer for is filling out tax forms from Tax Cut and checking email/surfing. None the less, she's not good with computers and has to relearn how to work the software every time they come out with an outlook etc.
Dad said he wouldn't mind; and even had me teach him some of the windows equivalents, but he needed a way to program .NET since he's learning that and some other languages for work. He has some sort of software that he uses to log into his network at work, along with software for the .NET that I doubt would work on the mac. Maybe XCode has it... I never looked into it that much though.
hmm i think dreamweaver mx 2004 pro has some decent .NET scripting support if he's doing more on web apps- middleware- kind of stuff ?? i'm not shure though...
i haven't touched ASP or .NET in 3 years now... (thank GAWD