Photograph: Kevin CandlandIf you're ready to take your Xbox gaming console online, but you're unwilling to string an ethernet cable from your home office to your living room, Microsoft's new Xbox Wireless Adapter (MN-740) may be your ticket to play.
To use the adapter to access Microsoft's Xbox Live online gaming service, you need a wireless network, preferably hooked to a broadband Internet connection. The MN-740 is a 54-megabits-per-second 802.11g Wi-Fi adapter, so it's also compatible with 11-mbps 802.11b networks.
I tested the unit on my home 802.11b network, which uses a Linksys Wireless Access Point Router. The MN-740 located the network easily; the somewhat tedious task of entering my WEP security key via the game controller was the only inconvenience.
Soon after completing the Xbox Live setup (you have to pay extra for access to the gaming service), I was deeply engrossed in Internet-based, multiperson play. I rarely experienced any lag during my CounterStrike game session, though other players' voices (transmitted via headset) occasionally dropped out. That didn't prevent them from cheerfully wiping the screen with my carcass.
My positive experience using this adapter on an 802.11b network leads me to question the necessity of paying for an 802.11g-based adapter. Unless you are planning to connect two or more Xboxes on the same 11g network, you're not at all likely to take advantage of 802.11g's higher speeds, because even the fastest broadband connections rarely hit 1.5 mbps. Linksys, D-Link, and others offer 802.11b-based adapters that work with the Xbox and cost about $70.
Microsoft's MN-740 adapter is a well-designed product that is easy to use. It seems a tad pricey, however, if your only objective is to gain access to the Xbox Live service.
Tom Mainelli
Microsoft
Excellent product enables wireless Xbox connectivity, but alternative adapters cost less.
Price when reviewed: $100
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