Synopses & Reviews
From the growing number of Wi-Fi hotspots to the escalating sales of laptops and other portable wireless-enabled devices, it's clear that wireless technology is here and poised to play an increasingly important role in all our lives. Going wireless is a little like taking the training wheels off your first bike--once you taste the freedom, you don't want to go back to what you had before. Moreover, dramatic improvements in wireless technology in the last few years coupled with the growing affordability of wireless equipment make going wireless all the more attractive. And if you're a Windows XP user, it's even better. Windows XP contains many built-in supports for wireless computing, making it an ideal platform for going mobile.In Windows XP Unwired, you'll learn the basics of wireless computing, from the reasons why you'd want to go wireless in the first place, to setting up your wireless network or accessing wireless services on the road. The book provides a complete introduction to all the wireless technologies supported by Windows XP, including Wi-Fi (802.11b, a, and g), infrared, Bluetooth, CDMA2000, and GPRS. You'll learn how to set up your first wireless network using popular products from Linksys and D-Link. You'll also get a good understanding of the limitations and liabilities of each wireless technology.Other topics covered in the book include:
- Connecting to wireless hotspots
- Using Microsoft's Smart Display to go wireless without a laptop
- Putting GPS technology to use
- Wireless Security
Windows XP Unwired is a one-stop wireless information source for technically savvy Windows XP users. Whether you're considering wireless as a supplement or alternative to cable and DSL, or using wireless to network computers in your home or office, this book will show you the full-spectrum view of wireless capabilities of Windows XP, and how to take advantage of them.
Synopsis
In "Windows XP Unwired" readers learn the basics of wireless computing, from the reasons why they'd want to go wireless in the first place, to setting up a wireless network or accessing wireless services on the road.
About the Author
Wei-Meng Lee (Microsoft .NET MVP) is a technologist and co-founder of Active Developer, a technology company specializing in hands-on training on the latest technologies. He is an established developer and trainer specializing in .NET and wireless technologies. Wei-Meng speaks regularly at international conferences and has authored and co-authored numerous books on .NET, XML and wireless technologies, including .Net Mobile Web Developer's Guide, C#.Net Web Developer's Guide with CDROM, VB.NET Developer's Guide with CDROM, and Webmaster's Guide to the Wireless Internet (Syngress). He writes extensively for the O'Reilly Network on topics ranging from .NET to Mac OS X. He is also the author of Windows XP Unwired (O'Reilly & Associates) and is currently working on Programming the .NET Compact Framework, also from O'Reilly.
Table of Contents
Preface; What This Book Covers; Wireless Security; Conventions Used in This Book; Comments and Questions; Acknowledgments; Chapter 1: Wireless Networking Fundamentals; 1.1 TCP/IP; 1.2 Understanding Radio Waves; 1.3 Wireless Networks; Chapter 2: Wi-Fi on Your Notebook; 2.1 802.11 Wireless Standards; 2.2 Understanding 802.11 Speak; 2.3 Connecting to a Wireless Network; 2.4 Taking It on the Road; Chapter 3: Wi-Fi on the Road; 3.1 Wireless Hotspots; 3.2 Finding Wireless Networks; Chapter 4: Communicating Securely; 4.1 Secure Wireless Computing; 4.2 Virtual Private Networks; 4.3 Secure Shell (SSH); 4.4 Firewalls; 4.5 Wi-Fi Security; 4.6 Are 802.11 Networks Really Secure?; Chapter 5: Configuring Wireless Access Points; 5.1 Setting Up a Wireless Network; 5.2 Case Study: The Home Network; 5.3 Case Study: The Office Network; 5.4 Configuring an Access Point; 5.5 Ad-Hoc Wireless Networking; 5.6 Setting Up a Wireless Repeater; 5.7 Guidelines for Securing a Wireless Network; 5.8 Troubleshooting Wi-Fi; Chapter 6: Bluetooth; 6.1 Bluetooth Standards Today; 6.2 Bluetooth Devices; 6.3 Bluetooth Service Profiles; 6.4 Using Bluetooth in Windows XP; 6.5 Connecting to a Pocket PC; 6.6 Bluetooth LAN; 6.7 Bluetooth Security; Chapter 7: Infrared; 7.1 IrDA in More Detail; 7.2 IrDA Adapters; 7.3 Using IrDA in Windows XP; 7.4 Infrared File Transfer; 7.5 Infrared Security; Chapter 8: Cellular Networking; 8.1 Cellular Networking Price and Performance; 8.2 GPRS; 8.3 CDMA2000; 8.4 Compression; Chapter 9: Global Positioning System (GPS); 9.1 How GPS Works; 9.2 GPS Devices; 9.3 GPS Software; Chapter 10: Microsoft Smart Display and Remote Desktop; 10.1 What Is the Microsoft Smart Display?; 10.2 Using the ViewSonic AirPanel V150; 10.3 Using Remote Desktop; Colophon;