During my recent desktop shopping spree, I made sure my new rig would be Bluetooth and WiFi capable. After all, why miss out on two features that proved really useful on my laptop?

Yet if recent experiences are any indicator, the wired setup still rules. I’m still glad I got Bluetooth and WiFi though, as they grant my desktop a certain degree of versatility. Yet now my rig is hooked up via Ethernet to my router. Surfing the web and downloading files proved faster through this setup. At the same time, I decided to buy a USB cable for my phone, no longer relying on Bluetooth for syncs and backups. Again, same reason: transferring data via cables is much faster.

One of these days, transferring data wirelessly will be a near instantaneous process. Right now however, if you want to maximize your data transfer speeds, it still makes sense to go wired.

(Image from vision-systems.com)

Post from: The Gadget Blog

It’s so easy to love WiFi’s convenience. Imagine being able to tap out an article on the laptop while lying down on bed, or even while using the john! But Ryan Block, on the eve of his departure as Engadget’s editor-in-chief, made the case for wiring your house up.

WiFi or Ethernet? As a former network engineer, it’s a question I can hardly resist. My take: wireless is great (and always necessary), but wire your home as much and as well as you can.

Why go wired? Well, Ryan’s right on the money when he talks about “consistent speeds and reliable connectivity”, how much faster Ethernet is than even the latest WiFi, and Power over Ethernet (PoE). PoE you ask? That’s the awesome phenomenon involving network hubs, routers, and access points drawing data and power through the same Ethernet cable.

To be honest though is a question that more people should know the answer to; it’s been around at least since 2003.

Post from: The Gadget Blog