One of the advantages of working in the technology field is the opportunity to test new items. I recently was asked to test Synchrotech's ExpressAdapt product over a weekend with my PowerBook G3 (Pismo). The test application was an activated engineering sample of Option Wireless GT Max 3.6 Express. Synchrotech's ExpressAdapt was developed to handle mixed voltage ExpressCard better than competing devices, so getting the GT Max to work on an 8 year old notebook was actually possible.The nicest thing about the ExpressAdapt CardBus to ExpressCard Adapter is it required absolutely no drivers under OS X (I am running Mac OS X 10.4.11). The system recognized when plugged in the PC Card slot without any hesitation. Locating software and configuration settings for the Option Wireless GT Max 3.6 Express was a little more work, but once done, the ExpressAdapt card allowed it to behave on the PowerBook G3 as if had been made for it. While 3G (HSDPA) wireless isn't all that fast, particularly in my neighborhood, it is nice to be able to try a technology in use on all the newer machines on an older Apple PowerBook. At $45, ExpressAdapt allows the use of any USB based ExpressCard in PC CardBus (32-bit) notebook slots.
On the same weekend, a friend dragged over his new notebook with The Vista, and his T-Mobile Wing and asked me to tether them. I found some instructions on the internet. I know the predatory monopoly capitalist is trying to re-market their failed OS, but just ten minutes of hands on showed me why people are rejecting it. It literally took more steps (various phishing notices, redirects, warnings, license agreement screens, more warnings, etc.) to download The Vista version of ActiveSync than it did to tether the phone. How people put up with such poorly thought out and executed software from Redmond is beyond me. I did get his system tethered and he was happy.
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