Here's how it works:
New scoring for reviews
As of Jan. 8, Network World has switched its scoring scale. We will now score products on a scale of 1 to 5, rather than 1 to 10. We feel that scoring on a 1 to 5 range would be more easily understood than previous methods. As it relates to school grades, the new scoring would establish 1=D, 2=C, 3=B, 4=A. A score of 5 would be the exceptional score -- a scholastic equivalent would be scoring an A in an honors class.
For each category below, assign the percentage weight you think is most appropriate. The percent-o-meter box on the right will keep track of your weightings to let you know when you've reached 100%. When you fill in the last box, hit your enter key, and you'll see how the apps rate (along with our final score for comparison).
Category | Our weight | Your weight |
| Security | 25% | % |
| Stability | 20% | % |
| Throughput | 20% | % |
| Management | 15% | % |
| Installation | 10% | % |
| Price | 10% | % |
Results table
Below, you'll find the 1-5 score given to each app by our reviewers. To obtain the final score: Multiply each individual score by the weighting given that category, then add up all those resulting numbers.
| | Cisco | Enterasys | DLink | Lucent | Proxim |
| Security | 5 | 5 | 3.5 | 4 | 4.5 |
| Stability | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4.5 |
| Through-put | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 2 |
| Manage-ment | 5 | 4 | 2.5 | 3 | 4 |
| Install-ation | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4.5 |
| Price | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
|
| Our total | 4.90 | 4.55 | 4.25 | 4.15 | 3.98 |
| YOUR TOTAL | | | | | |
| Scoring key:5: Exceptional showing in this category. Defines the standard of excellence;4: Very good showing. Although there may be room for improvement, this product was much better than average; 3: Average showing in this category. Product was neither especially good nor exceptionally bad; 2: Below average. Lacked some features or lower performance than other products, or than was expected; 1: Considerably subpar, or lacking features being reviewed. |
| | Symbol | Intel | Buffalo | Intermec |
| Security | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3.5 |
| Stability | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Throughput | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Management | 3 | 3 | 3.5 | 3 |
| Install-ation | 5 | 5 | 3.5 | 5 |
| Price | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
|
| Our total | 3.95 | 3.95 | 3.78 | 3.73 |
| YOUR TOTAL | | | | |
| Scoring key:5: Exceptional showing in this category. Defines the standard of excellence;4: Very good showing. Although there may be room for improvement, this product was much better than average; 3: Average showing in this category. Product was neither especially good nor exceptionally bad; 2: Below average. Lacked some features or lower performance than other products, or than was expected; 1: Considerably subpar, or lacking features being reviewed. |
NetResults
Aironet 340
Score: 4.9
Company: Cisco, (800) 553-6387
Cost: $1,299, $14,356 for four access points and 40 NICs.
Pros: Easy to set up, administer and use; great performance.
Con: A bit on the pricey side.
RoamAbout Access Point 2000
Score: 4.55
Company: Enterasys, (978) 684-1000
Cost: $999, $11,595 for four access points and 40 NICs.
Pros: Good setup software, management tools.
Con: Use of PCC Card NIC in AP may mandate use of an extra-cost external antenna.
DWL-1000 AP
Score: 4.25
Company: D-Link, (949) 788-0805
Cost: $299, $5,884 for four access points and 40 NICs.
Pros: Excellent price and performance.
Con: Not really an enterprise product.
Orinoco AP-1000 Access Point
Score: 4.15
Company: Lucent, (800) 674-6626
Cost: $1,194, $12,736 for four access points and 40 NICs.
Pro: Can support multiple wireless LANs with a single AP.
Con: Use of PC Card NIC in AP may mandate use of extra-cost external antenna.
Harmony 802.11 Access Point and Access Point Controller
Score: 3.98
Company: Proxim, (800) 229-1630
Cost: $2,094, $11,851 for four access points and 40 NICs. Note: The price includes an Access Point Controller, which can support up to 10 access points.
Pros: Excellent management tools and expandability.
Con: Lackluster performance.
Spectrum 24 11M bit/sec Access Point
Score: 3.95
Company: Symbol Technologies, (800) 722-6234
Cost: $999, $11,956 for four access points and 40 NICs.
Pros: Removable external antennas give reasonable performance, and allow easy upgrade to more powerful antennas if needed.
Con: Management tools could be stronger.
Intel Pro/Wireless 2011 Access Point
Score: 3.95
Company: Intel, (408) 765-8080
Cost: $999, $11,956 for four access points and 40 NICs.
Pros: Removable external antennas give reasonable performance and allow easy upgrade to more powerful antennas if needed.
Con: Management tools could be stronger.
Buffalo Airstation
Score: 3.78
Company: Buffalo Technologies, (800) 688-7466
Cost: $279, $7,076 for four access points and 40 NICs.
Pro: Very attractive pricing.
Cons: Weak manuals, lackluster performance, internal antenna.
Intermec 2102 Universal Access Point
Score: 3.73
Company: Intermec, (425) 348-2600
Cost: $895, $15,380 for four access points and 40 NICs.
Pro: External antenna.
Con: A solid "C" performer that asks a solid "A" price.
Pricing notes: In the vendor information above, all prices are list price. The first price is a single access point, including a network card if that is needed. The second price is the price for four access points and 40 NICs, which we feel is a good starting point for office automation. This price will include the needed options, such as an Access Point Controller for Proxim.
