Apple M8881LL/A AirPort Extreme Card

by Apple

Product Details

Product Manual [79kb PDF]

• Item Weight: 8 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0000899ZB
• Item model number: M8881LL/A
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (66 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 2, 2001

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Apple's AirPort Extreme wireless networking products lets you surf the Internet from almost anywhere in your home or business, and enables schools to provide Internet access to multiple students without installing expensive cabling.*

ince AirPort Extreme is based on a new wireless technology called 802.11g, it's a snap to exchange files or play multiplayer games at data rates up to 54 megabits per second (Mbps).** The AirPort Extreme Card allows your AirPort Extreme-enabled Mac to communicate with local AirPort Extreme networks or other Wi-Fi certified 802.11b or 802.11g networks, including earlier versions of Apple's AirPort Base Station. AirPort Extreme-enabled computers that join an AirPort or other 802.11b wireless network can achieve data rates up to 11 Mbps--the maximum allowed by 802.11b. For higher data rates, you need both the AirPort Extreme Card installed in an AirPort Extreme-ready computer and an AirPort Extreme Base Station. AirPort Extreme provides a range up to 50 feet at 54 Mbps and up to 150 feet at 11 Mbps for AirPort Extreme-enabled computers.

Every AirPort Extreme-enabled Mac has antennas built in and optimally placed, much like a mobile phone, to provide the best possible wireless performance. And because AirPort Extreme uses radio waves for communication, it can even work through walls.

With an AirPort Extreme-enabled PowerBook G4, you're ready to start enjoying the benefits of wireless networking--not just at home, but also at cafes, hotels, airports, and other businesses and public buildings around the world that have implemented 802.11b "hot spots." ***

To get the full speed benefits of the 802.11g-based AirPort Extreme Card in your Apple computer, you'll want to use it with an AirPort Extreme Base Station. But since the AirPort Extreme Card is compatible with 802.11b, you can use any AirPort Base Station or other Wi-Fi certified 802.11b access point without any hassles; you don't need to change any hardware or software settings. Everything is automatic.

To create your own wireless network in your home or business, just add an AirPort Extreme Base Station. This will allow you to communicate between AirPort-enabled computers, AirPort Extreme-enabled computers, Windows PCs with Wi-Fi certified 802.11b cards, and the AirPort Extreme Base Station and share access to the Internet, without wires.

System Requirements:

• The AirPort Extreme Card can be installed only in computers that are AirPort Extreme ready. AirPort Extreme Cards cannot be used in AirPort-ready computers with an AirPort Card slot.
• Requires Mac OS X 10.2.7 or later and AirPort Admin Utility software version 3.1.1 or later to administer an AirPort Extreme Base Station.
• Wireless printing over USB requires Mac OS X v10.2.7 or later.

Notes:
* Wireless Internet access requires a wireless-enabled computer, a base station or other access point, and Internet access (fees may apply). Some ISPs are not currently compatible with AirPort and AirPort Extreme.

**Achieving data rates up to 54 Mbps requires that all users have an AirPort Extreme-ready computer with an AirPort Extreme Card installed or a Wi-Fi Certified 802.11g Windows computer and are communicating with an AirPort Extreme Base Station. If a user with an AirPort-enabled computer or other Wi-Fi certified 802.11b product joins an AirPort Extreme wireless network, that user will get up to 11 Mbps and AirPort Extreme users on the same wireless network will get less than 54 Mbps. AirPort Extreme-enabled computers that connect to an AirPort or other Wi-Fi certified 802.11b network will achieve data rates up to 11 Mbps, the maximum allowed by an 802.11b wireless network. Actual speed will vary based on range, connection rate, site conditions, size of network, and other factors.

*** Fees may apply for hot spot access.

Product Description

The AirPort Extreme Card allows your AirPort Extreme-enabled Mac to communicate with local AirPort Extreme networks or other Wi-Fi certified 802.11b or 802.11g networks, including earlier versions of Apples AirPort Base Station. AirPort Extreme-enabled computers that join an AirPort or other 802.11b wireless network can achieve data rates up to 11 Mbpsthe maximum allowed by 802.11b. For higher data rates, you need both the AirPort Extreme Card installed in an AirPort Extreme-ready computer and an AirPort Extreme Base Station. AirPort Extreme provides a range up to 50 feet at 54 Mbps and up to 150 feet at 11 Mbps for AirPort Extreme-enabled computers. This AirPort Extreme Card is not compatible with the Mac Pro or the Power Mac G5 Dual and Power Mac G5 Quad computers.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars easy to install, works instantly, September 29, 2005

By 

Shelley Gammon "Geek" (Kaufman, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Apple M8881LL/A AirPort Extreme Card (Personal Computers)

The beauty of Apple is the simplicity of their products - the Mac, the iPod, everything just works without having to consult Carl Sagan, Neil Armstrong or Miss Cleo.

A note to those wanting to go wireless with an older computer: The Airport Card and the Airport Extreme Card are two different critters. They look different and this card will not work on older Macs fitted for the standard Airport card. Apple doesn't even sell the old Airport cards anymore. If you have an older Mac and want to get more speed, you cannot hotwire it to do more with the newer card - you'll just blow a gasket on your Mac.

If you're adding a new computer to your existing Airport-based network and are underwhelmed by the performance, you may be using an original Airport Base Station - these older models maxxed out at 11bps, where the new ones max out at 54bps - a nearly 500% increase in network access speed.

This is NOT the model to get for a Mac Mini. The Mac Mini has a different form factor and has a slot for a special Airport & Bluetooth combo card that this card will not work with.

Installation is a snap - literally. Pop it into place and attach the antenna cord and you've got WiFi. I installed one of these on my older 1Ghz iBook G4 and instantly saw all the wireless networks in my neighborhood. Viva la Macintosh!

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I couldn't be happier., February 2, 2004

By 

J. Klumpp "Footnotegirl" (Eden Prairie, MN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Apple M8881LL/A AirPort Extreme Card (Personal Computers)

I recently bought the 12" iBook G4, and had an Airport Extreme card installed at the Apple Store. We didn't purchase a base since frankly, being able to be online from any room in my house would probably be dangerous for my marriage! (we're both such geeks) However, my university and local library system both have WiFi installed and it has been a godsend.
Set up was incredibly easy. My university requests that before any wireless connection is made to their system that you take your laptop in for them to set it up. They warned me how fussy and difficult the process could be, especially since they were a PC based system. But we literally turned it on and. it. worked. It's been the same when using it in the library.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth it, February 9, 2004

By 

Robert Graves (Thompson Station, TN USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Apple M8881LL/A AirPort Extreme Card (Personal Computers)

The wireless revolution has seriously altered the way I work. It didn't seem like it was that big of a deal, to be able to work anywhere in the house on a laptop. And then I was home over Thanksgiving and tried my father's - it was incredible. So, soon after I had my own and I love it - I even ended up getting another one for my wife's laptop.

Whether it's browsing amazon.com late at night in bed, checking morning email in the kitchen while the kids run around, or being able to set up a writing desk anywhere in the house without worrying about an accessible internet port - the airport system is awesome. Even if you only have a desktop computer it's worth it - you can to put the computer in a place where there's no internet plug, without the 40 foot cord draping your wall to connect it. All in all, a wireless system may seem extravagant, but once you have one you'll wonder how you got by without it.

The airport card, along with the base station, allows you to connect several computers, even ones that don't have wireless cards in them (i.e., we have two laptops on the wireless system, and then one iMac that doesn't have an airport card is plugged directly into the base station). You can print, scan - anything - wirelessly, as long as those extra components are connected to the base station.

If you have a big house and the base station won't be centrally located, you may want to look into the antenna. I have a 2500 square foot house and the base station is at one end of it. I can get access from anywhere in the house without the extra antenna, though in one or two places it's a weak signal. My father's house, on the other hand, is over 5000 square feet and the base station is at a far end - you can't even get a signal on the other side of the house. However, he purchased the antenna and the signal is now very strong wherever you are. A warning - you should make sure your airport network is password protected, especially if you get the antenna. The signal will be broadcast through half your neighborhood and if not protected, people can get on and use your airtime, clogging up your bandwidth.

Make sure you get the right card! There's the airport extreme card and the regular airport card (I believe they are both compatible with either base station). Check Apple's website for direct compatibility between your computer and the two different cards. They are different sizes and will only fit in the right kind of slot.

One final word - I've heard from others that certain products from Net Gear or other wireless manufacturers accomplish the same thing as the airport card and base station for much cheaper. I can't attest to the validity of this, but it might be worth looking into. I'd exercise extreme caution, since if you go with Apple products it will be covered with tech support, even if it's more expensive. And putting third party hardware in your computer will likely void the warranty on your computer.