Intel Turning Desktops Into Access Points
Who needs a standalone wireless router? Intel is apparently looking to the capabilities of a typical wireless router/hub right into the desktop chipset, which could dampen demand for wireless access points from folks like Linksys and Netgear. Of course, that particular machine would still need to be connected to the internet somehow, which decreases how useful this is. Also, increasingly the various cable and DSL modems are coming with a WiFi access point built into them as well. If the modem already has an access point, having another one in your desktop is even less useful. There are circumstances, however, under which this would be nice. Having more options for how you can configure your home/office networks can only be a good thing.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team