THG's Holiday Buyer's Guide: Second Edition

Wireless Access For Notebooks

3Com - 802.11b PC Card With X-Jack Antenna

Retail Price - $119 US

Website - 3Com

The 3Com 3CRWE62092B with X-Jack Antenna is what sets this card apart from the rest of the group.

If you are looking for a wireless PC card for your notebook and don't want one with the antenna that hangs outside of the body of your notebook, there is really only one solution. The 3Com 3CRWE62092B with X-Jack Antenna is the ticket for the most elegant solution for notebooks that lack built-in 802.11b wireless. This Wi-Fi certified card has been retrofitted by 3Com to include even more new features, such as the new "Smart Switch" support (when the antenna is retracted it will activate power-save mode), which conserves battery life.

When compared to other models and manufacturers, the 3CRWE62092B with X-Jack Antenna may seem to be pricey. However, the retractable X-Jack antenna technology is only available in the 3Com product. It performs well and surely beats having to remove your wireless card before putting your notebook into your bag. In our testing, we have found the range of the 3CRWE62092B to be on par with other units, so for the most usable solution, this is it.