Suggestions : Wireless Modem Access Point

[Tom Gallagher]

Heres my scenario : -
I am going to buy some wireless LAN cards soon for my small flat (Linux and 
Win98 desktop PCs + laptop in the future) and I would like to buy a modem 
access point. I would like a small box that I can sit by my phone socket and 
then access the internet from any PC in the flat.
I have looked at the Buffalo airstation range and also the apple airport.
Can anyone offer an opinion on these two products?  Flexibility of 
configuration, ability to configure from Linux, ability to masquerade many 
network protocols (IRC, ICQ, FTP etc as well as just HTTP), quality of 
product, speed obtained in real world situations etc etc.  I have read 
reviews on zdnet etc but they are often light on technical detail.
Are there any other wireless access modem products?   I haven't found any 
documentation/reviews that say how these devices are configured in terms of 
auto dialling, hang-up timeouts etc etc.
I was also worried about security of not allowing my neighbours to use my 
phone line for the internet!  In practice what is the likely hood of this. I 
read the "long rant" thread on this and it seems for home use security is 
not much of an issue.
I have no wireless experience at all.
Thanks for your time
Tom


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