The MAC User's Guide to Living Wirelessly

The major force driving people to embrace wireless computing is Wi-Fi. Once dismissed as a fad, Wi-Fi is rapidly becoming ubiquitous in the US and around the world. In 2004, more than half of all laptops sold in the US shipped with Wi-Fi installed. By 2007, most analysts predict that nearly every laptop sold in the US will include Wi-Fi. Nearly 20 million Wi-Fi access points will be sold this year, up 20% from last year. As these numbers grow, prices will continue to fall, making Wi-Fi more attractive to more and more people. By the end of this year, there will be more than 40,000 hotspots (public Wi-Fi access points) available across the US, in hotels, fast-food restaurants, cafes, airports even parks. By 2007, that number will surpass 100,000. From McDonald's to Kinko's to Holiday Inn, Wi-Fi is becoming a killer amenity. Once Wi-Fi networks are in place, they can be used for much more than just Internet access. For example, the AirPort Express allows users to stream iTunes throughout their homes, wirelessly. Wi-Fi is being used to network printers, cameras and, ultimately, home entertainment devices.