Apple simplicity: let the user add an obscure extra character instead of putting all the options in the drop-down list

Nerd document follows:

One of Wendy's friends got an Airport Express and let me try it out. I already have a Linksys BEFWS114 router + wiress access point + switch, so I wanted to just have the AE join my existing wireless network. Unfortunately, it turns out that manufacturers don't agree on how to generate WEP keys from passphrases. Thankfully, the OS X connection settings let you specify WEP keys directly in hex or ASCII, with a pull-down menu to specify the format. However, the Airport Express configuration manager only has a box for a WEP passphrase.

After a lot of annoying trial and error and Googling, I remembered that back in the old days I had to enter a "$" in front of my WEP key to get OS X to figure it out. It was buried in the fine print of the user manual that came with my Airport card ages ago. So out of curiosity, I tried just entering the dollar sign plus the WEP key into the AE utility's "WEP passphrase" box. Bingo! Green light!

I have no idea why Apple didn't just put in a pull-down menu like in the OS X connection settings to let you enter WEP keys directly. It would make it so much easier to get things working with third party wireless access points.

Also, I can't get Windows to use the HP PSC 1210 printer when I attach it to the AE. The Macs have no problem, of course. Overall, the Airport Express is a very nice little device, especially if you're content to do everything the Apple way.

Posted by tim at October 16, 2004 11:24 PM