PC Mechanic, New Article

Posted: 07 Jan 2011 03:30 AM PST

The smallest wi-fi adapters are obviously in laptops, netbooks and smartphones because they’re integrated and you never see them. However on a regular PC, how small can you go?

In the itty-bitty teeny-tiny department, this is how small:

wifi

Yes, that is an entire USB-based wi-fi adapter. It’s the TRENDnet TEW-648UBM, and as far as external wi-fi adapters go, this is as itty-bitty-while-still-functional as you can get.

The price? 30 bucks, which is a bit on the high side considering regular USB wi-fi sticks are under 10 dollars. You could say "you’re paying for less" and actually have that be a positive statement with the TRENDnet adapter.

Not without drawbacks

There are some deal-breakers when it comes to the tiny TRENDnet.

The first and most glaring is that it only supports Wireless N.

The second is range. While it’s stated the tiny TRENDnet will cover 98 feet/30 meters indoor and 164 feet/50 meters outdoor, in practical application it will probably be significantly less than that.

The fact this thing comes in a box is comical:

I think TRENDnet really missed the boat here by not offering this in multiple colors. Personally I think it would be pretty cool to have one in red or white.

On a final note, this is the first wi-fi adapter I’ve ever known that could literally be lost in the cushions of a couch easily.

Post from: PCMech. Helping Normal People Get Their Geek On And Live The Digital Lifestyle.

How Small Can A Wi-Fi Adapter Be?