mySimon Networking Shopping Picks

Last week Steve Jobs introduced the Apple Time Capsule, a combination wireless backup hard drive and full-featured 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi base station. This means you can connect your DSL or cable modem to the Time Capsule and create a wireless network (for Macs and PCs) - and back up the important files from one or more computers - all on the same device. The Time Capsule works automatically with Leopard's Time Machine features, and also works with the Apple TV, iPhone, iTouch, and many other Wi-Fi gadgets. The 500GB version costs $299 and the 1TB costs $499. They'll be shipping in a few weeks but you can preorder them now.

With up to 5 times the performance and twice the range of 802.11g wireless networks, Apple's AirPort Extreme Base Station with Gigabit Ethernet lets you enjoy easy 802.11n wireless networking (provided your computer has an 802.11n-enabled wireless card) at home, at school, or at work. You can use it with Macs, PCs, the iPhone, AppleTV, and you can even connect and external hard drive to it to share files over the network. Setup is easy - just connect your DSL or cable modem to it and use the simple AirPort Utility. You'll be up and running in minutes.

It seems like there are never enough USB ports on computers. Connecting your camera, printer, or thumbdrive usually requires unplugging something else. This is where the Belkin Hub-To-Go comes in. The 2-part device consists of a base with 3 high-speed USB 2.0 ports (for stuff that stays at home, like your printer and scanner) and a detachable hub with another 4 USB 2.0 ports, ideal for traveling with your camera, MP3 player, etc. The rotating connector keeps adjacent ports free. More Belkin hubs.

If you have a TiVo Series2 or TiVo Series3 DVR, you might be interested in this TiVo wireless network adapter. It connects your TiVo to your wireless home network (no more reliance on a phone jack!), so you can enjoy TiVoToGo, schedule recordings and watch TiVo shows on your computer, transfer shows from one TiVo to another, and stream music and photos from your PC to your big-screen TV. At $40, it might sound a little pricey, but it's so easy to set up, and works so well, you'll wonder why you didn't get one a long time ago.

A KVM ("keyboard video mouse") switch lets you use the same monitor, keyboard, and mouse with 2 computers - say, your laptop and your desktop. Belkin's wireless Flip just won a CES innovation and design award. It's easy to use: Just click and flip from one computer to the other; the 2-color LED tells you which computer the Flip is accessing. The Flip is also great for connecting your old and new PCs (or Macs), giving you instant access to files, programs, and games on both machines. Best of all, it installs in 3 easy steps with no software required. More KVM switches.

Find out if there's a wireless network wherever you are - without turning your laptop on - with Trendnet's dual Wi-Fi hot-spot locator and adapter. Just press the Seek button and it scans for networks in the area, displaying up to 16 results on its built-in LCD display. A perfect gift for frequent travelers. More computer-related holiday gifts.

Apple's AirPort Express Base Station lets you surf the Web from anywhere in your home. This tiny gadget works with both Macs and PCs, delivering data at rates up to 54Mbps, so you can connect to the internet with no wires. You don't even need a router. It works right out of the box, and takes maybe 5 minutes to set up. And it's portable, so it's great for traveling!