Get UnWired
Monday, April 7th, 2003
The current issue of Wired mag includes a Wi-Fi primer, bundled as a 60-page mini-magazine that pops out to keep or, better yet, pass around. UnWired features articles on understanding the Wi-Fi landscape and setting up your own network. BoingBoing regular Xeni Jardin and I were both so enthusiastic about UnWired that we contributed two articles each.
Xeni explains our use of the radio spectrum as it is, and as it could be. I put aside my usual snobbery about doing how-to articles and business landscapes to hammer out a long getting started primer written with my family in Maine in mind. It lists specific products and services - Linksys, AirPort, Starbucks, Surf and Sip - that I know will work for those who follow the instructions, yet won’t bankrupt families that can’t rush out to buy a new laptop. Or businesses that can’t splurge on T1 infrastructure. I also list “25 Companies to Watch,” a cocktail party primer rather than an investment guide.
Most of the blog-reading crowd will find much of this familiar material, so here’s a suggestion: Buy Wired for Steve Silberman’s Matrix story on the cover, but yank out UnWired and give it to someone who hasn’t yet cut the Ethernet cord. Remember when you installed Mosaic for someone you loved back in 1994? It’s that time all over again.
Special thanks go to Cliff Skolnick and Peter Rojas for invaluable background help and fact checking on both articles.
Do Not Taunt Happy Fun Reporter
I checked with him and yes, Daniel Forbes who got the Agonist to ‘fess up is the same reporter who outed the US government’s secret promotion of anti-drug TV plots for Salon a few years ago. Not sure how he does it, but I’m impressed.
The Slate Article I Wish I’d Pitched
PR professionals offer tips to Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf. I’ve been watching the guy for weeks and have been thinking the same thing a lot.
