Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide: Day 27
I really like things that just work. No complicated installation or start up process, no huge manual to read through, and I especially don’t like having to decide between options I don’t know the difference between. Unfortunately, my previous wireless internet experience included all of these.
After our first phone company supplied wireless router died, I decided I would just go buy a new one and have us up and running in no time, but the reality was a little different. I ended up spending hours signing in to our network and running from computer to computer trying to get everything communicating like it had been. If only I had the new Valet wireless router from Cisco back then.
After my previous wireless experience I was pretty hesitant to go through the whole process again, but Cisco’s promise of setting your network up in minutes had me intrigued. And sure enough, within minutes of opening the box I had our first computer running on our new wireless network. And, when I say minutes I mean about five. The process is completely automated for you and whittled down to as few steps as possible to make it so even someone with almost no computer experience can do it.
The setup includes connecting the wireless router to your modem and power, and then plugging in the included Easy Setup Key into your computer, and that’s pretty much it. The Setup Key starts the installer software automatically, you then click on the button that pops up saying you’d like to connect to your new modem, and it does all the rest from there. The next thing you know you are wirelessly connected to the internet with all your password and security settings programmed for you!
Adding more computers or other devices is just as simple, you simply open the Cisco Connect software that was installed on your computer, select the option to add a device, and then take the Easy Setup Key to that device when prompted. Once again all the settings are programmed in for you so you know it will work properly when you are done.
Once your wireless network is set up it’s easy to maintain by using the Cisco Connect software to make any necessary changes. With Cisco Connect you can even set parental controls for each device on your network to ensure your children stay as safe as possible while on their computers by limiting the time they can go online as well as blocking particular sites. You can also set up a wireless network here for when guests come over that is completely separate from the one your family uses so that all your computers stay locked down at all times.
Having gone through this process on my own before and feeling like I was taking a correspondence course on computer programming to complete it, I was absolutely amazed at how simple Cisco has now made it. This is great for people who are inexperienced with computers, but also great for those who have the necessary skills but would rather have it done for them. Really, who doesn’t want something that just works, right out of the box?
For more information, visit http://www.thevalet.com/
One lucky Rave and Review reader will win a Cisco Valet Wireless Router of their very own!
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On January 10th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway open to US Addresses.
Winner, winner! This giveaway is now closed. Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to:
#168 pamela james said... entered the mixbook giveaway
A big thank you to Cisco Valet for providing the sample for review as well as offering a giveaway to our fabulous readers. All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.
