Wi do technical writers keep doing this?

[Ichinisan]

It's certification branding.

It's not meant to be a very accurate technical description, and it's certainly memorable enough.

Yup. The name works well, and I use it every day.

spidey07 would think I'm an idiot based on that alone.

This goes to my point about folks in the wireless LAN arena. If you call it "Wi-Fi" we assume you are an idiot and haven't been working in this field for very long. If you call it "Wi-Fi" we assume you're stupid and are new to networking.

But for brand recognition, the wi-fi alliance has done a good job. You see it in this thread.

Still makes my skin crawl when folks refer to wireless LAN networking at "wi-fi".

"But we can use wi-fi!"

"Ummm, it's wireless LAN you fucking idiot"

Dispute me all you want on this, only shows the power of marketing. Nobody with a lick of intelligence or experience calls it "wi-fi", to do so exposes them as stupid.

D: Wow. Something's wrong with you. WiFi(tm) is perfectly acceptable and universally understood. It's fine to use as long as you don't try to say that it means anything other than "certified, inter-operable 802.11x network devices."

I was one of the earliest adopters, using adhoc 802.11b PCMCIA cards before you could buy a router / AP at any retail store.

 

[zinfamous]

I remember when an idiot neighborhood girl would ask me to bring out my family's "cellular phone" when she meant "cordless phone." This was around 1993-1995 and she did it almost daily, sometimes multiple times a day. I corrected her EVERY SINGLE TIME and she never stopped making that stupid mistake.

so you're saying she never wanted to have sex with you, right?

 

[Ichinisan]

so you're saying she never wanted to have sex with you, right?

She kinda did want to.

 

[spidey07]

Wow. Something's wrong with you. WiFi(tm) is perfectly acceptable and universally understood. It's fine to use as long as you don't try to say that it means anything other than "certified, inter-operable 802.11x network devices."

I was one of the earliest adopters, using adhoc 802.11b PCMCIA cards before you could buy a router / AP at any retail store.

Yes, and I was building wireless networks before "wi-fi" was used by idiots to mean wireless LAN and before the wi-fi alliance was formed.

Seriously, we look down on anybody that uses "wi-fi" to describe wireless.

Doesn't matter much to me, it's really just a marketing term for the last decade, "wi-fi" that is.

 

[Ichinisan]

Yes, and I was building wireless networks before "wi-fi" was used by idiots to mean wireless LAN and before the wi-fi alliance was formed.

Seriously, we look down on anybody that uses "wi-fi" to describe wireless.

Doesn't matter much to me, it's really just a marketing term for the last decade, "wi-fi" that is.

And, seriously, that's silly. You know it exists for a reason. Accept it.

It's *not* "just a marketing term."
It *is* a certification of inter-operability.

I've seen plenty of pre-WiFi 802.11b devices that are somewhat proprietary and incompatible with most WiFi-certified devices. I've worked at two different warehouses that used these for their inventory management systems.

I've also encountered those strange Intel-brand adhoc-only devices that were meant to share a dial-up connection from one PC to another.

 

[CZroe]

This goes to my point about folks in the wireless LAN arena. If you call it "Wi-Fi" we assume you are an idiot and haven't been working in this field for very long. If you call it "Wi-Fi" we assume you're stupid and are new to networking.

But for brand recognition, the wi-fi alliance has done a good job. You see it in this thread.

Still makes my skin crawl when folks refer to wireless LAN networking at "wi-fi".

"But we can use wi-fi!"

"Ummm, it's wireless LAN you fucking idiot"

Dispute me all you want on this, only shows the power of marketing. Nobody with a lick of intelligence or experience calls it "wi-fi", to do so exposes them as stupid.

Are you seriously that retarded?

 

[CZroe]

so you're saying she never wanted to have sex with you, right?

She kinda did want to.

I would have NEVER touched that. Ugh. *shudder*

 

[zinfamous]

She kinda did want to.

lol, probably. "can I borrow your phone?"

dude kept being a dick. she eventually learned.

 

[zinfamous]

Are you seriously that retarded?

remember, spidey "works" for Comcast....

 

[zinfamous]

I would have NEVER touched that. Ugh. *shudder*

why did you edit this statement from "She was hideous?"

:hmm:

 

[Ichinisan]

http://www.cantenna.com/answers.html

What’s the difference between a router, base station, access point, and client card? Why are these terms so confusing?

Every manufacturer uses its own terminology, which can cause some confusion. Here is a simplified explanation:

In Wi-Fi, a router is usually referred to as a base station, and broadcasts your Internet signal. The router is typically attached to an Internet connection via a USB or Ethernet port.

A client card usually refers to a PCMCIA wireless card. The client card is attached to your laptop, or inserted into your PDA’s PCI slot.

An access point is the radio device that receives the signal from the base station. It attaches to your laptop or computer via USB, PCI slot, or Ethernet. An access point can also mean a physical area (Hot Spot) where you can pick up Wi-Fi signals.

"Why are these terms confusing?" They aren't. Whoever wrote this is a complete idiot.

 

[WHAMPOM]

Ugh. I don't know why we still see this absurd misinformation, even today.

"Hi-Fi" means "High Fidelity."
"Wi-Fi" means...NOTHING.

Why don't tech writers understand this? "Wi-Fi(tm)" exists only as a certification of inter-operability. It's a trademark-able name. It doesn't actually MEAN anything.

Would these statements make any sense?

"I have a wireless fidelity router at home."
"You can use a wireless fidelity USB adapter with your desktop PC."
"Laptops usually have built-in wireless fidelity capability."

/rant

[edit]
...and, yes. I know there was some confusion based on early press releases from the firm that came up with "WiFi." However, is not useful to tell someone "' WiFi' means 'Wireless Fidelity.' "

Shirly thou do strain at a knat. And I don't call you Shirly in jest.

 

[Ichinisan]

lol, probably. "can I borrow your [cell] phone?"

dude kept being a dick. she eventually learned.

FTFY

caps

 

[Ichinisan]

why did you edit this statement from "She was hideous?"

:hmm:

Well, that would have been cruel. Plus, I don't think she was hideous, just annoying.

* hopes she never finds this thread.

 

[spidey07]

Are you seriously that retarded?

Try me. Tell me what layer2/3 protocol and addressing was used be intermec to overcome l3 boudaries to maintain l2 adjacency. The answer is in the question.

Young uns know not of what they speak.

 

[Ichinisan]

[deflecting]

:hmm:

The "idiot" is he who expects everyone to know what "wireless LAN" means. You ask someone if their phone has "wireless LAN capability" and they won't know what you're talking about.

Average users don't even know what a LAN is. If you keep trying to use WLAN / "wireless LAN" when talking to others about WiFi, you're wasting effort and not communicating effectively. YOU would be the "idiot," sir.

 

[CZroe]

remember, spidey "works" for Comcast....

And Ichinisan, my twin brother, works for a competing cable co.

 

[spidey07]

:hmm:

The "idiot" is he who expects everyone to know what "wireless LAN" means. You ask someone if their phone has "wireless LAN capability" and they won't know what you're talking about.

Average users don't even know what a LAN is. If you keep trying to use WLAN / "wireless LAN" when talking to others about WiFi, you're wasting effort and not communicating effectively. YOU would be the "idiot," sir.

Youre the one that didn't understand the history of the term wifi.

 

[CZroe]

Try me. Tell me what layer2/3 protocol and addressing was used be intermec to overcome l3 boudaries to maintain l2 adjacency. The answer is in the question.

Young uns know not of what they speak.

I hope to God they don't have you in a position that interacts with customers.

 

[CZroe]

Youre the one that didn't understand the history of the term wifi.

No. He mentioned that they officially explained it as "Wireless Fidelity" and he explained why that doesn't matter (no more or less descriptive or explanatory than "Wi-Fi").

 

[Mike Gayner]

LOL look spidey is still posting. This si golden. What an ass.

 

[Ichinisan]

Youre the one that didn't understand the history of the term wifi.

I understand the history very well. What the hell are you talking about?

 

[nublikescake]

Try me. Tell me what layer2/3 protocol and addressing was used be intermec to overcome l3 boudaries to maintain l2 adjacency. The answer is in the question.

Young uns know not of what they speak.

X.25? Frame Relay? ATM? MPLS? How does a question about the network design of a random corporation prove anything? Do you work for Intermec?

 

[Leros]

If you take a technical writing course, you'll learn that you're supposed to explain any abbreviations or acronyms the first time they are used in a section of the paper.

"The USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable plugs into the PC (personal computer)."

You have to repeat that kind of crap at the beginning of every major section.

 

[Ichinisan]

If you take a technical writing course, you'll learn that you're supposed to explain any abbreviations or acronyms the first time they are used in a section of the paper.

"The USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable plugs into the PC (personal computer)."

You have to repeat that kind of crap at the beginning of every major section.

"Wi-Fi" is neither an "abbreviation," nor an "acronym," nor an initial-ism; so "wireless fidelity" clarifies nothing.