This week, networking giant Cisco launched two new ranges of router offering greater ease of setup and enhanced parental controls – the Cisco Valet and E-Series.
The Valet M10 is an 802.11n series, 4 10/100 port router with easy set-up courtesy of a bundled Easy Setup USB key which, when inserted into a PC you wish to connect wirelessly, configures all required network connection ands security settings. Designed for families, the Valet is equipped with enhanced parental controls allowing a range of connection and content filters to be applied to the router, including Safe Surfing (blocking viruses and spyware) Basic Parental Controls (time of day access and domain blocking) and Full Parental Controls (as Basic plus website filtering).
The Valet Plus M20 adds Gigabit Ethernet transfer speeds to its four ports, and includes an additional internal antenna for extended wireless range. Parental Controls are the same as the basic M10 model. Both models were designed by the team that brought you the Flip Video, creating (in Cisco’s words) “a breakthrough new product line that makes home wireless simple and accessible for everyone.”
Linksys E-Series
Also announced with the Valet is a more traditional range of Linksys routers – the E Series, designed for more technically advanced users (probably you). The comprises four models – Linksys E1000 Wireless-N Router
