Is SMC EZ Connect 11Mbps Wireless USB Adapter good?

I see this forsale all over the place for $38CND (Refurbished/90d Warranty):
SMC EZ Connect 11Mbps Wireless USB Adapter
Is this a good USB 802.11b or is it worth what you pay? Would another
PCI/USB 802.11b device in the same price range (sub $100) offer more
distance?

I see some complaints about WinXP compatibility
(http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...cm_rev_next/10
3-7982736-8899853?v=glance&s=electronics&vi=customer-reviews&show=-submittim
e&start-at=11) but I'm sure the drivers are out there somewhere. I'd
probably be using it on a Linux box anyhow.

--Mitchua

'refurb' in the advertising is the 1st sign of trouble. Hardly ever have I
purchased a refurb item and been satisfied. You are buying someone else's
problems and the manufacturer is hoping that you will be too lazy to take
advantage of their usually reduced warranty.
"Mitchua" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:TNvwb.6341$(E-Mail Removed) .rogers.com...
> I see this forsale all over the place for $38CND (Refurbished/90d
Warranty):
> SMC EZ Connect 11Mbps Wireless USB Adapter
> Is this a good USB 802.11b or is it worth what you pay? Would another
> PCI/USB 802.11b device in the same price range (sub $100) offer more
> distance?
>
> I see some complaints about WinXP compatibility
>
(http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...cm_rev_next/10
>
3-7982736-8899853?v=glance&s=electronics&vi=customer-reviews&show=-submittim
> e&start-at=11) but I'm sure the drivers are out there somewhere. I'd
> probably be using it on a Linux box anyhow.
>
> --Mitchua
>
>

Marvin Cohen <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> 'refurb' in the advertising is the 1st sign of trouble. Hardly ever have I
> purchased a refurb item and been satisfied. You are buying someone else's
> problems and the manufacturer is hoping that you will be too lazy to take
> advantage of their usually reduced warranty.

I buy lots of refurb stuff at reduced prices. Often it is buyers'
remorse. Sometimes it is buyers' scam, like buying a video camera,
taping a vacation, and returning it. I have received systems with
obvious configuration issues... perhaps as a result of someone inept
trying to do troubleshooting over the phone (not noting which end of
the phone was the inept party).

I buy out-of-box reutrns at Circuit City. I buy bulk non-color boxed items
at local stores.

So far, the worst was an HP computer that had a bad onboard NIC. As a
home computer, I'm not sure that would be the reason it was returned
the first time.