New SOHO networking blogger intro: The Network Effect

With this post, I will officially be taking over the SOHO networking blog here on ZDNet. First, I'd like to thank my colleague and friend Rik Fairlie for helming this blog over the last several months. This marks my return to ZDNet, where I started my tech writing career nearly a decade ago. (Like Rik, most of my time has been spent as an editor at Computer Shopper magazine and ComputerShopper.com.) Back then, you could just start setting up an 802.11b wireless home network—if you could make it through the primitive configuration interfaces and troubleshoot the inevitable Windows-related issues. Since then, home networking has gone from 802.11b to 802.11g to the infinitely superior Draft N spec, and major strides have been made in easing the setup of networks. Wi-Fi connectivity has become an option on nearly every type of device, from TVs and media streamers to cameras and portable MP3 players. You can access wireless networks in cars, on planes, and even in baseball and football stadiums.

With wireless networking seemingly everywhere these days, it's a great time for me to take over this blog. Of course, networking still delivers its fair share of headaches, which we'll be sure to cover as well. But the exciting new products and technologies emerging in this space should outweigh the negatives that linger. What are you looking for from networking in the near future? Let me know below.