The Linksys WPS11 ($150 street) is the least expensive print server in our roundup and the easiest to configure. You simply connect the WPS11's wired Ethernet port to your network. A setup program discovers the print server on your network.

After you've set your network-specific parameters—such as the wireless ESSID, mode (infrastructure/ad hoc), WEP keys, and TCP/IP parameters—you unplug the Ethernet cable, reboot the server, and the print server is ready to accept print jobs. You can make subsequent configuration changes using the WPS11's built-in Web browser.

Linksys's print server port software enables you to print from any Windows 9x, Me, or 2000 client. The user guide provides easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions, with screen shots to guide you through the process. Although not covered in the manual, we tested the software with Windows XP, and it also worked. But we found that IP Printing did not work properly using the native support built into either Windows 2000 or XP. And, although the WPS11 supports AppleTalk, and the print server appeared in our test Macintosh's Chooser, we were unable to print successfully from our Macintosh test-bed.

The manual does state that Linksys does not support products in an Apple networking environment, nor does the company provide support for problems with IPP (Internet Printing Protocol). Still, if you install the Linksys driver software, you can print from any Windows PC.