Two years after the first multiple-input multiple-output-based wireless LAN products appeared, we're finally at a point where a wide array of systems are available for residential and small and midsize business markets (and at least one, Bluesocket's BSAP-1700, is aimed at the enterprise).

We conducted our testing over the course of a month at Network World's offices, running a series of benchmarks to evaluate throughput at short and long ranges, as well as interoperability. We also examined setup, documentation, management, configuration and ease of use.

Six vendors - Asus, Belkin, Buffalo, D-Link, Linksys and Netgear - submitted a total of nine products. SMC Networks also makes MIMO-based equipment, but we were unaware of its products at the time of testing. Bluesocket was not ready to send us its BSAP-1700 system for testing. During our tests of the Belkin system, we encountered a bug that prevented us from running our tests; a fix by Belkin was not completed until after our testing was finished.

Although the products tested are aimed at residential or SMB applications, it's important for enterprise IT managers to stay on top of MIMO-based offerings, because they point the way to tomorrow's enterprise-class systems.

Today's MIMO-based clients also can improve throughput and especially the range of existing 802.11g-based connections: Longer range is often desirable and even necessary (see "Why buy a MIMO PC card now?").

Asus wins the Clear Choice Award for its stellar performance and outstanding client-configuration features. Buffalo's WZR-G240 family and the Linksys WRT300N router also earn high marks for performance.