SBC's 2Wire equipment doesn't really come with any more support for Macs than Linksys' equipment does. In truth, there's not much "Mac-specific" about networking; just where you change the settings you may need to. Out of the box a Linksys router will be prepared to run your network without any fuss, with the exception of having to enter your user name and password to have the router handle DSL authentication for you (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!).
The fact that Linksys doesn't "support Macs" is really not that big a deal. They don't provide much support for PCs, and the majority of their PC software is "setup wizards" for PC users who are too lazy to read the quick setup guide that comes with the unit. Yes, I'm a Linksys fan, but it goes beyond that. Asanté "supports Macs," but they charge a lot more for their equipment, and nobody's equipment breaks down enough for me to really want to pay extra for "Mac support." There are plenty of online resources, starting with BroadbandReports.com, which has a whole forum dedicated to Linksys networking equipment.
I am currently running a mixed network (PCs and Macs, plus a Linux box if and when I ever get the time to put it back together) on a Linksys BEFSR41 router and a WAP54G wireless access point; I like the separation of functions that this affords me, but many people like the fact that a WRT54G costs just a little more than the BEFSR41 by itself, and handles both functions. Networking is flawless throughout. Right now my wife is surfing wirelessly on her iBook while I'm wired in, and our son is surfing on his PC-there is no noticable loss of speed while all three of us are busy online.
Finally, Mojo's comments about Linksys are overall positive compared to a lot of what you'll find on this and other Mac-centric forums. There's an awful lot of downright hate against Linksys out there, and it's about 99.999% undeserved. The only thing Linksys does really badly is provide direct technical support-you will get better customer service and tech support from SBC; I've been an SBC DSL user for about five years. Anyway, poor telephone support aside, almost all of the hate comes from people wanting to have their hands held as they walk through something, and getting frustrated because some poor schmuck in Bangalore has never seen a Mac. If you run into problems after you read the instructions and try to do what they say, post here, and you WILL get help. Maybe more help than you really wanted!
The fact that Linksys doesn't "support Macs" is really not that big a deal. They don't provide much support for PCs, and the majority of their PC software is "setup wizards" for PC users who are too lazy to read the quick setup guide that comes with the unit. Yes, I'm a Linksys fan, but it goes beyond that. Asanté "supports Macs," but they charge a lot more for their equipment, and nobody's equipment breaks down enough for me to really want to pay extra for "Mac support." There are plenty of online resources, starting with BroadbandReports.com, which has a whole forum dedicated to Linksys networking equipment.
I am currently running a mixed network (PCs and Macs, plus a Linux box if and when I ever get the time to put it back together) on a Linksys BEFSR41 router and a WAP54G wireless access point; I like the separation of functions that this affords me, but many people like the fact that a WRT54G costs just a little more than the BEFSR41 by itself, and handles both functions. Networking is flawless throughout. Right now my wife is surfing wirelessly on her iBook while I'm wired in, and our son is surfing on his PC-there is no noticable loss of speed while all three of us are busy online.
Finally, Mojo's comments about Linksys are overall positive compared to a lot of what you'll find on this and other Mac-centric forums. There's an awful lot of downright hate against Linksys out there, and it's about 99.999% undeserved. The only thing Linksys does really badly is provide direct technical support-you will get better customer service and tech support from SBC; I've been an SBC DSL user for about five years. Anyway, poor telephone support aside, almost all of the hate comes from people wanting to have their hands held as they walk through something, and getting frustrated because some poor schmuck in Bangalore has never seen a Mac. If you run into problems after you read the instructions and try to do what they say, post here, and you WILL get help. Maybe more help than you really wanted!