User Centered

I'm not saying we need to take away all the stuff in the picture. I'm not trying to dumb down the interface, I realize the importance of security and a properly configured network...but can't we also take into account some of the more real world users as well?

Isn't it en vogue for everyone to have a wireless network at home now? Why haven't we done a better job with these management tools? I'm not expecting a plug and play network, because, I think anyone who's ever used a wireless device, or even just has a rudimentary concept of networks (ie someone saying: "I know I can't access my work folder at home because I can't get into the network") understands that just unboxing a wireless router a plugging it in means that others might be able to. I'm just asking for an interface that isn't all form/text input and checkboxes. How about an interface that attempts to approach the problems I'm trying to solve and remembers that in the context of asking me all these questions about IP and MAC addresses, Subnets and SSIDs? Of the handful of routers that I've purchased in days (NetGear, two D-Links and an Apple Airport Express), the documentation on security is lacking or at least never a good way to figure out exactly what is important in the context of what hardware you have.

A quick list of user goals when configuring your home network:

• Day-to-Day: "These are the things I've bought that I want on my network. If any (besides mobile) are missing, there's a problem. If any are added, there's a problem."
  
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• "I just bought a laptop and want to add it to my network."
  
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• "I want someone to have temporary access to my network."
  
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• "I want to have a printer (HDD..etc) shared on the network."
  
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• "Who has access to my network?/How secure is my network?"
  
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• "I want to 'redesign' my network. (physically or logically) because I just bought a new WAP (or my girlfriend wants to move the entertainment center or...)"
  
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• "I'm having network problems- is it because you (router) don't recognize anything or is my WAN broken?"
  
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etc...

Sure you can do most of this stuff now with the interface, but figuring out how is always less than intuitive. There's plenty of room for improvement in home networking.