Apple AirPort Extreme Review

[dang]

Checkout our latest review of the Apple AirPort Extreme. (http://reviews.digitaltrends.com/review4331.html)Apple's recently-released AirPort Extreme Base Station represents a thorough overhaul and re-packaging of the previous AirPort Extreme mode.

[Ioman]

Great review Jason. I do think this router is pretty sweet. I am not a huge fan of it's size though, it looks pretty big. How would you compare this to the new Netgear N routers?

[JasonTomczak]

The Netgear 802.11n router is larger than the Airport Extreme.

Netgear = 8.9"x6.8"x1.5" and 1.2lbs
AirPort = 6.5"x6.5"x1.3" 1.6lbs

The Netgear is larger, and the AirPort is heavier.

I've used other Netgear (and Linksys, D-Link) routers in the past and have never been excited about the setup or user interface. In fact, Belkin is awful for UIs. The AirPort Extreme has a great UI, making it easy to manage the simple AND complex options. That's pretty important.

I'd guess that range and speeds would be similar. The Netgear, however, doesn't have a USB port. Also, the Netgear 802.11n router only uses 2.4GHz, whereas the AirPort uses 2.4GHz or 5GHz, at your discretion.

[adinb]

For those of us new to considering an Apple AP/Router, I'd be interested in a few more details--

What kind of firewall does it have?
Any limitations or funkiness with UPNP? Does it work well with Lighthouse?

Does it support static DHCP assignments?

How do you set up static routing and virtual servers? Any limitations?

Thanks!

[dang]

I can't believe it doesnt have gigabit ethernet! That just seems like a no no.

We bought a 802.11n (netgear) for the office for $120 with 100mb ethernet. The gigabit version was $150.

I'd love to buy this Apple one for home, but lack of gigabit makes me a sad boy.

[bvz]

I am wondering whether any attached drives can be made to spin down after a period of inactivity. I have 3 drives that I would be connecting to this thing but I only have need to access them on occasion - anywhere from twice a week to less than once a month. I'd love to have the airport spin down the drives when i am not using them - or at least when no-one is connected to the base station.

Any idea whether this is possible?

[dang]

i'd buy a nas device if you have 3 drives you can throw into it and they are sata

[neuroking]

Yeah, no gigabit = no purchase for me, and I would have given a lower rating, since other 802.11n products have a gigabit switch with at least 4 ports. The size isn't a major factor for me, since it can just be tucked away. Way to drop the ball Apple!

As for the USB port, not a big deal. You can get hard drive enclosure with an ethernet jack for $30 more than the ones without. Feh on Apple, though Kudos on the 5GHz addition.

[reinharden]

You say that you tested throughput from 802.11n to 802.11n enabled computers. This means that you actually had effective wireless throughput of twice your reported numbers (computer A -> hub + hub -> computer B).

It might be interesting to see what kind of numbers you get if you go wireless computer -> hub -> ethernet'd computer.

reinharden