[dadder]

I have been saving up the cash to by an Airport Base Station for my TiBook and was working toward what I believed the cost to be $299. Now, I just found out that Apple 'price dropped' their new Airport Extreme to $194. I think this is good news... but I don't want a fast-one pulled over on me again like in the TiBook scenario. You know, Apple comes out with a full-featured model for an unbeatable price, then 4 weeks later, introduces an incredible new ground-breaking model for the same price. Will this happen with the Airport? Does anyone know of something new around the corner? I'd like to purchase soon as I have enough now to purchase the Airport for $194 instead of $299.

[MaxPower2k3]

i think AE is the incredible new ground-breaking model.. or, at least, apple's version of one. 802.11g is a very new technology (not even completely finalized by IEEE yet, i dont think) and there wont be a replacement for it for quite a while, unless apple is developing their own standard. As for the price drop, i think apple was just trying to steer people away from 3rd party routers, which cost considerably less than the old ABS's. Even now, they still only run about $130 for a Linksys 802.11g router. the $200 Airport base station is stil more appealing than it was, though.

[slider]

Airport Extreme was just released, so I think it's safe to say you're all set. Be aware that there are two ABS's now, the $200 ABS does not have an internal modem (this is a feature missing in many 3rd party vendors) and also does not have the antenna jack. The $250 model does have the modem and the antenna jack. Would be nice to have a model without the modem and the antenna jack, but I don't want to nit pick, I am very happy there are two ABS choices, Plus the upper is $50 cheaper than the most recent model. Go for it.

[aaanorton]

Originally posted by dadder:
I have been saving up the cash to by an Airport Base Station for my TiBook and was working toward what I believed the cost to be $299. Now, I just found out that Apple 'price dropped' their new Airport Extreme to $194.

Stop saving and go buy a 3rd party wireless router now for $100-150. They work every bit as well (if not better), offer more options and flexibility and provide more expansion. Asante and Netgear make great units.

[k2director]

3rd party 'B' routers are definitely cheaper and offer very good deals, but the Airport Extreme base station is more competitive. There aren't a lot of 3rd party G base stations on the market yet, and for $250, you get the antanea (where's my spell checker when I need it?), the modem, plus all Airport Extreme models have USB printer sharing, which is definitely a bonus. When you count all that, it's a pretty solid value.

[aaanorton]

Using the USB printer port on the AEBS is definitely then best (only?) reason to get one over a different brand. It's a pretty cool feature. But $250 is a lot to spend on a single port router with no MAC address filtering/cloning and no port forwarding. The $200 model doesn't seem to be worth anything... kind of a sucker model, if you ask me.

[MaxPower2k3]

linksys is the only company i've seen besides apple to start supporting 802.11g, and they have a full line of products for it. Their router is $137 at newegg, which has a 5 port switch and web-based setup.

[TheMosco]

Originally posted by MaxPower2k3:
linksys is the only company i've seen besides apple to start supporting 802.11g, and they have a full line of products for it. Their router is $137 at newegg, which has a 5 port switch and web-based setup.

dlink and buffalo technologies also have g products.

[aaanorton]

All this "g" talk means nothing to the original poster, who has only mentioned one computer and nothing about large file transfer over a network.

[dadder]

Originally posted by aaanorton:
All this "g" talk means nothing to the original poster, who has only mentioned one computer and nothing about large file transfer over a network.

This is all good info. I plan on researching all these before making my purchase.
I'm hooking my 1.5MB cable internet service to it, so it would be mostly for internet, not transferring large files. Basically, I'm looking for something that will allow me to use the internet on my TiBook out in my yard this summer. I'm just a freak for new technology. From what I've been reading though, I don't think Airport Extreme supports my current AirPort card in my 15" TiBook 1GHZ.

[aaanorton]

Originally posted by dadder:
From what I've been reading though, I don't think Airport Extreme supports my current AirPort card in my 15" TiBook 1GHZ.

Apple has stated that it does, in fact, S. Jobs described this exactly during the MWSF keynote. It just won't get the full g speed, that's all. But if you're just connecting to the internet, then even 802.11b is much faster than your cable connection. I would look at some other AP/router options.

[Mac Zealot]

try loooking at justdeals.com for a b router. They are REALLY cheap.

Anyway, the extreme router was, at the time of announcement 199, and the modem version was 249.

The ONLY advantage to the modem one is the external antenna port. The modem is 56k.

if you hook a hub up to the lan port I'm sure you can have the base station distribute ips to it.

The 199 model is a bargain, IMHO, it DOES have the USB port if I'm not mistaken. Find me a 199 router that has 50 client 802.11b/g seamless support AND a built in printer server?

You won't find one. Printer servers tend to be $120+ alone.

[MaxPower2k3]

http://www.dlink.com/products/digita.../11b+/di714p+/

not 802.11g, but only $111 at newegg and (at least with linksys products) 802.11g only adds about $30 to the price

[ebisix]

Originally posted by dadder:
I have been saving up the cash to by an Airport Base Station for my TiBook and was working toward what I believed the cost to be $299. Now, I just found out that Apple 'price dropped' their new Airport Extreme to $194. I think this is good news... but I don't want a fast-one pulled over on me again like in the TiBook scenario. You know, Apple comes out with a full-featured model for an unbeatable price, then 4 weeks later, introduces an incredible new ground-breaking model for the same price. Will this happen with the Airport? Does anyone know of something new around the corner? I'd like to purchase soon as I have enough now to purchase the Airport for $194 instead of $299.

I would be extremely surprised if Apple introduced another new AirPort product to replace or be better than the Extreme. Don't count on it.

[scaught]

you can always find cheaper, but i highly doubt the setup is as easy as apples.

i know absolutely jackshit about IPs and networks and all that crap and airport basically set itself up and has worked flawlessly since.

[aaanorton]

Originally posted by scaught:
you can always find cheaper, but i highly doubt the setup is as easy as apples.

i know absolutely jackshit about IPs and networks and all that crap and airport basically set itself up and has worked flawlessly since.

They're not just cheaper, they're better. More flexible, versatile, customizable and expandable. Most are practically plug-and-play. Plus, now they are even configurable through Apple's own software: Safari.

[ebisix]

Originally posted by aaanorton:
They're not just cheaper, they're better. More flexible, versatile, customizable and expandable. Most are practically plug-and-play. Plus, now they are even configurable through Apple's own software: Safari.

I disagree. It would be better to buy the AirPort from Apple. This is because it will be better integrated with the Apple products that you already own.

[aaanorton]

Originally posted by ebisix:
I agree. Also, it would be better to buy the AirPort from Apple. This is because it will be better integrated with the Apple products that you already own.

Maybe you meant "I disagree"?

[slider]

Anyways, get the AE with the antenna port, it'll give you the option to extend the range while you're puzzing around in your yard. Don't know what to say about the 3rd party devices, but I personally don't find the price differences so different to bother with the possibilbiy of incompatiability, returns and hanging on with tech support, but that's me.

[iDriveX]

Only thing I am worried about with Apple's Airport Extreme is the range. I am getting a PowerBook with an AE chipset in it in a few days and an Airport Extreme Base Station. I don't need the g speed since I am on a DSL line, but hopefully I will get the same range I enjoyed with my b....Awaiting personal feedback from people that get to use this setup.

[ebisix]

Originally posted by iDriveX:
Only thing I am worried about with Apple's Airport Extreme is the range. I am getting a PowerBook with an AE chipset in it in a few days and an Airport Extreme Base Station. I don't need the g speed since I am on a DSL line, but hopefully I will get the same range I enjoyed with my b....Awaiting personal feedback from people that get to use this setup.

I don't know why you wouldn't get the same range as with 802.11b. The only difference with 802.11g is the speed to my knowledge. If you are only using your DSL service, then the speed won't matter much. However, keep in mind that transferring files with another computer should be much faster.

[iDriveX]

Originally posted by ebisix:
I don't know why you wouldn't get the same range as with 802.11b. The only difference with 802.11g is the speed to my knowledge. If you are only using your DSL service, then the speed won't matter much. However, keep in mind that transferring files with another computer should be much faster.

I hope you're correct, and I also hope that the PowerBook has the reception on it to get the range of an iBook. That is the main reason I switched from a 667 Mhz PowerBook to a 600 Mhz iBook.....But that is for a different discussion in a different forum ;-)

[Mac Zealot]

You'll get same or better reception with G.

And the 12" powerbook has reception equal to, and sometimes better than the ibook. Same for the 17"

[dadder]

Originally posted by slider:
Anyways, get the AE with the antenna port, it'll give you the option to extend the range while you're puzzing around in your yard. Don't know what to say about the 3rd party devices, but I personally don't find the price differences so different to bother with the possibilbiy of incompatiability, returns and hanging on with tech support, but that's me.

I agree. I've almost always bought devices/electronics to match existing devices/electronics I own for compatibility AND aesthetics. I'm quite sure I'll get the Airport Extreme with antenna port. Even though I will probably never use the antenna port, it will help when I decide to sell it.

[BTP]

It looks like you are getting a lot of good info here. I have to say that I have 3 APs and 2 are Airports. One is a Dlink 614+ and I will never buy one from them again. One basestation has functioned perfectly for 2 years, I'd be happy if the Dlink could go for a month without needing a reboot.

I like the Airport Extreme and I would buy it for the fact that is is a 802.11g, Apple quality and is priced well.

I can't say how the Netgear and others are, but my rating on the Dlink is : Avoid.

[HouseSold]

After Spending two weeks attempting to add DSL to our home, add 2 PC laptops wirelessly and to add Airport cards to our G3 slot load iMac and FP G4 iMac, it has been quite an experience, to say the least.

After getting the phone company to install DSL on the correct 2nd line (which they finally did) we connected our existing current model 'Snow' base station to a TiBook G4 800 which came with the installed Airport card from Apple. Everything was great so far.

Deciding to add the two PC laptops with cardbus adapters increased the challenge along with adding two Airport cards for the iMacs.

I decided last month to go for 802.11g with the added throughput and possible more range. I saw an early review for the Buffalo Airstation G54 so we ordered from Chumbo.com (excellent service and pricing) and also got 2 of their cardbus cards for the PC's. After 2 days off work and 1 session of nearly 8 hours with Buffalo's good customer service and a 3 meg firmware update e-mail, 1 dead card and one half working Airstation (would see the card, but not connect to DSL) I returned both cards and Airstation to Texas and was sent replacements (only after receiving mine) The replacement cards worked as promised but still no Airstation.

I, while waiting 3 days for the replacements, bought a Linksys 802.11g WAP which was dead in the box; returned it for their router and cardbus cards for the PC's. The router had intermittent operation (go dead then power up much like a circuit breaker does) and one dead card (the other one worked) Linksys had great customer support 24/7 and said return the bad stuff.

So...now we have working Airport Snow (802.11b) with DSL working on the correct line, 2 laptop PC's with Buffalo G54 wireless cards, 1 Ti800 with Apple Airport, 1 G3 slot load iMac with Airport, 1 iMacFP 800 with Airport and Airport Extreme(802.11g with antenna jack) on order.

I have to say Apple is the best thought out and working of the batch I tried and the PC laptops(with Buffalo G54 cards) work great with a slightly better range than that of the Ti laptop on Airport.

We see no speed slowdowns unless everyone is downloading 10 meg files simultaneously.

Both Buffalo and Linksys were great customer service; now if only the stuff had worked. I hope Airport Extreme doesn't have out of the box problems, since all of the above feature the Broadcom chipset for 802.11g.

Some excellent resource links:

http://www.hdcom.com/ (especially antennas)

http://www.commsdesign.com/design_ce...G20030114S0008

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/

http://www.80211-planet.com/

[dadder]

FYI, I ordered the Airport Extreme with no modem and no antenna port. Decided against my judgement of 'resale' value in favor of saving $50. If I was to go any further than 150 ft of my house for my need of internet reception, I think my desperation would be much deeper and slightly redirected to the phsychological kind. Anyway, after I have it for awhile, I will give a report on setup and reception. Maybe by the time I'm ready to sell it, there will be no such thing as a modem... ha... yeah, right!

[HouseSold]

I think the same as you do.

Airport Extreme on order (no ETA)

Home DSL down now; Thank goodness I still have Airport Snow and THAT modem; better than nothing sometimes.