[markw10]

I noticed Apple introduced a new 'n' networking airport. Since I'm getting the Apple TV and as well have a C2D Macbook Pro that supports 'n' it seems like it seems to be a good choice to upgrade to 'n' networking but I have several questions:
1. If I'm right at this time the n networking is mostly proprietary meaning if I want to use it I should get all Apple hardware. Is that true?
2. When the 'n' spec is finalized with the MacBook Pro, Apple TV, etc. via firmware update support that or will I have to stay with Apple hardware
3. How important is n for the Apple TV? I plan to mostly use it for streaming mp3's, sometimes photos, and at times video off of a future Mac Pro I plan to purchase this summer. I had planned streaming but if necessary would be willing to copy it over to the Apple TV. Obviously I know n will copy it over faster but I don't mind doing this overnight and taking longer. Is the n needed only for HiDef video or is it necessary for standard streaming video?
4. I've heard in the past to stay away from Airport and use other brands so am I better off avoiding this product?

[kamina]

1. Yes, nobody else I know of has released anything based on the n draft. Also if they did, there would be no guarantee it would work. Apple has based the technology on a draft of a standard, not a standard. There have been several draft versions, so if somebody did the same it might not be compatible.
2. Nobody can know. As far as I'm aware there is tens if not hundreds of small technical details that are still open, it might work or then not.
3. I would imagine it will (theoretically) raise the speed by about 10x. As a guide: I can stream packed divx videos from my networked disk to my macbook pro (with .g wireless). When I stream a dvd-image (7xlarger file) it's not smooth, rather jumping. So I would imagine streaming a dvd to the itv with .g can allready cause problems. No way you will be able to stream hdtv video without .n
4. Why? As a price / quality ratio or something else? I don't have an Apple base station, but I don't see any reason not to get one. Apple generally use good quality components in their wireless devices (and if all your machines are apples they should be tested pretty well for compatibility at the factory).

[Javizun]

<1>i will be buying the new airport-not the apple tv.

i have no use for it-i have a ps3 for that dpt.

Kamina i know a couple of friends that work for apple.
And the whole belief that airport and macbooks play well together is very innacurate.

Both products get manufatcured by diffrent parts and companys it would be time consuming
to test every airport made with an apple computer for compability.

Aiports get manufactured here and computers overseas. There is no diffrence in protocols used
once one is finalized it gets used all over the wifi routers-the only thing that really changes
is the outr case of the modem (design) EVERYTHING ELSE IS THE SAME EITHER BY ATHEROS, BROADCOM ETC)
DONT BELIEVE THE HYPE-just like how they claim their refurbs go through a vigrous test. But i know many people that recieve refurbs with dents and scratches just exactly how vigorous is this test?

I have an airport express with airtunes and i use to have a linksys both performed the same way with no diffrence but the audio feature on the apple which is the reason why i bought it.

[mduell]

Originally Posted by markw10 

I noticed Apple introduced a new 'n' networking airport. Since I'm getting the Apple TV and as well have a C2D Macbook Pro that supports 'n' it seems like it seems to be a good choice to upgrade to 'n' networking but I have several questions:

1. If I'm right at this time the n networking is mostly proprietary meaning if I want to use it I should get all Apple hardware. Is that true?

2. When the 'n' spec is finalized with the MacBook Pro, Apple TV, etc. via firmware update support that or will I have to stay with Apple hardware

3. How important is n for the Apple TV? I plan to mostly use it for streaming mp3's, sometimes photos, and at times video off of a future Mac Pro I plan to purchase this summer. I had planned streaming but if necessary would be willing to copy it over to the Apple TV. Obviously I know n will copy it over faster but I don't mind doing this overnight and taking longer. Is the n needed only for HiDef video or is it necessary for standard streaming video?

4. I've heard in the past to stay away from Airport and use other brands so am I better off avoiding this product?

1. No, the n draft standard is open, and dozens of companies make hardware based on it. Interoperability is not guaranteed, but I think it's highly likely if you buy a major brand (Linksys, etc).

2. Maybe, maybe not. Depends how much flexibility is built in the the draft n chipsets that Apple has bought and how much the standard changes.

3. Assuming you've got good network performance (another reason not to buy Apple wireless networking gear), 802.11g should be fine for everything except high def video (and even then it will be fine for some).

4. As I previously alluded to, the performance (range and speed at range) of the Airport base stations has historically been relatively poor. With no external antenna on the latest Airport Extreme (compared to the trio of external antennas most other draft n routers have), I'd guess that it will be no different than it's predecessors.

Originally Posted by kamina 

1. Yes, nobody else I know of has released anything based on the n draft. Also if they did, there would be no guarantee it would work. Apple has based the technology on a draft of a standard, not a standard. There have been several draft versions, so if somebody did the same it might not be compatible.

3. I would imagine it will (theoretically) raise the speed by about 10x. As a guide: I can stream packed divx videos from my networked disk to my macbook pro (with .g wireless). When I stream a dvd-image (7xlarger file) it's not smooth, rather jumping. So I would imagine streaming a dvd to the itv with .g can allready cause problems. No way you will be able to stream hdtv video without .n

4. Why? As a price / quality ratio or something else? I don't have an Apple base station, but I don't see any reason not to get one. Apple generally use good quality components in their wireless devices (and if all your machines are apples they should be tested pretty well for compatibility at the factory).

1. Actually, Apple is pretty late to the draft n party. Many other companies have been shipping hardware since draft n was created, and some were even shipping "pre n" hardware before that.

3. Likely a result of you being too far away from your base station, or using Airport hardware. DVD is only 9.6Mbps compared to a theoretical 54Mbps for 802.11g.

4. $80 in your pocket and gigabit ethernet ports are good reasons to buy another brand.

Originally Posted by Javizun 

But i know many people that recieve refurbs with dents and scratches just exactly how vigorous is this test?

Dents and scratches are sort of the trademark/stereotype of refurb hardware from any company. They test/fix the hardware so that it works, not so that it's aesthetically pleasing.