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There are VERY few configuration settings that you need to tweak, which was almost disappointing at first, but very typical of Apple. I use it with a Nintendo Wii, Macbook and several other devices including a G1 phone, Sony PSP, Ipod Touch and several non Mac computers. I've had the router almost a year. Like most products from Cupertino, it is as close to plug and play as a router can get. The router has NEVER, repeat NEVER needed a reboot. It runs in mixed mode to support N/B/G wireless connections and is FAST. The router's connection works throughout the house, basement and guest house as well as when sitting in a car parked on the street. On a typical night, this router is handling World of Warcraft, a movie on Hulu, surfing on the G1 and god only knows what else on the rest of the devices all at the same time, flawlessly.
I purchased an Apple Mb053ll/a Airport Extreme Base Station 802.11n from Amazon.com, but it was shipped from Beach Audio. Even though I purchase a new unit, I was shipped a used unit that had already configured. I recommend that you tell Amazon to not use this company to supply equipment that you might purchase from Amazon.Ted Revis
Through the cable company or DSL provider, we've had several different wireless routers over the last 5 years, but this Apple device blows those others away. Simple to use, very reliable, always fast data transfer rates, and again -- SIMPLE TO USE. All the computers -- both PCs and Mac -- found and configured very quickly, very easily. We love it, and would definitely buy it again -- enough said.
and the best we achieved was intermittent wireless service at home with our Mac laptop and our PC laptop. I'm writing this review (1st ever for me) because I feel so strongly that you should purchase the Airport Extreme if it offers the product/feature mix you're looking for. Just prior to trying the print server, our netgear wireless router also just stopped communicating with our Macbook. The good news is I downloaded all of this with the PC and the wireless Airport Extreme and the connectivity was NEVER interrupted during the downloads.this was 4+ hours without a single interruption. Purchased a netgear print server from Fry's.com and after frustrating netgear tech support that I could barely understand due to language differences, realized it wasn't compatible with the printer. Returned the Netgear print server to fry's.com. We've had two NETGEAR wireless routers over the years and I've spent countless hours configuring, re-configuring, resetting, calling terrible tech support, etc. I had to download multiple service packs and other files for our PC because I hadn't updated it for years.which took several hours to download and install, but it was kind of my fault for not keeping it up to date.
The other bonus is we didn't have to purchase a separate print server so the $180 price tag was probably only $50 or so more than we would have paid for another cheesy Netgear router and a separate print server.also, my wife is an educator so we saved $20 or so at the local Apple store (incidentally, Amazon's $185 price tag seems to be the going rate out there from trusted retailers from what I saw).We've only been using the Airport Extreme for about 3 days now but, again, this involved many hours of downloading while my wife surfed the internet on our other laptop without an issue. In true Apple form, it was super easy to install.and I'm still undecided about whether I'm more of a PC or Apple fan. We were told the new Airport Extreme is dual band instead of alternating between two wireless frequencies, thus eliminating prior connectivity issues. In looking at reviews of the Airport Extreme, there were lots of concerns a few years ago about connectivity issues. Well, we just traded our wireless printer for a Canon MX310 multifunctional printer that was not wireless and needed to purchase a print server to work between our Netgear router and our new printer. The signal varied a little a few times, but never enough to create any difficulties with the connection.
Rather than try Netgear support again (after never having an effective experience with them over 4 years at $30 or more up front each time) I decided to shop around for a different wireless router.ideally one that would allow us to connect our printer to it, avoiding the need to purchase a separate print server. This was exactly what I wanted to avoid so I was very wary of purchasing the Airport even considering the more recent positive reviews. Just called AppleCare support (we paid for this when we bought our Apple Macbook and it is SO worth it) and the easy to understand, pleasant, helpful, knowledgeable customer service rep walked me easily and quickly through the process of setting up the printer (an easy process really, I just had to open the Bonjour printer wizard for our pc and for both the Mac and PC, it was less than 4 steps- about 5 minutes total). Good luck to you, and I recommend you go with the Apple Airport Extreme Base Station.
Perhaps the best one on the market, for the price. Super easy setup, very secure network, great transfer speeds. The USB port in the back helped me set up a home/shared drive, which was also very easy.
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