I've been a Windows user my whole life. I've recently made the switch to Mac, and iOS devices...I'm sold. I currently have a 2 year old HP desktop model connected to a Cable modem/router.
From the very beginning of my wireless network days using Windows...I've never been able to just "set it & forget it!" Seems like either the printer and/or a computer is not visible, etc. Today, I've decided...I'm through screwing around with a home networks/workgroups. I'm making the switch to Apple's Airport Extreme and Express.
Background: Everyone in my family has iOS devices (3 iPhones, 2 iTouches, 1 iPad, 3 nanos). I'm the first to make the switch from PC to Mac (3 months ago...the family is jealous)...everyone else will eventually make the switch, but their computers (laptops) are less than 1 year old, so it will be a few years before we are completely a Mac household.
What I'm thinking about doing, is getting an Airport Extreme (disabling my current router...so it acts only as a modem) with an external hard drive connected to it (for us all to share).
Questions:
1. How many Airport Expresses can be connected to the base station (Airport Express)? Thought here is extending range and connecting multiple Audio components/printers?
2. My only experience with home networking has been with Windows XP. How much easier will it be to "see" all computers on my new network (file sharing, etc.) by making the switch to an AE? I'm talking about a Mac able to file share stuff on the PC and vice versa.
3. Printing....urrrggg! What a nightmare. Will my MBP and the rest of my family's Window XP/Vista computers see the printer without jumping through mounds of ass pain by making this switch? Thoughts here are, my current printer is hooked directly to my desktop HP, and all the wireless laptops have about a 50% chance of seeing the damn thing at print time. Will switching to "wireless" printing by using an Airport Express alleviate this problem for all mixed computers?
4. As I've already asked in question 1, if multiple Airport Expresses can be used, can I hook up multiple printers and speakers? I.e., an upstairs printer and a downstairs printer along with a downstairs speaker system and an upstairs speaker system?
5. Finally, since I'm ready to buy new printers and Airport hardware...and also knowing Airprint is coming online...should I look for specific printers? Or will it not make a difference? Not really for me, but my wife would love to be able to print from her iPhone/iPad. Will she be able to do this with a printer installed on an Airport Express anywhere in the house?
I don't mind getting and Airport Extreme as a base station, and then getting several Airport Expresses for every room in the house along with several new printers, etc. I just want all my stuff to work without hassle. I also want to "future proof" the network with all the changes I'm seeing with iOS devices (of course, this is a secondary concern).
Can any of you smart network types hook me up with ideas?
Thanks in advance,
Cosmo
From the very beginning of my wireless network days using Windows...I've never been able to just "set it & forget it!" Seems like either the printer and/or a computer is not visible, etc. Today, I've decided...I'm through screwing around with a home networks/workgroups. I'm making the switch to Apple's Airport Extreme and Express.
Background: Everyone in my family has iOS devices (3 iPhones, 2 iTouches, 1 iPad, 3 nanos). I'm the first to make the switch from PC to Mac (3 months ago...the family is jealous)...everyone else will eventually make the switch, but their computers (laptops) are less than 1 year old, so it will be a few years before we are completely a Mac household.
What I'm thinking about doing, is getting an Airport Extreme (disabling my current router...so it acts only as a modem) with an external hard drive connected to it (for us all to share).
Questions:
1. How many Airport Expresses can be connected to the base station (Airport Express)? Thought here is extending range and connecting multiple Audio components/printers?
2. My only experience with home networking has been with Windows XP. How much easier will it be to "see" all computers on my new network (file sharing, etc.) by making the switch to an AE? I'm talking about a Mac able to file share stuff on the PC and vice versa.
3. Printing....urrrggg! What a nightmare. Will my MBP and the rest of my family's Window XP/Vista computers see the printer without jumping through mounds of ass pain by making this switch? Thoughts here are, my current printer is hooked directly to my desktop HP, and all the wireless laptops have about a 50% chance of seeing the damn thing at print time. Will switching to "wireless" printing by using an Airport Express alleviate this problem for all mixed computers?
4. As I've already asked in question 1, if multiple Airport Expresses can be used, can I hook up multiple printers and speakers? I.e., an upstairs printer and a downstairs printer along with a downstairs speaker system and an upstairs speaker system?
5. Finally, since I'm ready to buy new printers and Airport hardware...and also knowing Airprint is coming online...should I look for specific printers? Or will it not make a difference? Not really for me, but my wife would love to be able to print from her iPhone/iPad. Will she be able to do this with a printer installed on an Airport Express anywhere in the house?
I don't mind getting and Airport Extreme as a base station, and then getting several Airport Expresses for every room in the house along with several new printers, etc. I just want all my stuff to work without hassle. I also want to "future proof" the network with all the changes I'm seeing with iOS devices (of course, this is a secondary concern).
Can any of you smart network types hook me up with ideas?
Thanks in advance,
Cosmo
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