Airport Express vs. Airport Extreme

[dogus1]

I am interested in setting up a wireless network, and the new Airport Express sounds pretty nifty -- but I notice it is still priced $70 less than the older Airport Extreme base station. Despite the built-in modem, is there any technological advantage to the older Extreme base station. It does not have the AirTunes capabilities. Is it a superior Wi-Fi broadcaster? I just don't get what about it would warrant and older piece of machinery costing more than the new model.

Is Airport Express essentially a replacement for Airport Extreme?

 

[Horrortaxi]

AirPort Extreme allows up to 50 computers to be connected. Express tops out under 10 I believe. You can also connect wired clients to it. For most people this isn't a big deal. It's another example of Apple's consumer vs pro lines.

 

[w00tmaster]

Unless you want the stereo option

that comes with airport express, get a 3rd party router(linksys netgear etc). Unless you need to share a modem connection, Airport Extreme is over priced(though I do admit it does make a nice fashion statement). I am realy surprised that they didn't drop the price of those things a while ago.
I know that Apple's stuff tends to be a bit pricey, and usually worth it, but 2x the cost for identical functionality is pushing it....

 

[N10248]

The extreme base station is well worth the extra money in my opinion, the current models have external antenna ports so the range can be extended a lot more.

Even though the express uses the same power/frequency as the extreme i would expect the extreme to perform better due to its shape.

The wired LAN socket is useful especially if the base is near a computer without a wireless card.

also one model supports power over ethernet which is useful if your router can power it (mainly expensive cisco ones - business use, hardly any use at home).

Bye

 

[Horrortaxi]

I am realy surprised that they didn't drop the price of those things a while ago.

They did. $199. Used to be $250.