AirPort Routers Ranked Highest in Customer Satisfaction as Apple Halts Further Development

[citysnaps]

Yes it was sarcasm with a call back to Apple's withdrawing from the monitor market and then later announcing they "teamed up" with LG to make a Mac-centric monitor for the new MBPs. Of course the LGs are nice but really nothing special.

There are plenty of decent 4 and 5K monitors on the market at those price points. Some people will buy b/c it's Apple blessed, but it's not an Apple designed through and through product which is what the Mac eco-system use to be and a good reason why it was less tourturous than the PC world.

Airport was great because it just worked (usually) and was super simple to set up even in bridge mode.

Besides the Dell at $1.6K - $1.8K (not at the LG's price point), what other 5K 27" monitors are there at the LG's price point?

Do they support a wide color gamut? And will they, via a single cable, handle display data, display control/programming from the MBP, MBP audio to display speakers, display web cam video to MBP, and MBP charging as the LG 5K display does? How does this make the LG "nothing special?"

 

[hagar]

I don't know if Apple realises it, but without airports, time capsules, displays, Apple mini's and pro's, their carefully built ecosystem is slowly unraveling. Pros are already jumping ship.

Sure, they will survive solely on their iPhones and overly expensive laptops in the short term. But even that business has an expiration date. Sad.

But the new Apple is about watch bands, exclusive music deals and rose gold devices.

 

[amegicfox]

I can't believe Tim Cook is still Apple's CEO, what's wrong with this guy ?

Steve Jobs made 2 mistakes in his life, Sculley and Cook

Cook is much worse the Sculley, at least Sculley was keeping the product line updated

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

Funny to see the outcry now that they're discontinuing them as so many here complained non-stop about them being overpriced and about how there were so many better options.

 

[Val-kyrie]

Once again folks. There is no confirmation that this report is accurate. While it's highly likely Apple may be coming out with a new home wireless product, it's highly unlikely Apple is simply abandoning this area as this unverified "click bait" meme purports.

Just keep saying that over and over and it will be true! /s That's what everyone also said about the now defunct Apple display.

 

[ohbrilliance]

Who's to say that Apple doesn't have updated Airports ready to go. After all, the team remained for several years since the last updates. They must have been working on something.

 

[darkgoob]

Tim Cook should resign.

Yeah, I've been a Mac user since 1984, and although I do love a lot of things about some of the new products, I'm so annoyed at how Apple is doing certain things. Monitors, gone. AirPort, gone. Mac Pro, no refresh after three years despite the whole big "can't innovate my ass" statement. Still selling ancient Macs in various parts of the lineup, as if they were new, and not dropping the price.

Not doing much advertising or making any sort of response to the public to let us know that they care. Letting Microsoft walk all over them with the "can't do that on a Mac" ads for Surface. Letting Microsoft out-innovate them in certain things.

Taking away all our useful ports and resigning us to a world of dongles. Coming out with new ports but not coming out with any cool accessories that use them. Apple Store doesn't even carry a USB hub with a Thunderbolt 3/USB C cable. They don't even carry any eGPUs for Thunderbolt 2 or 3, nor any expansion chassis, nor any bluetooth headphone amps like Soundblaster E5 so you can use your existing audiophile headphones.

It's liiiike, what the heck are they doing? It's bizarre. The new MacBook Pro is freakin' awesome, but they seem to have a complete disconnect with the actual people. Kind of like the Democrats did, and Trump got elected due to their overconfidence. I feel like Apple has drunk it's own cool aid for way too long, and there's nobody at the helm anymore.

Tim's a great manager and he's kept things together but it doesn't feel like there's anybody with vision to lead the development of new product categories and keep them competitive within the realm of sanity. But maybe it's just me.

 

[allenvanhellen]

I hope they're replaced with something similar. I really like my AirPort Express, especially the super clean audio output.

Let's hope this is going to be replaced with some sort of Apple TV / Siri / HomeKit / router / storage hybrid device.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Besides the Dell at $1.6K - $1.8K (not at the LG's price point), what other 5K 27" monitors are there at the LG's price point?

Do they support a wide color gamut? And will they, via a single cable, handle display data, display control/programming from the MBP, MBP audio to display speakers, display web cam video to MBP, and MBP charging as the LG 5K display does? How does this make the LG "nothing special?"

Oh boy. Having a bad day or just can't compute sarcasm and take the world literally?

But sure there are not a lot of USB-C/TB3 monitors out there, obviously because there aren't a lot of high end computers that are USB-C/TB3 only, which is why Apple felt it needed to work with LG since it gave up on monitors. But, yes there are 5K monitors that compete with the LG. Remember the LG is discounted until the end of the year. After that it will compete directly with the Dells that are also frequently heavily discounted from the MSRP you quote. Of course you can't actually take delivery of an LG now.

 

[ShinySteelRobot]

The man is a liability with no vision. No charisma. No passion. Nothing.

#FireTimCook

Well, he's really good at making the trains run on time. But he shouldn't be Apple's leader, no creative vision at all.
[doublepost=1480548939][/doublepost]

You can't even configure it from a Windows PC which makes up 90% of PCs.

AirPort Utility for Windows which hasn't been updated for years and is incompatible with the more recent models.

True, but you CAN configure it from a Mac, a iPhone, an iPad, an iPod Touch, etc. If you have none of those, you probably don't need the Airport and its ability to plug into your current Apple-centric ecosystem (e.g., AirPlay, etc).

 

[Yojimbo007]

Apple's decisions lately are at best Preplexing.

if there is a substitute then let us know..Apple
if there isnt then give us a hint of the grand scheme that justifies such inexplicable moves !

misfiring at so many fronts Tim and Team .

 

[MuckSavage70]

Best consumer routers on the market. Only had one over the year that was a little flaky, but it was a refurb so I wasn't shocked.

Been using one as my main router for a few years now - just bought another refurbed one to expand the wireless reach up on our top floor. Almost bought the Amplifi package, as I needed a couple of other APs throughout the house (main router is in the basement) but figured I would save a couple of hundred bucks and just get another airport.

In the next few years someone will make a great consumer router/AP package with next gen wifi (probably move over to the Amplifi stuff then).

 

[davester]

"Product is too good. Remove it from the lineup."

The iPod mini disappeared in similar fashion

 

[tuhoops]

I gave up on my AirPort Extreme and went to a mesh system from Ubiquiti (the Amplifi HD). Getting maximum performance on the 5GHz band from a single point system like the AE requires being within about 10 feet of the router. The Amplifi HD and other mesh systems like it are so far ahead of the AE that it is not fair to compare them.

 

[FelixDraconis]

What are they adding so many employees for if the result is to discontinue all their products?

 

[Brandhouse]

The accolade comes just nine days after a report said Apple has ceased development of its AirPort routers and reassigned engineers working on the products to other teams

And is one of the dumbest things Apple has done in the last few days.

I buy Apple products, because they just work, I turn it on, I don't have to download installers ect. Why the hell they made this decision is just stupid.

 

[tuhoops]

Best consumer routers on the market. Only had one over the year that was a little flaky, but it was a refurb so I wasn't shocked.

Been using one as my main router for a few years now - just bought another refurbed one to expand the wireless reach up on our top floor. Almost bought the Amplifi package, as I needed a couple of other APs throughout the house (main router is in the basement) but figured I would save a couple of hundred bucks and just get another airport.

In the next few years someone will make a great consumer router/AP package with next gen wifi (probably move over to the Amplifi stuff then).

Just saw your post. I can tell you that I am very pleased with the Amplifi. I have researched just about every wifi router option out there. You won't regret going with the mesh system from Ubiquiti.

 

[citysnaps]

Oh boy. Having a bad day or just can't compute sarcasm and take the world literally?

But sure there are not a lot of USB-C/TB3 monitors out there, obviously because there aren't a lot of high end computers that are USB-C/TB3 only, which is why Apple felt it needed to work with LG since it gave up on monitors. But, yes there are 5K monitors that compete with the LG. Remember the LG is discounted until the end of the year. After that it will compete directly with the Dells that are also frequently heavily discounted from the MSRP you quote. Of course you can't actually take delivery of an LG now.

A bad day? Seriously? Nice deflection from the discussion. Perhaps you can point to the elements that were sarcastic (post #384).

I wasn't asking about USB-C/TB-3 displays. The Dell happens to use DP. I asked about any other 5K computer displays. And am particularly interested in those that compete at the LG price point and feature set. Can you list a few others?

At the moment the LG is sold out. They are out there from people who first got their order in before the display sold out when orders opened up. Not surprising there was a lot of interest.

 

[McScooby]

For all those wishing for an TV, Time Capsule, Airport, mac mini hybrid hub, get real! You really are 's wet dream: It'll come w/2TB fast flash (needed or not) start at the real low price of $2.5K & when one of the soldered components fail will need replaced completely (at your cost) so the gravy train rolls on!

 

[kidaje]

Apple is killing Them selves from the inside

 

[Martyimac]

Did you use it to upgrade the firmware to 7.7.7? There's a reason Apple spells out the requirements to cover all bases. No one is going to risk bricking their router listening to some stranger on the internet over what Apple states.

No I did not use the windows version to update to 7.7.7.
As to your other comment. I agree. The problem is, even Apples statements are incorrect. That leaves everyone in the position of not being able to believe anyone/anything. My comments won't cause anyone to do something harmful to their systems so there is that.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

A bad day? Seriously? Nice deflection from the discussion. Perhaps you can point to the elements that were sarcastic (post #384).

Please check out my original post. Thanks.

 

[fbicking]

Or maybe they're combining a mesh network with Siri to become a competitor to Amazon's Alexa and Google's Home?

When will Apple fans stop "thinking inside the box" of existing products and start giving Apple the benefit of the doubt? Because even when they make great products, people find no end to their complaints.

But what was the last time Apple surprised us with a must have product? One of the things I use the most is Airplay to my whole house. Since this news broke I have started looking at other solutions. The problem is some of the best have me leaving the Apple ecosystem (no Apple Music support). If they are planning to put out an alternative they should let customers know before they start to leave. I was also waiting for the iMac update that did not happen. The money is still sitting but have preordered the Surface Studio to try that in the meantime. If I like it who knows maybe I will be done buying iMacs for awhile. I would have never thought such a thing only a couple years ago.

 

[elmaco]

It will be hard to find somebody better than Cook. He is not Jobs, but he knows the business very well.

There are a few things he need to change:

- Focus on market share over profit. That was what Jobs did.
- Don't fragment with too many products. Getting rid of the routers and Mac Air was a correct choice.
- Have strong product visions. Imagine the perfect product and work backwards into releases.
- Present the product with more joy and playfulness. "Best iPhone we have ever made" is not good enough.

 

[citysnaps]

Please check out my original post. Thanks.

Yeah, I see what you said about WiFi routers and your sarcasm tag in post #216.

But I asked about your claim in post #384 about there being plenty of decent 5K displays on the market at the LG price point, outside of the more expensive Dell, and, that the LG display being nothing special (when in fact it is).

What 5K monitors were you referring to?