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

[weckart]

I think all the bloggers have overlooked the biggest reason Apple is getting out of the router biz: most every ISP in the country now, or will soon include router and wi-fi capabilities built-in as part of their modem hardware.

Hard to compete with "free"...

What country? Apparently there is only one, driving a minority of Apple's sales now. The rest don't matter.

ISP provided modem cum routers are usually some of Netgear's lowliest rejects. Mine operates in modem mode only because the WiFi part is woeful.

 

[Starflyer]

I guess Apple is moving to the cloud.

This makes me sad. I'm guessing they will force us to use iCloud Storage to back up our files in the future.

How are we supposed to access "the cloud" with out a good router?

 

[DakotaGuy]

First they discontinued the monitor, next it will be the Airport WiFi router, followed by the Mac Pro...

By 2020 all Macs will be gone.

Apple the iPhone and watch band company.

 

[pika2000]

None of the products we love are safe. They'll kill the whole mac line!

Considering IBM got rid of their PC business way back when, Sony got rid of their VAIO computers, and rumors are Samsung would do the same, we may not like it, but you can see the obvious trend.

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

MR CEO commentary.

 

[Naraxus]

as a consolation You got a 90 minute keynote on a touch-bar!

Let's not forget this gem:

 

[sputnikv]

I guess Apple is moving to the cloud.

and to get to the cloud you'll use a non-apple router

 

[Starflyer]

What country? Apparently there is only one, driving a minority of Apple's sales now. The rest don't matter.

ISP provided modem cum routers are usually some of Netgear's lowliest rejects. Mine operates in modem mode only because the WiFi part is woeful.

this. I bought my own modem because the one supplied was junk.

 

[magicschoolbus]

I freaking hate Tim Cook's Apple.

So progressive

 

[JeffPerrin]

What country? Apparently there is only one, driving a minority of Apple's sales now. The rest don't matter.

Well, you can still buy them. But Apple is probably looking at the writing on the wall - where ISP hardware is headed will cost them money in that product category down the road.

ISP provided modem cum routers are usually some of Netgear's lowliest rejects. Mine operates in modem mode only because the WiFi part is woeful.

Agreed. But setting up a workaround is probably beyond the average customer's tech skill-set. (Nor something an ISP installer would bother with either)

 

[mike.101]

That's hard to believe.

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

Maybe you are not familiar with Airport Utility for Windows:
Download AirPort Utility 5.6.1 for Windows - Apple Support

 

[yaxomoxay]

Considering IBM got rid of their PC business way back when, Sony got rid of their VAIO computers, and rumors are Samsung would do the same, we may not like it, but you can see the obvious trend.

IBM was strong and is strong in business IT.
Sony is in a thousand markets.
Samsung owns several companies in several sectors, not only tech.

... Apple?

 

[Ishayu]

They are the best routers in the consumer space. Their specs aren't insanely high, but they have a lot of really powerful features and their interface makes them very easy to use, whereas on other routers you have to go into a webpage knowing a specific IP and then you get a ton of menus and dials and buttons, most of which will destroy your network if set incorrectly, but otherwise aren't useful.

It's as Apple as it gets, and it's amazing. I really, really like them and I'm sad to see them go.

 

[yaxomoxay]

Let's not forget this gem:

Why did you have to ruin my morning? WHY!?!?

 

[X38]

Obviously Apple just doesn't have the resources to get into the car business, watch band business, and rap music broadcasting business if they try to keep covering their traditional markets.

Go away Cook, just go away already. You have become worse than useless. Airport is a fantastic and unique product with no equivalent and a real differentiator for Apple's ecosystem. Shutting it down is beyond stupid.

 

[recoil80]

No it's a sad move for the company because they are slowly starting to destroy their loyal customer base. I think they need their heads examined

I'm afraid they don't really care about their loyal customers, if you look at what they're doing to the Mac.

 

[LarryMagoo]

I am so sick of Apple, who wants us all in their ecosystem, once we are in they abandon us???? WTF??

My Airport Extreme is bullet-proof and never needs any maintenance to keep running!! Yea so they are at the highest in JD Power rankings from all the support we have been giving them based on their top quality products. Now they decide we are not worthy of support from them????

 

[Kaibelf]

Tim Cook should resign.

Why? If the line isn't profitable, it doesn't matter how much a tiny group loves the product. I love mine too, but that doesn't mean the company should keep it on life support if those engineers would be better served on another project. For all we know, the next AppleTV will have this functionality integrated or something.

 

[miknos]

Indeed they are great. I have an Airport Express (quite old). Even with many users hogging the connection (torrenting) it holds. A friend of mine gave me a TP-link with a bunch of antennas, latest model, etc and its not as stable.

Sad to see it getting discontinued. Maybe its a good idea to buy an extra Time Capsule.

 

[MacsRgr8]

I guess Apple is moving to the cloud.

And every cloud will evaporate.

 

[weckart]

Agreed. But setting up a workaround is probably beyond the average customer's tech skill-set. (Nor something an ISP installer would bother with either)

It isn't because as soon as you start getting the blues with the supplied modem/router combo, you learn. Because you have to. ISP forums are clogged with "router is a POS" posts. You still have to set up the supplied combo router for your needs in any case - the installer wouldn't do that for you.

 

[LordQ]

Bring back Forstall! Time for Scott to start a Steve Jobs style resurgence of the company's innovation!

He was actually CEO-in-waiting or something like that, wasn't he?

 

[merkinmuffley]

Just another example of more of that "magic" from the new Apple. This company is comparable to the ship of fools that Plato described.

 

[Rookbird]

The board NEEDS to remove Tim Cook before it's too late.

Apple under Jobs was something else. Tim has been "succeeding" off his legacy, however as Job's magic is drying up, so is Apple.

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

#FireTimCook

Unfortunately I don't think that will happen. Tim Cook is pushing profits above customers/innovation and the board will love him for it but it will lead to the collapse of Apple as a leader. They are destroying Apples future to make more profits now.

 

[robjulo]

There is nothing "free" about modems from ISPs.

I think all the bloggers have overlooked the biggest reason Apple is getting out of the router biz: most every ISP in the country now, or will soon include router and wi-fi capabilities built-in as part of their modem hardware.

Hard to compete with "free"...