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Apple Begins to Sell Out of AirPort Base Stations [Updated]
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It's a goldarn shame that Apple's discontinuing the Airport lineup (among other products). That said, just because Apple is selling out doesn't mean you'll never be able to get your hands on one. If you don't need the latest IEEE 802.11 standard, there are plenty of secondhand Airport base stations available on eBay all the time. I bought a used Airport Extreme a few years back (for half of retail) and have had zero problems with it. Unlike laptops, there's little reason to worry about cosmetic blemishes, and the hardware is still rock solid.
Cook would kill the Mac tomorrow if he could. He’s only interested in the iPhone, iPad and Watch.
A mistake. Mark my words.
The ecosystem that was once hyped by Jobs is slowly taken apart.
The ecosystem that was once hyped by Jobs is slowly taken apart.
Good for those, like any, want "set up & go"..
While you could just get any router and disabled allot of features, why would you ? Airports used to be good, and still are, even with lack of features. For normal uses who may not want to do any advanced stuff, they don't need them.
Another shift.. ??
If Apple wants to push into the smart home market then surely having an Apple router to control everything would make sense. Cook doesn’t have a clue what he’s doing.
Yes BUT the laserwriter and original Airport were unique leaders to the entire computer industry, not fill-in for Macs because there were no good options. There was no category until these came along. Laser printers were not really desktop publishing caliber until the laserwriter because it used Adobe Postscript. It scalled fonts and graphics beautifully and allowed users to do fancy tricks like curve and skew text. With in 5 years of the LWs intro every decent laser printer used either PS or (crappy PS emulation) and the LW as unique no more.
Same with the original Airport. I remember when Jobs demoed it. A truly "wow" product at the time and used to showcase Apple computers. To be able to not have to tether your laptop to your phone line was so amazing. Funny how we take it for granted now. It wasn't an Apple invention but Apple was the first to bring it to market in the consumer sector.
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I just yesterday replace two of my airport extreme's with Amplifi HD routers. They are working great so far. If there are no problems for a week I will replace two older airports with Amplifi equipment.
The app is pretty great, and the "Teleport" function is fantastic.
The app is pretty great, and the "Teleport" function is fantastic.
I went with Ubiquiti and now I wouldn't even consider an Apple router. Apple made a great router but now there are much better options.
A Ubiquiti solution works great and you should be able to do it for less than $400 .
You need a Ubiquiti Edgerouter (router) ($63) and a Unifi AP (wireless access point)($100). When setting it up, you connect a computer / laptop via hardwire ethernet. Once it's setup, it runs on it's own without a controller and you can make changes with a computer through wifi. Unlike most routers where you access them through a web browser, Ubiquiti requires you to run a dedicated application on your computer in order to interface and make changes.
One Unifi AP (wireless access point) works great and covers a huge area. If you use a Ubiquiti Edgerouter (router) with it, the Edgerouter supplies the power to the AP over the ethernet cable.
As far as the complexity, it's generally moderate unless you run into issues. The system seems to be geared towards commercial / businesses and gives you setup options for most everything (i.e. they are assuming someone with some networking experience is setting it up). I found their customer support to be good and wished I called them earlier when I ran into issues
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A Ubiquiti solution works great and you should be able to do it for less than $400 .
You need a Ubiquiti Edgerouter (router) ($63) and a Unifi AP (wireless access point)($100). When setting it up, you connect a computer / laptop via hardwire ethernet. Once it's setup, it runs on it's own without a controller and you can make changes with a computer through wifi. Unlike most routers where you access them through a web browser, Ubiquiti requires you to run a dedicated application on your computer in order to interface and make changes.
One Unifi AP (wireless access point) works great and covers a huge area. If you use a Ubiquiti Edgerouter (router) with it, the Edgerouter supplies the power to the AP over the ethernet cable.
As far as the complexity, it's generally moderate unless you run into issues. The system seems to be geared towards commercial / businesses and gives you setup options for most everything (i.e. they are assuming someone with some networking experience is setting it up). I found their customer support to be good and wished I called them earlier when I ran into issues
I’d just go with Amplifi, which is ubiquiti’s home product.
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Back in 2014 I was holding off on buying Apple Care for my late 2013 15” rMBP because...$300. Well, my Time Capsule died within the one-year window to buy AC for that MBP and I’d read that Airport devices purchased up to two years prior to buying a Mac are covered under AC, so it made sense to pay the $300 to get a two for one essentially. A refurb TC to replace my (almost 3-year old at that time) TC covered under the AC for the MBP (which luckily was never needed).
That replacement TC is still running well.
That replacement TC is still running well.
If you dont mind plunge $2000 for speakers, I suppose you can pay a few dollars for Apple TV. If your amp is too old it doesnt have HDMI, well the 3rd gen is the only option left.
It’s the only way to move forward. Remember a good speaker lasts forever. You just need to take care of the “smart part” so it continues functioning. Apple TV provides native Apple Music playback too (without Airplay) so that’s a great bonus.
It is incredible how rock solid these things are. Not a single device I’ve ever owned has had a problem connecting to my time capsule router and staying connected to it. No matter what kind of device or what manufacturer. Such a stark difference to routers I had before where I would always run into some stubborn problem with something. I really hope this TC lasts me for many more years (I know how to replace the HDD in it, which is good as that’s the part that usually dies) or that routers by then become as worry free.
I’m also still not sure what is going to replace the over the air time machine backups. I tried doing them with another router and HDD connected to it over USB, but that combo was failing all the time, at least once a week. In that sense TC is not bulletproof either but it fails maybe once a year - and I can still access all the old backups, just can’t make new ones.
I’m also still not sure what is going to replace the over the air time machine backups. I tried doing them with another router and HDD connected to it over USB, but that combo was failing all the time, at least once a week. In that sense TC is not bulletproof either but it fails maybe once a year - and I can still access all the old backups, just can’t make new ones.
Bought Airport Extreme in 2008 after buying my Mac Pro.
Replaced it with tall Airport Extreme in 2016.
No problems with either.
Unsure why a company would quit producing / selling a product that worked just fine. It's NOT like most people live in mansions where they need mesh Wi-Fi products.
Replaced it with tall Airport Extreme in 2016.
No problems with either.
Unsure why a company would quit producing / selling a product that worked just fine. It's NOT like most people live in mansions where they need mesh Wi-Fi products.
Theses speakers are active (with RCA input), meaning I don't have an amp. And I don't have a TV either. So ATV with HDMI out does not seem to be a smart solution.
If you can invest some DIY, you could build an AirPlay endpoint with a Raspberry Pi and piCorePlayer: https://sites.google.com/site/picoreplayer/home
Thanks, I wasn't aware that piCorePlayer acts as an Airport endpoint. Another diy option is a pi running volumio.
I am wondering why they have not changed them over to IOS based units. Split the development costs between iPhones, iPads, ATV, Watch..... and wireless hubs.
I think Apple has shot its self in the foot, the "next big thing" is home automation and having a home hub that would act as a wifi router makes a ton of sense.