Discontinued AirPort Extreme and 2TB Time Capsule Finally Disappear From Apple Online Store

[Juicy Box]

I have used AirPort since the original AirPort Extreme, which I think I purchased in 2003.

At the time, other router brands were complex to set up and maintain, which really made the AirPort shine. The addition of AirPort Express was really nice, as I could hook up various receivers around the house with the optical out on the AirPort Express. It made playing music wirelessly so easy.

I still use AirPorts today, and might pick up a few more AirPort Express models.

But today, other brands are easy to set up and have newer technology, and I guess Apple didn't want to stay in the market. I assume that the AirPort margins were not as good as many of their other products, so they gave it the axe.

 

[Geurt]

It is like with the gramophone, adepts keep them close while the world moved on to streaming. Thank you Airport, you were a great friend for several years. But you can not compete with my new entry-level mesh system Orbi. Long live Airport!

 

[ryanwarsaw]

Why are they ending this popular product?
Don't Apple enjoy making money?

Well since you said it what a great question! We can surmise two different scenarios. Either AAPL hates money or these things no longer make any money. Aside from not wanting to manufacture even what is basically a legacy unit they don't want to support them either is my guess. Putting their techs elsewhere probably made more sense from a ROI perspective.

But yeah I agree with the sentiment it is the end of an era. Now go buy some iCloud storage.

 

[nofunsir]

... I have had no issues at all with mine so I keep them going.

That's the problem. This won't stand in Timothy's Apple. Having no issues with a one-time purchase is not good for cash flow.

 

[ksec]

How about Apple TV with integrated Wireless Router?

 

[usarioclave]

Replaced my AE installation with a couple of Plumes. They're nice, fast, and work well in a concrete structure. My AEs are clients of it so I can stream audio and use a USB printer.

 

[LeoFio]

The founder of Ubiquiti, Robert Pera, left Apple in 2005 to start his own company after Apple ignored his ideas for modifications to their routers to provide more powerful WiFi signals. Coincidence or not, it's interesting to see Apple exit the market while Ubiquiti is thriving.

 

[tromboneaholic]

I don’t know your age, but this arguing makes for guesswork of the simpler kind

Well, I bought my first Mac in 1996 for Photoshop work.

Now the iPad is one of the tools I use for work, along with my Mac.

There are a good number of professional photo editors, photographers, and art directors who are excited about the upcoming release of Adobe Photoshop supporting Apple Pencil on the iPad Pro

Also, the Pencil is used by people in a variety of professions. For example, I personally know a few doctors and lawyers who use the $329 iPad with a Pencil to keep notes on their patients and clients.

 

[kbearh]

I'm still using my expresses for streaming music to different zones in the house. Trying to meet a craigslist guy today to buy the newer version to replace one of the old original models that doesn't support AP2.

Get the refurbished. Exact same as new and covered under same warranty.

 

[justperry]

Bought google mesh with a frown on my face

Super sad. I bought Google WiFi to replace my Airport setup and was really disappointed in the speed and stability.

I bought Google Mesh available and it makes me grin all the time. Blows my mind how good it is. After messing with POS WiFi since 1999 (not a typo), for the first time ever I'm experiencing PERFECT WiFi.

Google Mesh.

And the added bonus of Google peering into your house, as in your privacy gets compromised.

 

[Jago]

Why are they ending this popular product?
Don't Apple enjoy making money?

Perspective from somebody working for a Nordic telco:

"Normal users" no longer see a modem/router as something they are willing to invest in. They expect to either be provided with a free modem/router from the ISP or they might go out and buy a $50-90 device and if it turns out to be crap, they will buy another $50-90 one. And another. Never in a million years will the idea of spending $150+ will even cross their mind.

I remember reading that being unsatisfied with Airport hardware sales, Apple decided to try having Apple Store staff focus on offering them to customers buying something else and when that failed spectacularly, the whole thing was basically decided.

 

[Ebok]

A huge failure on behalf of the modern router companies whose devices are indeed better than Apple's own, is that their designs still aren't simple and elegant. All feature rows of obnoxious LEDs and LCDs. None have come to realize Apple's one, small indicator light is all that's needed.

agree, although there are a few decent ones in 2018, back in the day when i got my AE all there was these industrial looking boxes.

my AE right now is on my TV media stand next to the XBOX One and it looks clean with my TV setup. works awesome in my condo (650sqf) and i hope it continues to work well for many years to come.

 

[cb3]

Been using Apple's Airport products since the beginning - sad to see them go. So easy to set-up and use.

 

[avanpelt]

What's the biggest shame is that Apple allowed its router line to stagnate. They were content to let other companies come in and offer better products and they didn't attempt to keep up with evolving technologies in the consumer router space.

As I've said on previous MR threads, I was blown away nearly two years ago when I purchased the eero base stations to replace my two AirPort Extreme 'tower' setup. The eeros were inter-connected wirelessly just as the AirPort Extremes had been, but the wireless throughput throughout my home increased from 20-150 Mbps up and down with the AirPorts to 60-350 Mbps up and down with the eeros depending on the device I'm using and where I'm standing.

What I'm getting with the eeros is still a fraction of the gigabit pipe I have, but at least my wireless devices are able to utilize more of that pipe than they could with the AirPort Extremes. One of these days, I'll consider investing in ethernet cabling throughout my home if wireless technologies don't allow for wireless inter-connectivity of base stations at speeds approaching 1 Gbps. I'm sure we'll get there -- it's only a matter of time.

 

[Mr. Heckles]

The AirPort stuff just isn't keeping up with the feature sets of other devices. Got a Ubiquity https://amplifi.com setup and it was as easy or maybe easier to setup than the old AirPort

I got one of these and probably the best router I have ever used. I tried the Eero and I thought it was just junk IMO. The fact you have to connect to their servers for it to work isn't for me.

 

[Martyimac]

Very sad, maybe they'll release a mesh networking system in the future. Seems like getting an Eero or Orbi is the way to go these days. The Orbi is technically better (on paper), but it's just too ugly for me so I'll be going with Eero.

https://eero.com/
http://www.ca.netgear.com/orbi/

I've had an Eero since the 2nd gen. came out. Extremely happy with it and super easy to set up.

 

[avanpelt]

Eero says, hello.

And, just like the AirPorts, you can turn the light on the eero off unless there's a problem with the connectivity. Eero took the best parts about the AirPort line and put them into a product that offers superior throughput compared to the AirPorts (in my experience, at least).

 

[ryanwarsaw]

You can skate to where the puck is or to where it will be next. Here on MR we skate to where the puck was. Some people are surprised that these finally sold out. I am rather amused and somewhat disturbed they kept them on the shelf until they sold out.

Obviously they are in services and these things are the opposite of what they are trying to do. However way to milk it dry. i am sure there are a few left in some warehouse. These sort of decisions are why TC is the man at AAPL. As others have said nobody in their right mind would buy one of these for at least the past few years.

The only people that did were probably MR members on the shocking news they would be cut soon. Not that there is anything wrong with that. I have a TC in my set up.

 

[Aston441]

And the added bonus of Google peering into your house, as in your privacy gets compromised.

In the real world that's not a real argument.

 

[Martyimac]

A huge failure on behalf of the modern router companies whose devices are indeed better than Apple's own, is that their designs still aren't simple and elegant. All feature rows of obnoxious LEDs and LCDs. None have come to realize Apple's one, small indicator light is all that's needed.

All except Eero. Eero has one LED that indicates status and one LED that will act as a night light if desired. If night light is not desired, turn it off.

 

[tromboneaholic]

Read!
Provided, not provides, for instance, look at the airport express some 10 or more years ago, you could stream to it to play music on a connected amplifier.
No one had that at that time.

Read!
"that are not available"

Are, not were "not available 10 years ago".

 

[trip1ex]

I
But today, other brands are easy to set up and have newer technology, and I guess Apple didn't want to stay in the market. I assume that the AirPort margins were not as good as many of their other products, so they gave it the axe.

Yep I think the competition caught up in the ease of use dept. The app for my $70 TP-Link AC router feels like an Apple clone. Still not at that Apple level of polish. But they definitely decided to make things simpler than the web UIs of 3rd party routers of ~10 years ago.

The founder of Ubiquiti, Robert Pera, left Apple in 2005 to start his own company after Apple ignored his ideas for modifications to their routers to provide more powerful WiFi signals. Coincidence or not, it's interesting to see Apple exit the market while Ubiquiti is thriving.

Say what?

Apple routers were still going great for a decade after your buddy left.

Pretty obvious Apple just didn't want to be in this market. They are a company that likes to carry a simple product line and they need high margins and they want to deliver an experience that others can't match.

I think those 3 factors or lack of are what made them decide to exit the router market.

I think the competition got more user friendly. I think Apple had less room to stand out with a high margin product. And I think with Apple having more new products like the Watch and Airpods and to a lesser extent Homepod, they wanted to trim down their older, long in the tooth product lines.

Also factoring into this is iCloud replaces the storage aspect of Time Capsule. And HOmepod along with ATV replaces the wireless sound aspect of the small Airport Express. And all the wireless printers today make the wireless print feature of the Airport Extreme and Time Capsule not that important a selling pt. Those were all features that helped the Apple router lineup stand out.

 

[9081094]

Why are they ending this popular product?
Don't Apple enjoy making money?

Yes, money is the thing apple’s most interested in, not the value of their customers. I don’t get Apple, why not sell a rebranded good router from others. Put it in a nice Apple enclosure and voila! The customers stay in the Apple boat and Apple could sell ‘their’ routers with minimal effort and without pushing their customers to the windows shop nearby.
It’s the same with monitors. Just use a rebadged monitor from a different vendor, put it in an Apple enclosure matching the materials of the latest Mac mini and voilà.
Instead Apple is pushing you away to other stores and product companies and their lineup is getting a big dongle and cablemess.
Bad decision after bad decision. Next year they’ll come up with a new Mac Pro for big $$$$. But I’m not daring to invest in those because apple’s roadmap didn’t prove trustworthy in the past and it’s possible they’ll pull the plug a year later or stop developing future updates. That happened to the whole Mac line up before.
Don’t get me wrong, I like the new Mac mini. But geez does it really take 6+ years to come with upgraded processor and up to date inner?

 

[seadragon]

Adding my post of grieving. My Apple Airport Extreme and multiple Expresses are the best wireless routers I've ever owned. Simple and reliable. I'm sad to see them go.

 

[panjandrum]

R.I.P., best (most stable) routers on the planet...

Well, to be clear, there are plenty of better routers (the Extremes, for example, will begin rejecting any WiFi clients beyond 50). But they were extremely good SOHO level equipment that supported Apple Specific functions such as Time Machine backups. I'm curious how Apple thinks people will use Time Machine with a bunch of laptops now? Sure, that is easy if you have a spare Mac sitting around you can dedicate as a Time Machine server, but many households I've worked in use the setup: Airport Extreme with USB drive or Time Capsule, plus 2 or 3 or more laptops. That way backups happen automatically over WiFi. It's an unobtrusive system. Is there a replacement workflow in-place for that which I'm not aware of?