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Will Apple ever update their routers?

crzdcolombian

crzdcolombian

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Nov 16, 2010
833
191
I am in the market for a new router I have an Linksys e2000 which isn't all that bad but now my new apartment has more walls between my room and the living room. There are some rooms where I only get 1 bar which sucks.

I am thinking of a better linksys maybe the e4000 but also the Apple airport extreme but noticed that it hasn't been updated since 2009. Doesn't Apple usually refresh all their products?
 
the airport extreme is updated all the way it can be i believe. the express needs final version of n instead of draft, and gigabit ethernet instead of 10/100 base-T. the reason why it isn't simultaneous dual band and the usb doesn't support disks is because they need a reason for you to upgrade to the extreme. otherwise they work really nicely together. if you get an extreme and one or two expresses, you can support all the media/files you would need in your house.
 
crzdcolombian said:
its just kind of an old model to still be almost 200 bucks.:eek:
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Agreed but I'd like to give go with the AirPort Express. I still can't justify spending about ~ $191 for nearly 2 year old refurbished tech. I'm being told to say no to the walled garden and get either a Linksys E3200 or E4200.

So the question is, why should the OP and I stick with Apple over these other routers?

I'm getting one in the next few days.
 
modit said:
So the question is, why should the OP and I stick with Apple over these other routers?
Click to expand...

Ease of use, designed to work specifically with your computers, and reliability. I've had an Extreme for months now and pretty much haven't thought about it since I initially installed. Guests join their own open network and my family plugs along on theirs. Simple, like it should be. I saw the value in it and many others do too.
 
modit said:
Agreed but I'd like to give go with the AirPort Express. I still can't justify spending about ~ $191 for nearly 2 year old refurbished tech. I'm being told to say no to the walled garden and get either a Linksys E3200 or E4200.

So the question is, why should the OP and I stick with Apple over these other routers?

I'm getting one in the next few days.
Click to expand...

In my recent experience the new routers perform similarly.
The biggest issue I have seen is location and the materials used in the walls.

I run an extreme, not the latest version, and it fine.
I also run a linksys 610 again fine.
When I was having an issue I was swapping the routers in and out.
When my son came home I needed to add him to the wireless access. The airport software wouldn't connect. Then it was realized the linksys was on line.
Never noticed a performance issue.
The extreme has some good features but I believe the latest higher end linksys/Belkin/netgear have similar features.
My linksys works just fine with the airport express.
Bestbuy.com has the airport express (refurbs) for $50 every so often
 
Until wired or wireless standards change or improve, there's no need to update the hardware. If you do go with an AirPort Extreme, you'll really enjoy using the AirPort Utility. It makes network management enjoyable.
 
I have had Linksys and Neatgear and I find the Airport extreme to be easy to setup and less dropped signals with my wireless PC's and iPads. Dunno if that is just the way the previous two were configured. Also I have had no issues with range....
 
If you love tweaking your router settings all the time, then the Airport Extreme is not for you (it restarts everytime you change a setting).

On the other hand, if you set it up once, and rarely touch it, it's the best router ever. Very stable and reliable.
 
fehhkk said:
...if you set it up once, and rarely touch it, it's the best router ever. Very stable and reliable.
Click to expand...

Agree, I run several. That said, my kids' Airport extreme died a few months back. It was an old original model with a lot of custom settings on it. Luckily I had an unused spare lying around. Swapping in the spare and downloading the custom config file took less than 5 mins before they were back online and domestic harmony was restored. Priceless.
 
flopticalcube said:
Buy it in the refurb store. It's still one of the easiest routers to setup and run.
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this.

the airport is the only router i have used that i actually know where to go to change settings. airport utility is so easy to use. it restarts every time you change settings but its not as bad as you would think. its only for a few seconds. the audio feature on the express is great and the usb for disks is too. it just works well if you have a mac laptop.
 
Rocs said:
I have had Linksys and Neatgear and I find the Airport extreme to be easy to setup and less dropped signals with my wireless PC's and iPads. Dunno if that is just the way the previous two were configured. Also I have had no issues with range....
Click to expand...

Same here.. Had a netgear 3700 and a linksys 4200 for two weeks before I had to return it due to weak and poor wifi signals. Also wifi would stop requiring a reset of the router. The apple airport extreme has been solid since installled.


Sent from my AT&T iPhone 4 using Tapatalk
 
Looks Like Apple Is Going To Update!

It appears that Apple will be updating both the Time Capsule and AirPort Express. Thank goodness this news came as I just received my refurbished AirPort Extreme today.

If this is true along with price cuts, all our questions have been answered. I put in a return order to Apple with the reasoning "I'm in the market for a new model ;)"

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1162277/

MacRumors said:
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[url=http://cdn.macrumors.com/article-new/2011/06/timecap.jpg]Image

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We've received several reports today indicating that Apple's retail stores are quickly running out of stock of the various AirPort and Time Capsule wirelessly networking products, hinting that a full refresh for the line could take place as part of the company's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) keynote next Monday.

One source has indicated that his local Apple retail store has completely sold out of both Time Capsule models, as well as the AirPort Extreme and AirPort Express base stations. A second source reported that Time Capsules are sold out at a different location, with Apple sales reps indicating that no new shipments appeared to be planned. There was no word on the status of AirPort Extreme and AirPort Express stocks at that location.

It seems now that TUAW has been hearing similar reports. They too have heard that several Apple Stores across the US are low or out of stock of AirPort devices.TUAW acknowledges that WWDC is expected to be a software only event, but also raises the possibility that updates could come somehow be tied to Apple's iCloud offering.


Article Link: Apple's Retail Stores Running Dry of AirPort and Time Capsule Stocks?
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No Update?

There was no update announced at the keynote. Anyone have any thoughts if updates are coming? I guess I will use iCloud going forward and not buy the TC because I trust Apple to be around and they probably won't mine my data unlike Google. If I want a local HD, I can buy an external.
 
TallManNY said:
There was no update announced at the keynote. Anyone have any thoughts if updates are coming? I guess I will use iCloud going forward and not buy the TC because I trust Apple to be around and they probably won't mine my data unlike Google. If I want a local HD, I can buy an external.
Click to expand...

yea what happened to the shortage of supplies? there are no updates of the Time Capsule or Airports
 
My biggest concern is when will Apple update the firmware to support QoS? With technology gravitating towards video streaming and VoIP, QoS is becoming more and more important.

I'm not sure if this is true, but I have read speculation (don't remember where) that the Airports already have automatic QoS built into and running on the current firmware.
 
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