Next Generation Airport Express Base Station

[BobJones]

Any takers that MacWorld will see the announcement of new range of Airport products using the draft 802.11n spec to complement the iTV?

Just had my DG834GT fried in a thunderstorm and need to look at a replacement.

Ideal device has:
ADSL2+ modem. (x2?)
router with at least 4 autosensing 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports
2x USB2.0 ports for Print/SMB server
Tight security - built in NAT/Firewall/radius server.
VOIP and VPN

Its not asking too much for <<R1600 right?

But seriously should I wait for the mythical Apple device or go for one of these or these in the meantime?

 

[bwana]

I see the iTV as being the updated Express - they're both pretty much targeted at your living room. If anything is going to get near the features you have in mind it's going to be an updated Airport Extreme.

 

[BobJones]

Express - Extreme - whatever

Made a bit of a slip there... meant Extreme, typed Express.

I get the feeling that the AP/WDS relay station capabilities currently in the Express will be played down in the iTV, but maybe not considering the price tag.

It makes sense to me that there will be a couple of variations on the Extreme in line with the current architecture of the "airport networks" that will make for seemless integration of upgraded spec Express, Extreme Base Stations and iTV media station.

My prediction: all on flash upgradeable draft 802.11n
Airport Extreme with Airtunes - $99
Airport Extreme Base Station - ADSL2+ modem - 1x gigabit LAN - $179
Airport Extreme Base Station - ADSL2+ modem - 4x gigabit LAN - $229
Airport Extreme Media Station - (iTV) - $299

 

[vespax]

I love my Express. I don't see me upgrading to something for a few more years. It has served me well since it first came out.

 

[bwana]

I need a new express - my original one popped the other day.

Might as well wait until after Macworld seeing as I'm also planning on getting a new laptop - who knows - there might be a new rev then too.

 

[vespax]

lucky you on the laptop. I just got a new baby, so the macbook will have to wait a little for me!

 

[bwana]

lucky you on the laptop. I just got a new baby, so the macbook will have to wait a little for me!

To tell the truth I'm not overly anxious about getting a new one at this stage. Most of my apps haven't been made universal yet so my powerbook is still perfectly good for my purposes. Still - my boss wants to spend some money - its a case of use it of lose it.

On the other hand Aperture will run better - its dog slow on the pb.

 

[vespax]

Well if it's the company's money, than pimp it out as much as you can!!!

If it's your own, that's where the budgeting has to come in.

 

[BobJones]

Any takers that MacWorld will see the announcement of new range of Airport products using the draft 802.11n spec to complement the iTV?

Just had my DG834GT fried in a thunderstorm and need to look at a replacement.

Ideal device has:
ADSL2+ modem. (x2?)
router with at least 4 autosensing 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports
2x USB2.0 ports for Print/SMB server
Tight security - built in NAT/Firewall/radius server.
VOIP and VPN

Its not asking too much for <<R1600 right?

But seriously should I wait for the mythical Apple device or go for one of these or these in the meantime?

Ok, so no modem, 3 Fast Ethernet ports , 1 USB port, but at least I got close on the price. At $179 its going to have a hard time going up against the likes of the Netgear MIMO routers, and a lot of them have the ADSL 2+ modem as well.

Express - Extreme - whatever

Made a bit of a slip there... meant Extreme, typed Express.

I get the feeling that the AP/WDS relay station capabilities currently in the Express will be played down in the iTV, but maybe not considering the price tag.

It makes sense to me that there will be a couple of variations on the Extreme in line with the current architecture of the "airport networks" that will make for seemless integration of upgraded spec Express, Extreme Base Stations and iTV media station.

My prediction: all on flash upgradeable draft 802.11n
Airport Extreme with Airtunes - $99
Airport Extreme Base Station - ADSL2+ modem - 1x gigabit LAN - $179
Airport Extreme Base Station - ADSL2+ modem - 4x gigabit LAN - $229
Airport Extreme Media Station - (iTV) - $299

What are the chances that we'll see more of the Apple TV interface in Front Row? I was kinda hoping to see a software update download updating Front Row.
Anybody else think that the logo on the Apple TV should be the other way round... it would be kind cool to mount the box on the wall near your LCD.

 

[BobJones]

Core Greed strikes again!

The new Apple Airport Extreme Base Station is now listed on the ZAStore.
True to form Core has added R40 to the price (R1893) over the previous version despite a $20 drop in price by Apple.
No indication of when it will be available, or any sign of the AppleTV yet.

 

[Darth Garth]

I notice that the Airport Extreme has a USB port so one can slap an external USB drive to turn it into a NAS .

 

[BobJones]

Its probably the upgrade to the USB printer server found in the Express. Its pretty funky. I'd like to see the specs and see how many concurrent drives and printers it will support if you use a hub. Imagine a a small business able to instantly connect 4X500GB drives and 3 Printers without having to have a server.

 

[BobJones]

Good News

Looks like the ludicrous premium initially slapped on the Airport Extreme (R1863) has been reduced to only extornionate prices (R1661).
Seems that while they been able to do a currency conversion on $179, their calculators are still wrestling with doing the same on the $299 AppleTV, which hasn't showed up on the site yet. Hint: R2779, but I suppose that would show up the rapacious local pricing of the ipod wouldn't it.
Suggestion drop the margin on the ipods today and start moving the units, because while people may miss the difference between a 5G and 5.5G ipod, but there's no mistaking a 6G widescreen.

BTW no official ETA yet.