- BEST WIFI ROUTER FOR MAC 2016 UPGRADE
- BEST WIFI ROUTER FOR MAC 2016 TRIAL
- BEST WIFI ROUTER FOR MAC 2016 WINDOWS
While seemingly the same as the Time Capsule, the new AirPort Extreme didn't offer identical performance.ĬNET Labs 802.11ac performance score (in Mbps)
BEST WIFI ROUTER FOR MAC 2016 WINDOWS
There's not much love for Windows users here.
BEST WIFI ROUTER FOR MAC 2016 TRIAL
This worked well in my trial but is only available to Macs. Both the print-serving and file-sharing features can be accessed remotely via the Internet, using Back to My Mac. Since there's only one USB port, you can use either a printer or an external hard drive but not both simultaneously. This works very well as long as the printer is supported ( most new printers are). Other than an external drive, you can plug a printer into the USB port to enable wireless printing. This also means the new router has nothing new in terms of features over the previous generation. This support of "dumb" storage space and lack of customization really hinder the potential of the AirPort Extreme and can cause frustration for those switching to it from a non-Apple router for the first time.
In addition, you can't use the AirPort Extreme as a server for FTP or Web functions. Almost all existing routers with USB storage offer media streaming. This means if you put music, photos, or videos on the connected USB external drive, they won't be available to network media streamers, such as a Roku, a WD TV, or even an Apple TV. You can't back up a connected Mac to a USB external drive using Time Machine, nor can you stream digital content stored on the drive to other devices in the network.
And obviously, USB 3.0 offers better performance when you connect an external hard drive to the router. The number of LAN ports determines how many wired clients the router can support out of the box, before you need to resort to a switch. This port configuration is exactly the same as found in previous generations of the AirPort Extreme and is disappointing since most routers on the market now have four LAN ports and many already offer USB 3.0. There's also a USB 2.0 port to host an external hard drive or a printer. On the back, there are the usual three Gigabit LAN ports (to connect wired clients, such as a Mac Pro), and one Gigabit WAN port (to connect to an Internet source, such as a broadband modem). On the front, there's a tiny status light that glows green when all is working well and either flashes or changes to amber to indicate that the device needs attention. Overall the new router has an elegant appearance, more like a jewelry box than a networking device. This means it has the same footprint as the second-generation AirPort Express, which came out last year, but it's much taller. Instead of the traditional squarish tile shape that's been used for years, it now looks like a rectangular tube standing 6.6 inches tall and 3.85 inches wide. Like the new Time Capsule, the new AirPort Extreme has a completely new design. Totally new design, same ports, familiar setup process Note the AirPlay audio port on the AirPort Express that the AirPort Extreme doesn't have Dong Ngo/CNET The new AirPort Extreme Base Station has the same footprint as the AirPort Express (bottom), but is much taller. Don't forget to check out the alternatives on this list for more networking options and features.
BEST WIFI ROUTER FOR MAC 2016 UPGRADE
Otherwise, there's no need to upgrade if you already have the previous model. If you have 802.11ac-enabled devices, such as the new MacBook Air, you'll also love this new device's Wi-Fi speed. That said, for those who care about the look, the new AirPort Extreme is beautiful enough to justify the $199/AU$249 price tag that makes it slightly more expensive than its peers.
On the other, I wish it had more features to offer, such as common networking customizations, and - when coupled with an external hard drive - support for Time Machine backup and media streaming. On one hand, the new AirPort Extreme proved in my testing to be one of the fastest and most reliable Wi-Fi routers to date. The device's functions, features, and port offerings, however, remain the same as its predecessor's. It also supports the much anticipated - and much faster - 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard. The new true dual-band Wi-Fi router is now more compact, and prettier than the previous generation.
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