Apple tosses in gigabit Ethernet on refreshed AirPort Extreme

While the majority of you are likely scoping out Apple's more noticeable introductions, the firm did manage to provide a subtle, albeit entirely welcome upgrade to the 802.11n AirPort Extreme Base Station. Still priced at $179, the revamped device doesn't change much, as you can still look forward to the slimmed-down design, USB port, and security slot, but those utilizing a wired network will greatly appreciate the four gigabit Ethernet ports. Interestingly, there are still a number of locations in which Apple has yet to update the technical information of the new AirPort, but the tried and true checkout page holds the newly implemented details.

[Thanks, iData]

[dubious @ Aug 7th 2007 5:24PM]

wow, awesome. This upgrade is a much overdue, considering their pro systems first included giagabit over 6 years ago.

[omnicloud @ Aug 7th 2007 5:24PM]

Thank god. This would help for when Time Machine whips around and you need to connect to a NAS.

[BananaBoat @ Aug 7th 2007 5:40PM]

I was impressed for a second when I was reading that as "Four gigabit ethernet ports", but then I came to the realization that what they meant was "Four, Gigabit Ethernet ports"

Comma's people! Lol

[Kila @ Aug 7th 2007 5:51PM]

You wouldn't say "I am twenty, years old" would you? Comma's people, use them right ;)

Looks good - I don't use a wired network mine is completely wireless but never-the-less a worthy update to those who have Mac Pro's.

[paloooz @ Aug 7th 2007 6:23PM]

Apostrophes, people! Use them correctly!

[craig @ Aug 8th 2007 12:46PM]

"...but those utilizing a wired network will greatly appreciate the four gigabit Ethernet ports."

...but there's only three. There are four ports total, all are gigE and all are Ethernet, but one is a WAN port and is not usable for "those utilizing a wired network". There are only three wired LAN ports.

Really, it's not that hard to count.

[robothouse @ Aug 11th 2007 8:59PM]

I'm Brian Fellows!

[BananaBoat @ Aug 7th 2007 5:57PM]

I forgot to mention that you can get the same functionality from another companies product, for half the cost. Then again, people love paying for the apple logo /insert gif of Alex Albrecht making the hand motion when Kevin Rose talks about apple/

[GregA @ Aug 7th 2007 6:16PM]

Its even worse than that... On my interior design forum, some apple fanboy will post a picture of them decorating with the empty apple product boxes set around their house or apartment, then experienced interior designers will critique that decorating choice, then the apple fanboys will all jump on and accuse them of working for Microsoft.

Apple is the new Scientology.

[acseidel @ Aug 7th 2007 7:30PM]

I really get tired of the "costs twice as much" claims. While there are N routers for ~90 dollars, none of them have the usb printing and storage functions the Airport has. You do not get the "same functionality" for half the cost, you get lesser functionality. If all you want is a router, thats fine, but if you want to make a cost argument, compare apples to apples.

[Nathan @ Aug 7th 2007 6:35PM]

what router has the same functionality at half the cost? At best I found the Dlink DIR-655 @ $120 (newegg.com) but it doesn't support the A (though i know that doesn't really effect many people) standard nor can it be used as a print server....

So do the math. Ad the cost of a print server/file server to the airport extreme...

I don't get this "if-you-like-apple-you-are-a-hipster-zombie bullshit"
Apple doesn't typically sell CRAP. so they they aren't "cheap", but Apple seems to almost always offer great "value" (functionality at price point).

[CraigJ @ Aug 7th 2007 6:43PM]

Comparable products (a/b/g/n + 4 GB ports) from Netgear and Cisco are in the $130 to $150 range from some searches I just did. So, less, yes, but not exactly half, unless you are talking about some no-make crap from Fry's or something.

[Evan @ Aug 7th 2007 7:33PM]

Router + print server + NAS server for half the cost? I don't think so.

[craig @ Aug 8th 2007 1:16PM]

Only fools would use this as a file and print server. All you Apple apologists bitching unfair comparisons should explain how Apple can't come up with the fourth Ethernet LAN port that every one of its competitors has.

While on the subject of missing features, where's the uPnP? Oh yeah, it doesn't have that either.

What matters with a router is how stable it is, how fast it is, and what it's range is. Most products I've used go belly-up once bittorrents start crankin'. I could care less about dumb features like USB print services, I want a router that doesn't need to be reset weekly.

[Rboyett @ Aug 7th 2007 6:17PM]

FINALLY! About dang time.

Well, cya later, I'm off to the Apple store...

[Blah @ Aug 7th 2007 6:44PM]

It didnt before? Thats pretty sad actually. Considering its 179 (My dlink xtreme N was 139 canadian), only has 3 gigabit ethernet ports (mine has 4), and doesnt have the option to install a higher dB antenna (dLink does), this is the biggest rip-off i have ever seen. And yet people are excited that it just got gigabit ethernet now? Way to be so cutting edge Apple. Wake up people.

[HineyWipe @ Aug 7th 2007 6:41PM]

Now, if Apple would implement three external antenna ports...

[psn @ Aug 7th 2007 6:41PM]

but where's the updated airport express with 802.11n? *sigh* one can dream, right?

[Jonathan Waite @ Aug 7th 2007 7:13PM]

I bought an AEBS yesterday from a Best Buy store in Canada. Model number is MA073LL/A.

I just got off the phone with Apple and the person on the other end told me, in no uncertain terms, that the router I bought *already had* Gigabit ethernet. However, when I add the AEBS on the Apple Store Canada web site, it comes up as model number MB053LL/A.

Color me confused.

[John Doe @ Aug 7th 2007 7:18PM]

So they added a feature that should have been there in the first place...got it.

[genr8r @ Aug 7th 2007 7:24PM]

Wow, this would be totally awesome news if it wasn't for the fact that I bought one at the beginning of last month, well past my return date. Damn it's hard to love Apple sometimes.

[John Doe @ Aug 7th 2007 7:29PM]

Yah sometimes.

[Sam_Tuttle @ Aug 7th 2007 9:48PM]

What NAS Server?

[Jonathan Waite @ Aug 7th 2007 8:04PM]

Okay, so after talking to an Apple tech for about 20 minutes, he told me that the model I have (MA073LL/A) has 1 Gigabit WAN port and 3 Gigabit LAN ports. When I replied, "Oh, okay. So they've always had Gigabit ports, even my first-gen model," he replied, "Yes, absolutely."

Lie? Confused tech guy? Conspiracy?

(And, how would I go about testing this? HeliosLAN test?)

[John Doe @ Aug 7th 2007 8:16PM]

Apple techs are like every other tech out there. What they don't know...they bullshit their way through it...well most do...I don't. I have no problems saying I don't know something. However its Apple. The concept that a tech doesn't know something about their product is a flogable offense.

[Jonathan Waite @ Aug 7th 2007 8:24PM]

So, you're suggesting that if I want to make sure I'm getting the Gigabit LAN ports, I should order the new model and return the old?

On another tangent, could this be one of those un-enabled options that becomes unlocked after a firmware update (one just recently came out), like the 802.11n enabler on MBs/MBPs?

[Jonathan Waite @ Aug 7th 2007 10:40PM]

*Finally*, after talking to someone with common sense at the Apple Store (thanks Angelo!) I have a definitive answer. He brought an engineer into the conversation who confirmed that the MA073LL/A models do not have Gigabit capabilities and that if I wanted an AEBS with Gigabit, I would need the new MB053LL/A revision. I ordered the new model and am awaiting shipment.

[RyanTV @ Aug 8th 2007 5:40PM]

what version of draft N does apple put in these?

[roz @ Aug 7th 2007 8:26PM]

id really like the see a refresh of the airport express to N.

[BananaBoat @ Aug 7th 2007 8:30PM]

@Jonathan Waite

You should be able to find the configuration IP in your routers documentation. Simply type that IP into a browser, input the default name and password (which you should then change), and then go to the (apple equivalent) of the "advanced settings" section of your router. It should give options such as speed etc. If you don't have any devices with a gigabit networking card, it might be harder to test (some routers I've had felt the need to auto-hide options I couldn't use). I spent a month wondering why I couldn't get the full gigabit out of my router, only to go into the device manager on my PC and learn that the networking card default was 100mbit, even though it was a gigabit card (go figure)

[Jonathan Waite @ Aug 7th 2007 8:40PM]

AEBS routers don't have a web panel, so typing in its IP to a browser is fruitless. Thanks for the help, though.

[Fredrik @ Aug 7th 2007 9:57PM]

You got me thinking of Bananaboat.mod.... Nice Amiga module from the good old days :-)
http://www.flashdance.cx/modules-mod/Bananaboat.mod

[josiah @ Aug 7th 2007 8:42PM]

Just a quick question for the router ignorant.

I have a Mac Mini, ibook, and 360.

Can I hook up the Airport Extreme into my cable modem, hook up the Mini and 360 via ethernet to the Extreme, and then wirelessly stream to the ibook?

I'd like to have the Mini and 360 use a wired connection, as I'm not happy with download speeds on the Mini (I currently use an Airport Express), and my 360 sometimes won't connect to the internet, so I'm hoping a wired connection will solve my problems, and I'd like to buy Apple since I'm usually able to figure out Apple products easier.

[Chicksta @ Aug 7th 2007 11:17PM]

Oh, so you trolled your anti-gay/Apple people are gay message onto every Apple post. Issues much?

[byaah @ Aug 8th 2007 12:31AM]

Psh, of course they add gigabit after I can't return my now outdated AEBS. Thanks, Apple.

[Danny @ Aug 8th 2007 5:18PM]

I don't think this is a new feature. The same features are being touted on their refurbished section, and I bet that they haven't had any returns on the brand new refresh already.

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?nplm=FA073LL/A

[applefool @ Oct 12th 2007 4:48PM]

Oh goody. Now I can buy another Apple Extreme so that I can have the gigabit ethernet ports that should have been there in the first place.

Now, my wallet's burning a hole in it as I wait for the lime green colored model to be introduced.

I, like so many, am an Apple sucker. Fool on me.