Keepin' it real fake, part CLXIII: AirPort Express gets expressly aped

Listen up, KIRF fans. We've got a real unique one on our hands today, as this critter copies not one, but two entities in a single fell swoop. For starters, the company is named CNet Technology -- we'll let you do the math there -- and secondly, this thing looks just about exactly like Apple's own AirPort Express. Sure, there are a few extra LEDs on there to really ugly it up, but only someone in serious denial would ever say this thing didn't get its inspiration from Cupertino. Officially dubbed the CWR-635M, this portable router / WAP simply plugs into one's wall socket and provides a pair of Ethernet jacks and two USB ports locally for even more networking fun. There's no telling if this copycat will ever be released on US soil, but given that made it into the FCC's database, we reckon anything is possible.

[SimonRichards @ Oct 5th 2008 7:24PM]

Probably cheaper than Apple's, so where is the problem?

[Flashpoint @ Oct 5th 2008 7:51PM]

This is probably cheaper than Apple, but it sure looks cooler than the Apple.
I'd easily buy this over Airport.

[kevinm @ Oct 5th 2008 8:29PM]

But how well does it perform? So far I see nothing Apple can sue for, except for Cnet Networks/CBS for the name.

[kevinm @ Oct 5th 2008 8:32PM]

Actually...

They've been in business for a pretty good time. You can't copyright/patent the shape and color of a device.

[imacmatt09 @ Oct 5th 2008 8:48PM]

@ kevinm

T-mobile comes to mind...

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Oct 5th 2008 9:41PM]

Seems the relevant (competitive) question is if it has any of the features of the AX; print server, music streaming, client mode, relay mode, etc.

[Darwin @ Oct 6th 2008 7:56PM]

Exactly. And moreover, it has oodles of features (rtfm, haters):
-physical switch to go from Router to AP to Bridge modes (changing the use of the RJ45s)
-USB disk connection
-Web cam server
-print server
-scanner server
-card reader server (wha???)
-Samba server
-audio server

That's pretty damn righteous, if you ask me.

[Marcus @ Oct 5th 2008 7:31PM]

OH MY GOD. IT IS WHITE!!! CALL STEVE ZOMG!!11

seriously...

[Decoy @ Oct 5th 2008 7:35PM]

Nintendo must have ripped off Apple when they made the Wii.

Come to think of it, my fridge is white and smooth with rounded corners, OMG, what theft.

[Quix @ Oct 5th 2008 11:27PM]

Any bonehead who thinks the claim this is an Apple dupe is only because it's white has never seen an Airport Express before.

Or is so blinded by anti-Apple rage (which most Engadget commenters seem to be), that they don't care if it is a carbon copy.

[fh @ Oct 5th 2008 11:57PM]

@Quix:

Congratulations for completely missing the point. If we were talking about a rip-off of the iPhone, a high-end PMP, or any other device where aesthetics greatly influences the user experience, the comparison would be reasonable. But we're talking about a router. Since when does anyone care if one router looks exactly like another? Most people only care about functionality and performance; those that get hung up on aesthetics are tools.

Ergo: "Wow, it's white and it plugs directly into the wall; why the hell does that matter?"

[Leindurstit @ Oct 5th 2008 7:33PM]

Oh my god, it's white plastic. Must be an apple rip. Except like so many other rip-off products, this one appears to offer more functionality compared to the real thing.

[Ryback @ Oct 6th 2008 2:57AM]

Looks like it hooks up to 3G networks and allow you to share it over WLAN. Maybe something to consider when I fail at hacking 3G into my AAO. This is the smallest 3G to WLAN-device I have seen yet.

http://www.cnet.com.tw/product/cwr-635m.html

[Basketcase456 @ Oct 5th 2008 7:39PM]

I actually have heard of CNet technologies before. They generally make generic peripherals such as network cards and modems (back when people used 56k modems).

As for this being a copycat, lets get serious and look at it. The things that are offered on the device are totally different than those on an Airport Express.

[bhtooefr @ Oct 6th 2008 4:01PM]

Not only that, but my former employer had a bunch of Dells with CNet-made RTL8139a network cards. So even Dell uses their stuff, it seems.

[Jhongerkong @ Oct 5th 2008 7:56PM]

I bet if I brought a Wii into Engadget HQ, nobody would believe that it was made by Nintendo

[Wolfticket @ Oct 5th 2008 7:56PM]

Yeah, those extra LEDs really ugly it up /sarcasm

[Sam @ Oct 5th 2008 8:02PM]

this is a fail for KIRF

[Jules Lauve @ Oct 5th 2008 8:08PM]

This, from an avowed fanboy of zip code 95014: Hey, if our friends at CBS/CNET don't mind the name (fat chance), I'll glad to see on our shores - for a reasonable price - a compact, portable wireless router with the USB and wired ethernet out ports missing from the AirPort Express. That is, as long as it (1) is "n", (2) has audio out (the photo doesn't show that), and (3) really works.

[cesium @ Oct 5th 2008 9:17PM]

CNet Technologies was formed 6 years BEFORE CNET Networks. i have an old cnet NIC in our old dell, it sucks.

[Jon Doe. @ Oct 5th 2008 8:09PM]

So if its ugly its probably 10x more functional then the Apple equivalent. And when did being notified of what is going on in a device == ugly? Fucking a-holes. Apple is actually a plague on the computer industry. they are killing functionality across all products in the name of making it pretty. I still can't tell when my MPB is really really to work and the hard drive has settled down after a boot because there is no damn HD light on it. Meanwhile I try and open adium or Firefox, or a handful of other apps and wait because oops the OS is still loading shit and its trashing the HD.

[linuxamp @ Oct 6th 2008 12:24AM]

"they are killing functionality across all products"
I have to disagree. They are killing some functionality in some products but also innovating in others.

What really pisses me off is how they try to patent things that will significantly fracture standards. Case in point, Apple is trying to patent all their multi-touch gestures. If they are awarded the patent then we'll have to remember all the different gestures across all our multi-touch devices unless the device makers are willing to pay Apple. Then again, MS apparently owns mouse clicks but I don't think a lot of people even respect that one.
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/02/1086058889577.html

[fh @ Oct 5th 2008 8:17PM]

Wow, talk about loyalism. If the device's features and performance were inferior, I would understand the criticism, but no evidence for that has been provided. Honestly, loving an iPhone/iPod is one thing, but being a fanboy over a router? That's just sad.

Also, when was the last time you complained about too many LEDs on any other router? I fully expect future routers to be judged heavily on aesthetics since it so clearly affects functionality. I mean, sure they copied Apple, but why exactly does that matter?

[ohng @ Oct 5th 2008 9:18PM]

In a related note, a friend of mine named his dog "Cisco". For him it fits perfectly.

[KilgoreTrout @ Oct 5th 2008 8:18PM]

Why should anybody care if his router bears some resemblance to the one made by some other brand?
Does it work ? Does it have the right price? is it what I need?
If the answers to this questions are yes then my router could look like G. W. Bush for what I care.

[KilgoreTrout @ Oct 5th 2008 8:19PM]

Why should anybody care if his router bears some resemblance to the one made by some other brand?
Does it work ? Does it have the right price? is it what I need?
If the answers to this questions are yes then my router could look like G. W. Bush for what I care.

[linuxamp @ Oct 6th 2008 12:29AM]

People should care if it is intentionally designed to look like a popular product with the intention of using the other products reputation or worse, tricking people into thinking it is the other product.

There are trade dress laws which protect designs and colors schemes but I'm no legal expert so I can't tell you how different a product has to be in order to be legal.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_dress

[KilgoreTrout @ Oct 5th 2008 8:19PM]

Why should anybody care if his router bears some resemblance to the one made by some other brand?
Does it work ? Does it have the right price? is it what I need?
If the answers to this questions are yes then my router could look like G. W. Bush for what I care.

[GadgetTamer @ Oct 5th 2008 8:25PM]

Wow, triple post. Good Job!!!

[Moochr @ Oct 5th 2008 8:30PM]

does it seamlessly extend the range of my time capsule or base station? does it integrate with itunes with airtunes? i don't see a copy here, like everyone else says, its white and square...

[Jason White @ Oct 5th 2008 8:41PM]

I almost read that as expressly -r-aped. I was like WTF.

[Benson @ Oct 6th 2008 12:14AM]

I read your comment, and after convulsions of laughter subsided, was also like WTF.

I'm not even gonna try Rule 34ing this.

[RoyHarper @ Oct 5th 2008 8:44PM]

No AirTunes. No audio jack at all. Not 802.11n. No swappable power cord, one for length, one to plug right in. I guess it has features, but it's missing what I want. I don't need an FTP server built into this thing. Just an audio port will suffice.

[SimonRichards @ Oct 5th 2008 9:31PM]

It has an FTP server? Holy shit im buying one now.

[CH @ Oct 5th 2008 9:32PM]

They put the jacks on the wrong side -- either way you use it, it will interfere with *both* receptacles. If you're going to copy something, at least do it well. Another poster mentioned "No AirTunes. No audio jack at all. Not 802.11n. No swappable power cord".

Pfff.

[Jash Sayani @ Oct 5th 2008 10:22PM]

Cool. I didn't know CNet was not copyrighted by CNet Networks!!!

Nice router but I use only Belkin. Just got the N1 Vision !

[DT @ Oct 5th 2008 10:22PM]

Judging from the text by the LEDs, this thing will pull itself right out of the socket when it's plugged in the right way, unless it weight less than a couple ounces or you have an exceptionally tight socket. Try plugging in an Airport express the wrong way and you'll know what I mean.

[Aquify @ Oct 5th 2008 10:45PM]

My socket is tight.

[KC @ Oct 5th 2008 10:24PM]

Nope. Not at all.

[SimonRichards @ Oct 5th 2008 10:27PM]

He has nobody to blame but himself!

[Mobius @ Oct 5th 2008 10:56PM]

you will always get copy cats, this one looks resonable, although I don't like the LED placement. The maker is CNET Technology? Hmmm I'm guessing CNET.com won't be too happy about that. With news travel so fast these days over the net, I won't be surprised to see something posted on CNET news lol

[pwned88 @ Oct 6th 2008 12:35AM]

OI! has anybody here used anything that isn't an apple product? linksys has had a product out for a while not that looks a lot more like it (with exception of the cheapo genera-white look that apple is famous for) http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_Product_C2&childpagename=US/Layout&cid=1122062241008&pagename=Linksys/Common/VisitorWrapper (sry for the massive link) seriously tho, i'd just buy the linksys, full DD-WRT compatibility. And zomg, cuz it has a similar shape it must also be an apple ripoff, the flame wars get so intense here I can actually feel my IQ drop as i scroll the comments.

[Patriks7 @ Oct 6th 2008 1:17AM]

It might have the Airport design, but it sure is sounds better.. 2 USB ports? I could connect my printer and external HDD and never worry about all the wires on my table because its those two that always get tangled up the most.

[Steve @ Oct 6th 2008 2:29AM]

"Sure, there are a few extra LEDs on there to really ugly it up"

What have you been smoking? Everyone knows that the coolness factor of a gadget is directly proportionate to the number of LEDs it has.

[m-p{3} @ Oct 6th 2008 7:52AM]

According to your definition of coolness, this must be the coolest device on Earth
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aj3_v7xCyJ0

[m-p{3} @ Oct 6th 2008 7:56AM]

Sorry, this one is even better
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7toXDJZfxug&feature=related

[KA @ Oct 6th 2008 12:18PM]

Helps if it's black.

[LostPhil @ Oct 6th 2008 7:45AM]

Eh? I think anyone who buys a router because it looks like another one needs to sit down and reflect on whats important in life.

And for the record - it just looks like a generic router that plugs directly into the wall. I'm wondering if anyone will see one of these and say "My god, you've got an AirPort Express, that's awesome!!".


...It's not going to happen is it?

[m-p{3} @ Oct 6th 2008 7:51AM]

Looks like a nice travel router. I'd get one if I knew where to get it in a local store.

[KA @ Oct 6th 2008 12:19PM]

For the few who don't know, here's the AirPort Express:
http://images.apple.com/airportexpress/images/overview_express_20080115.png