Apple has quietly updated one more product today. Hidden at the end of the iMac press release we find out that the Airport Extreme Base Station now sports Gigabit Ethernet ports (one WAN, 3 for devices) whereas only yesterday they were 100baseT. The Airport Extreme Base Station tech specs haven't been updated on its own site as of yet, but the picture above was snagged from the Apple Store. They are still priced at $179.
Thanks, Stephen Chan.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-07-2007 @ 4:30PM
Angela said...
Crap, now I have to replace the one we just bought a month ago!
Yikes, my C/C companies are going to looove us this month.
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8-07-2007 @ 4:35PM
mentalsticks said...
I hate it when Apple updates their stuff after a couple of months. Why don't they come out with the good stuff immediately?
OTOH, maybe they just listen to their customers.
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8-07-2007 @ 4:49PM
Angela said...
Right, why can't they get it right the first time? I spent a lot of money on a unit which didn't have the standard gigabit which most of those in that price-point have anyway. What gives? Really, it's a ripoff. Actually, with the diminished reception we've had since 10.4.10, I'm leary of even getting another one until things are more polished. There are too many gamers in our family who are complaining.
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8-07-2007 @ 5:15PM
Mo said...
If it having gigabit ethernet was *such* a big deal, you wouldn't have bought the Airport in the first place.
Personally? My old Airport Express is working just fine, though I want an Extreme for the Airport Disk stuff (I must confess, the extra three ethernet ports help). It having gigabit is nice, but only *really* useful if you're hammering an 802.11n connection to it, or shifting stuff between wired computers that use the AE as a switch.
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8-07-2007 @ 5:22PM
joe said...
Nice... This is a good reason to pick one up finally. I can get rid of the gigabit hub and the wireless router and replace it with an all in one... Oh and it is n as well, my old wireless is still g.
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8-07-2007 @ 5:23PM
SweetBlue said...
Does anyone know if this is via a firmware update, or is it new hardware??
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8-07-2007 @ 5:28PM
scott said...
@Sweetblue
New hardware, the gigabit switch is hardware based.
You know, this is the first time that Apple has updated stuff EXACTLY as i was about to purchase, it's a wonderful feeling.
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8-07-2007 @ 5:30PM
Adam Turetzky said...
Are they accepting trade-ins from us "early adopters"?
Damit! I knew I should have waited.
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8-07-2007 @ 5:40PM
Scotty said...
That's all good but how about adding a 2nd USB port for those of us who have BOTH a hard drive and a printer...
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8-07-2007 @ 5:50PM
Khurt Williams said...
I did not wait per se...802.11n was just not a compelling reason to replace my current 802.11g device. When I want to move large chunks of data I use a FireWire drive.
When my current 802.11g device dies I will take another look at the AirPort Extreme.
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8-07-2007 @ 6:05PM
big E said...
i just purchased a refurb that has not arrived yet....not sure what options are avail to me
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8-07-2007 @ 6:25PM
Jason said...
"That's all good but how about adding a 2nd USB port for those of us who have BOTH a hard drive and a printer..."
Actually, just add a USB hub to the router - I have three hard drives and a printer working perfectly off a single USB hob on the airport extreme. . .
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8-07-2007 @ 6:26PM
Ryan said...
This makes me angry... I remember them saying "Gigabit isnt needed" blah blah blah bullshit.
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8-07-2007 @ 8:34PM
artifex said...
Hey, all you people who aren't actually doing intranet transfers, there's no need to upgrade to the latest one, because your DSL or FIOS or cable won't get any faster.
And for the rest of you owners, have they worked out the remote disk bugs?
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8-07-2007 @ 10:09PM
mph said...
And so for the avg everyday user, the difference between the 10/100 and gigabit is...
Note: I use my airport exclusively wirelessly, and I'd be surprised if I ever even hit the .11n speeds
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