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Apple Airport Express Review

Submitted by Mark on August 2, 2010 – 3:44 pm4 Comments



If you’re in the market for the Best Wireless N Routers, take Apple’s Airport Express into consideration first – especially if you only plan to create a simple home network. While the Airport Express lacks the advanced routing features of it’s bigger sibling, Airport Extreme, it’s simplicity is in fact one of its strongest points.

The package consists of the Airport Express base station, installation CD, setup guide and warranty information.

Looking at the ports located on the bottom side will tell you a lot about the capability of this device. It is a wireless hub, a wireless print server, and a wireless audio streamer all rolled in to one sleek little box.

Apple Airport Express is a wireless router based on the IEEE’s latest 802.11 draft-n wireless standard. It is capable of lightning fast transfers of up to 5 times while achieving up to twice the range compared to it’s 802.11g predecessor. With the capability to wirelessly share Internet connection, share files and play multiplayer games for up to 10 users, it can practically run your simple home Wi-Fi network.

Creating your own network, or extend the range of an existing wireless network is unbelievably easy with Apple’s Airport Utility – available for PC and Mac with the included installation CD. It’s as easy as finding the nearest power outlet. For the most part, you just have to follow the on screen instruction to get everything working (as expected from Apple products).

There’s USB port for you to connect your printer to. You can share a single printer with your whole household wirelessly.

Airport Express

Using AirTunes, you can wirelessly stream audio from iTunes to the speakers connected to the 3.5mm audio mini jack. You can choose to setup separate speakers in different parts of your home using multiple Airport Express base stations. You can then select which speakers you would like to hear the music from.

airtunes_itunesdetail_20080115

All of these features can be accessed and configured in Airport Utility. If installed on a Mac, you can find it in the Utilities folder inside the Application folder. If installed on a PC, it can be found on Start > All Programs > Airport. I’ve set up my Airport Express in less than 10 minutes.
Airport Express

It is very perplexing how a multipurpose device of these features, and with a built in power supply, fits in a compact and slim 94mm x 75mm x 28.5mm shell. It doesn’t take much space on wall outlets too.

What I like most about the Airport Express is it’s versatility and portability, especially during travels. It’s small and light at 210 grams makes lugging it on the road less of a chore. By wirelessly sharing the hotel provided Internet connection via the Ethernet port, all your other devices like iPads, iPods, notebooks and even mobile phones will be able to connect to your just-created password-protected Wi-Fi network instantly.

And good news for us who loves to travel with only a mobile phone (for checking emails) and an iPod (for listening to music) in hand. The USB 2.0 port of Airport Express is powered – meaning, you can charge your iPod with it. Just plug your iPod USB cable, no need for extra power supply!

Airport Express is the perfect choice if you want to build a simple home Wi-Fi network, or if you want a router to take with you on travels. It’s a no fuss, no non-sense product that actually works. It borders on being expensive, but it makes up for the added features and stellar product design.

However, if you require advanced routing capabilities, this product is not for you. Feel free to check other Wireless Router Reviews out there.

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4 Comments »

  • GirlOpinion says:

    I’ve been looking for a handy router which I can take with me especially when in travel. I think this is the best solution for me. Thanks for providing review about this product

  • Scott Nolan says:

    I love our Airport Express and take it with us when we travel.

    I have two minor complaints:
    1) I wish it had better router features and an SPI firewall…
    2) I wish that either it allowed Web configuration through https, or Apple would release an Airport Utility (software that sets up the device) for iOS and Android operating systems (currently only Windows and Mac OS X are supported). Once configured, any standard 802.11b/g/n devices can use this lovely little access point; but to change configuration (frequent when traveling) you need to have the Airport Utility software and (therefore) a laptop. We can ALMOST travel with just the Airport Express and an iPad and our iPhones… but not quite.

    • Musick7 says:

      I agree with some of Scott Nolan has to say,
      It would be Great if Apple would release an iPhone/iPad mini Aiport Utility to setup or change Any of thier Base Stations.
      I wonder if they’ve even thought about this for an App Store App…

      Maybe one day?

  • Johann says:

    I still have one question I haven’t been able to find the answer to. You can choose to which set of speakers itunes streams to, but can you play the music to ALL the connected speakers in the house?

    I’d like the music to play from the audio port on the iMac, AND from the airport express in the living room.

    Thanks!

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