Apple AirPort Express Review

Apple's AirPort Express promises wireless printing, streaming of iTunes music, and Internet access for up to 10 users. But do you really want your printer near your home theater?

Summary

The AirPort Express certainly has a lot to offer in a small package, but the device’s practicality may be relative only to a small subset of users. Those that specifically want to use iTunes for their music streaming and don’t mind having to use their laptop will find the AirPort Express useful. Those that don’t have a wireless network and only want wireless clients (10 or less) may also be interested in the product. The device may be perfect for those that live in a small apartment or dorm room and don’t want a wired network and don’t mind having their stereo in the same room as their printer. But if you plan on using all of the AirPort Express’ features, or already have a wireless network, you may want to reconsider.

 

And while Apple wants you to believe that the $129 price is a steal, keep in mind that the package does not include any connectors for audio or Ethernet and the connection pack is an additional $39. It seems to us that you are paying a premium for the Apple name in a product that is certainly unique, but just may not be practical for many users.

 

The AirPort Express has an acceptable wireless range and speed and, for the most part, is easy to set up. It also does a good job of printing with supported printers and playing iTunes music. There’s no denying that the AirPort Express mostly works as described by Apple, the problem is that its uniqueness might overshadow its actual usefulness.

Since it seems like most of the big manufacturers are getting into the networked media game, it was only a matter of time before Apple Computer released their own solution. That product, just released last week, is Apple’s AirPort Express; a palm-sized device that shares digital music on your computer with your home stereo, provides wireless Internet access, and acts as a print server.

 

Compatible with Macs and PCs, as well as third-party networking products, the AirPort Express allows you to enjoy your iTunes music library in virtually any room of your house. It also allows you to wirelessly share a broadband Internet connection and a USB printer, with the ability to create a new wireless network or join an existing network.

 

Small enough to pack on a business trip and retailing for $129, the AirPort Express seems to offer something for almost everyone from students to mobile professionals to digital music aficionados.

 

Apple’s AirPort Express is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand.

Design and Features

 

In typical Apple fashion, the AirPort Express Base Station incorporates a minimalist design with few buttons or interfaces and a white, almost featureless finish. The palm-sized 3.7-inch by 2.95-inch by 1.12-inch box features just a single Ethernet port, a USB port, an audio output and a pin-sized reset button. There is a single status light centered on the front edge that displays green or amber depending on its status, and a silver Apple logo on each side.

 

The AirPort Express is powered by a built-in, flip-out two prong plug, and it can also be powered by a 6-foot cord included in the optional AirPort Express Stereo Connection Kit. The $39 kit includes the power extension cord, a Monster mini-to-RCA left/right audio cable, and a Monster mini-to-optical digital Toslink audio cable.

 

The AirPort Express shown with the optional Stereo Connection Kit.

 

Supporting 802.11g and 802.11b networks, the AirPort Express is compatible both with Apple’s other AirPort products, as well as most other wireless devices. It can be used to extend the range of an existing wireless network, create a new wireless network, or to join a current network and add wireless printing and iTunes playback.

 

The iTunes playback feature may be the most important to most consumers interested in purchasing this product, since there aren’t many networked media devices that support Apple products. Manufacturers such as SlimDevices and Roku have created networked devices that can play music stored on PC, Mac and Linux computers, but most of the other companies don’t support Apple. AirPort Express supports both Mac and PC, and allows users to share their digital music downloaded from Apple’s iTunes music store, or other MP3, WAV, AAC, or FLAC files. By plugging the AirPort Express into your home theater, stereo, or powered speakers with an analog or digital connection, music stored on your Mac or PC can be streamed wirelessly via the latest version of Apple’s iTunes.

 

For detailed specifications, please visit the specifications page at this link, or by clicking on the tab at the top of this review.

Setting up the AirPort Express

 

Setup of the AirPort Express is fairly easy and straightforward, with Apple including an instruction booklet for both Mac and PC environments. The included CD installs a setup wizard and a separate management program, as well as iTunes and Apple’s Quicktime media player. This was a bit annoying to us as there is no way to chose to not install Quicktime and while most Macs may already have it, PC users often have no need, or desire, to install the application.

 

While most other wired and wireless routers have web-based management consoles, the AirPort Express can only be managed with Apple’s Airport Admin Utility, or the setup assistant. To set the device up, you first plug in the audio cable, Ethernet cable and USB printer cable