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Top in the class
By: John Evans
August 17, 2009 @ 9:58 AM
The Apple Airport Express works extremely well even on Wireless G.
Unlike most network media players, playlists remain on the host computer (iTunes). Thus large playlist data files don’t need to be analyzed by the media player, and that can cause lag especially if the list being compiled is from a 1 or 2 TB HD.
I have tried Apple TV, Netgear DSM-750 and a couple others, but to date the AE shines above all, and a bargain at $99.00.
I haven’t tried the router capabilities on the AE so I can’t comment.
Rating: 8 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful. Was this user review helpful? Yes | No
Good, But Hard to Set Up for Wi-Fi Novices
By: Josh
March 31, 2008 @ 3:48 PM
Let me start off by saying, that once we got all the bugs worked out, this is an awesome little piece of technology. But I must also say, that it took an entire week to get all the functions to work correctly between just two computers on our home network (my I-Mac and my wife’s Vista based laptop). Apple claims this is a “plug and play” item like everything else they sell. And being a die-hard Mac supporter, I can say up to this point that has always been true. Yet for those of us out there that are not familiar with setting up a Wi-Fi network, which Apple claims this product is for us, beware, you need to understand and know a lot about Wi-Fi, your cable internet (if that is what you have), and much more before you can get this thing to work. Even though most Mac’s have the correct drivers (Airport Utility, etc.) already installed. Don’t bother with them; install what comes on the disc supplied with your AE, this will save you about an hour of headaches. And for Vista users, don’t bother with what is pre-installed or what is on the disc, download the latest version of Bonjour from the Apple website, this will save you days worth of troubleshooting on how to get the printer recognized by your PC. But, like I said, now that everything is running (haven’t tried the Air Tunes because I don’t care about that feature), it is like all Apple products, very, very, nice, compact, and smooth running. Apple needs to send out more detailed instructions with this product and provide better support, after all, we expect that type of service from them, not the “it doesn’t work and takes forever to fix” type of service most of us have come to know and love from Microsoft.
Rating: 6 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful. Was this user review helpful? Yes | No
Security not straightforward, but works great
By: Ron
December 27, 2007 @ 5:27 PM
Problems:
-Security setup for joining WEP networks is NOT straightforward. Certainly doable, but would be difficult for non-tech types
-Bootup time is longer than most routers, makes it confusing waiting for connection.
Positives:
-I have no discernable lags or problems in signal.
-Hookup is SIMPLE!
-Once setup, it really does work much better than competing products I have experienced and tried.
Rating: 8 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful. Was this user review helpful? Yes | No
A+Design, A+Features, A+Ease of Use
By: Napplestic
August 2, 2006 @ 8:12 AM
This product is available for people who want a stress free, powerful, and reliable connection that also has options and style in mind. This featured review is from biased box-heads so you are now informed.
“Its the product that makes the name”
Rating: 8 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful. Was this user review helpful? Yes | No
Terrible trouble followed by heaven
By: Paddy
December 8, 2004 @ 5:09 AM
I am a non-apple user and I also have an existing wireless network at home. I was desperate to connect my laptop wirelessly to my various hi-fis. The instalation was very difficult and didnt work but eventually it just did! very bizare. Now it works I love it! There are some quirks though from time to time the connection drops but its opretty infrequent and the wife loves the lack of cables!
Rating: 8 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful. Was this user review helpful? Yes | No
What?? Am I using the same product
By: Amy in BOS
October 24, 2004 @ 8:09 AM
I thought the review in this article are clearly off. Why do I need to but the kit to use iTunes on my stereo I went to Walmart and got the same products, non apple, for less than $10.00. This product is perfect and does what it says it will. The only issue I had is the lack of a remnote control but I just create a playlist and have no worries.
Rating: 10 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful. Was this user review helpful? Yes | No
Perfect
By: Johnny K
October 24, 2004 @ 7:57 AM
I love it I use is to extend my wirless network for my PC and take it while traveling. The size makes it easy to fit in my laptop bag. I think this may be a nitch market but I thought of the MP3 player also. I am not Apple fan but I have to admit the ipod and now this make it nice for a PC user to have great products that are easy to use. The express is a definite winner.
Rating: 10 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful. Was this user review helpful? Yes | No
did what i wanted
By: Bob
October 19, 2004 @ 12:10 PM
I was looking for a small portable wireless g router for travel and the reviews in portable magazines on the regular windows models sucked-saw this in an ad, bought it, tried to use the install disk, forget it, just plugged it in and both my lappy and my desktop love it-I dont want to stream and wireless print, just wanted something small that looked good and worked.
I am a very careful shopper and know this is twice as much as it should be but I dont care. I am very happy.
Rating: 10 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful. Was this user review helpful? Yes | No
wrks with mac better than pc
By: mildlypssd
August 28, 2004 @ 10:41 PM
customer service was not very helpful for the pc based side. If you own more than a mac like I do stick with a Belkin. I was foolish when I returned my Belkin router. It worked flawlessly and was very reliable with both platforms. I can say the same for the Airport express. Since I work out of my home and use a pc I plan to repurchase a Belkin. problems included set up, signal strength, and signal disruption (too often for me).
I am not super technical and i don’t have all day to talk to tech support people all over the world with four to five different manufactures. If you do, go ahead and buy an airport express for your pc. You will be sorry.
Rating: 5 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful. Was this user review helpful? Yes | No
Please post only USER reviews
By: Admin
August 19, 2004 @ 11:45 AM
Only actual user reviews of this product will be posted here. If you care to comment on our review itself, please do so here: http://forums.designtechnica.com/showthread.php?p=31975 Brett, we have moved your last post to the forums. All non user reviews will be deleted.
Rating: 6 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful. Was this user review helpful? Yes | No
Don't Ask Apple for Help on AE
By: UNHAPPY
August 14, 2004 @ 6:04 PM
They will tell you when you call them for help on the Airport Express if you are a windows user, that they will not help on the hook up of the second or third device and here’s the best part, if you ask them for help making the printer feature work, they will refer you to Pro Support (199. per hour). NOT GOOD
Rating: 2 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful. Was this user review helpful? Yes | No
Overrated
By: Bobby
August 11, 2004 @ 4:49 PM
Its nice to finally see an honest review. I think the Airport Express is a waste of money. There are better options out there. The Slimp3 is a nice product but still a little steep at $299 thats for sure, but you are paying for a ton more features. The Airport Express sounds cool in theory, but I found myself just wanting more out of this decide. It does a few things and does them fairly well, but you are certainly paying for the Apple name.
Rating: 5 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful. Was this user review helpful? Yes | No
Are you nuts?
By: PecosBill
August 11, 2004 @ 2:55 PM
Why on earth would I want to get a Squeezebox for $229 when I can get an Airport Express for $129 plus a cable bought locally. Just because Apple sells cables doesn’t mean I have to buy them. I got a perfectly suitible optical cable from Wal-Mart (or Home Depot as I got one from each) for only $20. I already own a mini to RCA breakout cable and don’t need/want a longer power cable.
As for the usefulness & difficulty, I too had some problems. I have no existing base station but two WiFi client cards running a software base station. The software doesn’t let you configure the AE to be a client of that network so I easily switched to the AE as base even though I have no ethernet hooked to it (strictly AirTunes until I take it on the road). The other problem I had was that AirTunes kept dropping out with my 11b client. I had to change the AE config to only talk 11b instead of mixed b/g.
Other than that inital pain, it works very well. I’ll probably only use the print server once in my lifetime, but the tiny form factor and AirTunes made it a must have. Can’t wait to take it with me to my next convention and share a wireless network. I will also use it for when we host convention in 2007.
Rating: 8 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful. Was this user review helpful? Yes | No