[jriggy]

Hi all,

 I am getting my first Mac up and running! Got the new 21.5 iMac i5... I use a Modwright modded Transporter for my music.

I would like to get a new router (have a very old D-link that did not want to work with the Mac)... Should I just go for the Airport extreme? I will be switching my wife to a mac as well adding an iPad when the second gen arrives.

Go with the apple router or something else?

Thanks

[baumer]

To me it's a no-brainer, Airport Extreme all the way. Sure some other router may work but save yourself any possible hassles and get the AE.

[jtwrace]

I can't recommend the AirPort Extreme or AirPort Express enough.  They work every time and don't break after two years. 

[turkey]

I like Linksys routers, but I'd say go for the Airport Extreme. It works well and it's easy to use.

I'm not sure why your old router didn't work with your Mac though. Mac OS X doesn't do anything really weird when it comes to networking, so what worked for Windows or other OSes should work for the Mac too.

[Philistine]

Before migrating to Mac I was using a Belkin N1 router, which was very reliable.  Now we're a mixed Mac (Macbook Pro, iMac, iPad, iPod Touches) and PC (PC's, Laptop, Modwright TP, Booms, Duet, Controller) household we switched to a Time Capsule with an Airport Express (as a wireless extender and for TV streaming).

If you are going down the Mac path using an Apple router is the best option for seamless integration, the AirPort utility that is integrated within Snow Leopard makes it so easy to use.  I've been very impressed with the Time Machine/Time Capsule combination in recovering deleted files and making backups an automatic background process.  You might want to consider the Time Capsule alongside the Airport Extreme. 

[jriggy]

Thanks guys!

I think Im going to head out to my local Apple stor to see if I can grab one. Tired of not having tunes in a couple rooms

Turkey,

Im not sure what the issue was either. Most likely something very simple but I have to give up on it the other day due to time. I need to got to "N" now anyway...

Philistine,

 I will look into that today as well. thanks for the heads up on it.


Thanks again all

 jason

[jparkhur]

I have used both Airport X, and Airport Express, along with a linksys, which all have been great.  I beam my music from my airports to my digital in on my dac.  remote is my ipad.

JP

[cody69]

After starting out with a mac mini for playing music, then adding airport express to stream music to den, I've been so impressed I'm expecting to eventually phase most of my home equipment to apple. With this in mind, I thought it made sense to stay consistent with their products when I upgraded my 'g' router to 'n'. So last week I went to apple store and brought home their airport extreme router. As others have said, it installs easy and has a nice admin interface. Best of all I notice much better coverage and speed with other 'n' devices (mini, airport express), and somewhat better coverage with 'g' devices (iTouch, dell laptop). I've only had it a week, but so far have been pleased with it.

[wilsynet]

I can't recommend the AirPort Extreme or AirPort Express enough.  They work every time and don't break after two years.

http://forum.hardmac.com/index.php?showtopic=167

[chrisby]

I had a buddy set up  a Time Machine a few days ago to replace a year or so old Airport Extreme in my home system, and the wireless aspect certainly "feels" to be more robust - so far no AirTunes/AirPlay dropouts to the AEX like previously.  ( and BTW, pretty cool GUI on the Time Machine software)

Of course, time will tell if thermal stability issues that I've heard have "occasionally" been issues for compact packages with self contained power supplies are resolved.  Nothing like having a unit designed for "carefree automatic" network file backups melt down.


As Cody alluded above, it's not hard to get addicted to these gadgets - with trade-in on the Extreme and a few extra bucks, I'll soon be getting one of the new ATVs, then maybe later a Mini and iPhone for vastly upgraded performance in the 2nd and 3rd system. 

we are a sick lot