Can someone please explain this to me

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Level 1

5 points

Can someone please explain this to me

I finally decided to go wireless, but I am confused a little. I apologise in advance if this question is stupid or ridiculous.

Today I went to the Apple Store to ask what I had to do/buy to be able to go wireless. I have 3 computers in my house. Two of which are desktops (a PC and a Mac) and one PowerBook G4. Right now, I have one modem and ethernet adapters. Obviously, I don't necessarily need wireless for the desktops. The guy in the Apple Store showed me the AirPort Express Base Station and said that's all I had to get (provided that I have the card in my laptop). I'm a little confused because I remember that when I wanted to do this a year ago another guy in another Apple Store quoted me a price that was much higher. Now, when I came home I went to the Apple website and discovered that there is also an Apple Extreme Base Station. I don't understand the difference between these two. Is Extreme just a newer version? I live in Switzerland and they don't have Apple Extreme Base Station on the Swiss website (apple.ch). They also didn't have it in the Apple store. Is this to be released in Switzerland? If it's the newer/better version to be released I'd rather wait with purchasing. Can anyone please help me?

PowerBook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Posted on Aug 21, 2006 4:17 PM

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Answer 1

Aug 21, 2006 4:29 PM in response to Adrienne L.1

Apple stopped selling the Extreme in Europe due to it not meeting the requirements for the RoHS, a regulation that aims to reduce the amount of harmful substances being used in electronic equipment.

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Answer 2

Adrienne L.1 Author

Level 1

5 points

Aug 22, 2006 4:09 AM in response to ADSL Nation

thank you for your reply.

So theoretically, is Extreme faster/better than Express? And is it correct that all I have to do is buy this Express Base Station - nothing else? I'm just really confused because like I said, last time I asked them they quoted me a much higher price.

PowerBook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.7)

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Answer 3

Duane

Level 10

124,267 points

Aug 22, 2006 5:48 AM in response to Adrienne L.1

So theoretically, is Extreme faster/better than Express?

No they are the same.

How do you currently connect to the Internet? Do you already have a router?

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Answer 4

Aug 22, 2006 6:44 AM in response to Adrienne L.1

Apple recommends Airport Express for Home use... i suggest you to go for Airport Express.

Extreme & Expess are same in usage. but the basic difference is that Extreme allows upto 50 user and Express supports upto 10 users only.

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Answer 5

Duane

Level 10

124,267 points

Aug 22, 2006 6:47 AM in response to Adrienne L.1

Right now, I have one modem and ethernet adapters. Obviously, I don't necessarily need wireless for the desktops.

Please describe the physical connections. If you have a router, using the AirPort Express (AX) will work for you. If you don't have a router, you won't be able to use the AX directly because it will not support your desktop's Ethernet connections.

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Answer 6

Sep 2, 2006 5:14 AM in response to Duane

your question is not clear...

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Answer 7

Sep 2, 2006 8:59 AM in response to Adrienne L.1

Hello, Adrienne, welcome to the club,

If i understand your question and description, your situation is pretty much like the one I have: i have a modem supplied by my ISP, and i want to have a flexible connection for 2 (in your case: 3) computers. What i have is
ISP-modem -> ethernetcable -> Airport Express -> air -> computers with airportcard.
This works fine with Airport Express, which can handle much more than this configurations. Airport Extreme does even more, but costs also more (199 vs 129). Both were available 1.5 years ago, when i bought my stuff, and are still available (here in Holland, and on the Apple site in the US) for the same price.

Whereas the wireless-setup has the reputation of being difficult, the configuration with the A-Express as I use it, is extremely simple and straightforward . The Express can also be used to talk from one computer to the other, or to connect wireless printers , the ipod, and to stream music. All this I don't use. PC(Windows) can be handled as well, according to the instructions, but I don't have experience with this.

In the case you want to do more you might either want to look at the Apple suppurt pages, or describe you rproblem/wishes in more detail; I'm sure, there will be somebody here able to help.

I hope this clears your doubts.

post back in case of questions.

thomas

iMac G5, 768 MB, PB G4 12" Mac OS X (10.3.9) PB runs osx 10.4

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