Airport Extreme vs. D-link

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Level 2

245 points

Airport Extreme vs. D-link

I'm trying to remain one of the faithful (Windows-free home since 1984) and I'll soon have 2nd MacBook to go with the one I bought last month, both wanting to use 802.11 connections. I have an original Airport graphite model that's been faithful and still working fine with the MacBook and my old iBook and occasional trasient Win laptops, mating with a separate firewall/router and cable modem. Works fine for internet as it's all faster than the cable moden, but I do notice the .11b speed in a big printing job or file transfer. That's going to be more noticeable when I upgrade the wife's non-wireless old Powerbook to a MacBook as she does more printing and file trasfers (works from Home).

So, the question of the day is - Airport Extreme vs. D-Link? D-link because they do management via standard browser interface and generally seem to support (or at least don't exclude) Apple users. Here are the key tradeoffs in my mind:
- spec sheets seems to say the same things...no winner there, but it's what they DON'T say that worries me!
- $195 + 5 weeks for an AEBS vs $29.99 after rebate for a D-Link WBR-1310 on Amazon today. yikes! Does this mean Apple is selling all they can make, or that they're going out of the business? (Apple Store also quotes 5 weeks)
- Amazon star ratings: 1 for the D-link, 4.5 for the AEBS...hummm, that tells a story!
- Downloaded manual for the D-Link described the setup, and it's a little geeky - well maybe a lot geeky - but I don't know how much better or worse the AEBS is, tho I'd guess a lot better, although Amazon reviewers and my other Apple experience so AEBS will be a lot better. For $150 price difference and the 5 weeks difference in shipping time can I probably get it to work?
- Simultaneous .11b and .11g connections-can anyone comment? No product data I can find from either company will say they will do a and g AT THE SAME TIME, although I believe they will both do both. This matters to most to my iBook that's basic .11b Airport only.
- Range/speed performance? They both make the same standard 802.11g claim about 150 feet range, but I live in a tiny house so I'm really more interested in RELIABILITY of that performance and interference problems, since I can also see networks from 3 of my neighbors. (Yes, mine is password protected but one of the neighbor's isn't 😉 )
- the D-Link includes fireall/router, DNS and access point which I could use to replace my old firewall and have one less device to worry about. The AEBS has modem, USB printer, downstrean LAN port, and DNS server that I don't have a use for. Seems like I'm paying for capability I don't need, although I guess the modem could be used for a backup to the cable modem - can it easilly do so?

I understand as well as anyone all the emotional & qualitative arguments for choosing Apple, but no company is perfect. For the relatively huge price differential in this case - is the Apple AEBS worth the difference?

Thanks,

MacBook 2GHz Mac OS X (10.4.8) Dual USB iBook, G3 PowerBook, ruby iMac (PowerPC, Mac Plus, IIe)

Posted on Oct 9, 2006 1:49 PM

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Answer 1

Magpie

Level 4

2,345 points

Oct 9, 2006 2:24 PM in response to Michael King

If affordability is the issue, then you should buy any reputable wifi router that can do 802.11g. I used Belkin once and it worked fine and much cheaper.

If affordability is not the chief concern, then you should get Extreme. As an Apple user, you will appreciate consistent interface and ease of use. It also doubles as a printer server if I am not mistaken.

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Answer 2

Conal Ho

Level 3

503 points

Oct 9, 2006 3:32 PM in response to Michael King

- $195 + 5 weeks for an AEBS vs $29.99 after rebate
for a D-Link WBR-1310 on Amazon today. yikes! Does
this mean Apple is selling all they can make, or that
they're going out of the business? (Apple Store also
quotes 5 weeks)

I'll speak to availability of AEBS.

1. My university bookstore just a few days ago received their shipment of AEBS. They've been waiting for them for many weeks now and finally it has come in.

2. I bought a refurbished AEBS from the Apple online store last week and it was shipped within two days. When I received mine, it had some issues with it. I called up AppleCare, explained it to them and they determined it was a defective unit. The technician said that considering it was a refurbished unit, they decided it was better not to repair it again and rather will be sending me a brand new AEBS. I called up AppleCare again to see when they'll be sending the unit and according to the Disptach agent, they have already shipped out the brand new AEBS to me (although the online status of that Repair order # says "Shipment pending.").

My conclusion right now is that the AEBS is in stock. The reason it was out of stock for a long time had to do with Apple needing to update the AEBS to eliminate some materials in it that was no longer allowed in products sold in the European Union. That affected AEBS sales worldwide, my understanding is.

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