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View Full Version : Buy Airport Express now or wait for "N" model?

Satchmo
2006-12-08, 10:12
With a new chipset in the Macs, and the iTV launch around the corner, do you think it's inevitable that a new wireless "N" model is coming in January?
torifile
2006-12-08, 10:43
What are you going to use it for? Unless you're doing heavy lifting on your intranet with it, there are few advantages to an N version of the Airport Express. Audio is more than adequately sent over g, as is your broadband connection.
spotcatbug
2006-12-08, 10:48
Is G fast enough for DVD backups streamed from a server?
Satchmo
2006-12-08, 10:49
Good point.
Nothing right now that I would need "N", but just future proofing I suppose.
Plus, with Steve's RDF at MWSF, I'm sure the iTV will be something on my to buy list.
chucker
2006-12-08, 11:01
Bandwidth isn't n's only advantage; a more relevant one is QoS, which will help especially with video streaming.
Wraven
2006-12-08, 11:27
Satchmo,

I would DEFINITELY wait. MWSF is only 1 month away. Odds are some variations of N products will be availalbe or at least announced at that time.
torifile
2006-12-08, 17:53
Bandwidth isn't n's only advantage; a more relevant one is QoS, which will help especially with video streaming.
It comes back to the use of the device. If it's your primary router, there are better/cheaper options. I *personally* wouldn't buy one now, especially with the imminent release of the next standard but that's just me.
Eugene
2006-12-08, 23:04
What are you going to use it for? Unless you're doing heavy lifting on your intranet with it, there are few advantages to an N version of the Airport Express. Audio is more than adequately sent over g, as is your broadband connection.
The few advantages are the meat and potatoes of what you want out of wireless networking though.

In addition to having 10x the data throughput, 802.11n will have greater range / resistance to interference/reflected signals. When iTV is released, I fully expect new AirPort hardware, 802.11n ratification process be damned. At that point I'll probably be able to replace my *three* Linksys WRT54GS units with one AirPort SupraExtremeFantastic base.