In Brief

If you're a Mac user, the AirPort Extreme has a lot to recommend it, such as the ability to share a USB printer, dial in to your network remotely, and great software and support. Advanced features like WDS and WPA are a snap to configure, and firmware updates are handled automatically through Mac OS X's Software Update. But severe shortcomings like a very high price tag, relatively poor performance (although adequate for most purposes), and a lack of a 4-port Ethernet switch reduce its appeal.

In Depth

Apple definitely took the slogan "Think Different" to heart when designing the AirPort Extreme base station. To be fair, the first flying saucer-shaped AirPort came out before companies like D-Link, Linksys and NetGear had even heard of Wi-Fi, so maybe we should be surprised all such routers aren't round and cuddly. But the difference is not just in the striking design we've come to expect from Apple. It's also in price (two to four times higher than the competition), features, and configuration software.

So what makes the AirPort worth its extreme price? Certainly not performance, which goes from middling to poor, the further you get from the base station. Besides design, what distinguishes the AirPort Extreme from the rest of the pack are unique features like USB printer sharing (just connect your printer directly to the base station, and the printer will appear via Rendezvous), the ability to dial into your network using the built-in modem, AppleTalk support (for older printers and servers), and an external antenna port, which you may well need to help make up for the limited range of the base unit.

Are these pluses worth the price of admission? That really depends on how badly you need its special features. If you have a large investment in AppleTalk devices (as with many schools), AirPort may be the only way to go. Or if you want to set up a dial-in capability for your network so you can connect to file-sharing computers on the road without exposing them to the wider Internet. USB printer sharing is a handy feature, but probably not worth the price differential by itself. Most Macs and PCs are capable of sharing a USB printer these days. And as for the antenna port, some of the other routers we tested have good enough range not to need an aftermarket antenna in the first place.

Apple also makes a version of the AirPort without the modem and antenna ports, but at just $50 less, it's still several times the cost of competing wireless routers. And both AirPorts lack the usual four-port Ethernet switch, meaning you'll need to buy a separate hub or switch to connect more than one wired client. Network pros will also miss a number of features standard on PC-centric routers, such as a configurable firewall or logging and alerts. Another knock on the AirPort Extreme has been persistent unexplained signal dropouts, which may happen several times a day for short periods. This problem was severe when the AirPort Extreme came out a year ago, although greatly reduced now, thanks to numerous firmware updates. But it's still not gone entirely.

That said, many Mac users will choose AirPort Extreme anyway, thanks to its great software, built-in OS support (updates to the administration software and firmware are handled through the automatic Software Update feature), and thorough Mac support. Most wireless router vendors don't provide specific Mac setup instructions, and their tech support people may be clueless when you call. And while its performance is not great compared to the competition, throughput is still much faster than most home DSL or cable modems, so you may not notice the difference.

If you need any of its unique features, or just want to stay with Apple for ease of support and maintenance, the AirPort Extreme is a perfectly solid choice for most home users who won't notice the performance deficit.