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AirPort Express Base Station with 802.11n and AirTunes

outstanding product

Written by MS from Cincinnati

19/03/2008

WOW! i just bought my airport express hotness at the apple store in cincinnati (best apple store in the world! - JD in the back is the MAN!). i hooked it up to my existing airport extreme network, and it was set up and connected in about 37 seconds. this thing rocks! i have my samsung laser printer hooked up to and my bose computer speakers connected in my room, and this thing works like a charm! go get one - you can use it as a charger for your iPod or iPhone too! the fact that they didn't raise the price makes it an even better deal. this thing is genius...

2439 of 3371 people found this useful

AirPort Express Base Station with 802.11n and AirTunes

Just as advertised

Written by DJ from Parker

19/03/2008

I am amazed at the ease of installation on windows pc in a matter of minutes I had fast wireless, and it has really good range much better that I thought.

2351 of 3329 people found this useful

AirPort Express Base Station with 802.11n and AirTunes

Greatness in a little white box

Written by DN from Bradford

27/03/2008

Well worth the money! I bought this as a quick fix to extend the wireless network in the old house I live in. The problem I'd been having with my wireless router was that due to the density of the walls the wireless signal was not reaching all parts of the house, and so the only way of using the internet/network in some areas was via ethernet cable for each and every device that needed it. However, this little box has changed all that! I now have a single ethernet cable running into the Base Station, and this provides wireless coverage where I need it. It also is great for broadcasting music wirelessly to a stereo, which is a benefit as I use a MacBook Pro, and don't want potential trip hazards everywhere!

As for setting up the device, things couldn't be easier. It worked straight out of the box (although was an unsecured network), and once the software had been installed on my Mac and PC, I was able to set a WEP or WPA/WPA2 password to secure everything. It also works fine connecting with a PS3!

A light on the back of the Base Station displays different colours depending on the status of the device, and any problems can be sorted from the Apple software that you install on your Mac or PC. Broadcasting to your connected speakers is also simple, with a quick and easy change of settings in iTunes.

All in all an excellent piece of kit, with little to fault!

797 of 917 people found this useful

AirPort Express Base Station with 802.11n and AirTunes

Fast, easy, simple - or should that be express?

Written by PG from LONDON

25/03/2008

Easy to install, 100% more reliable than the BT Home Hub we were using before. I think it's a little quicker but that could just be some Apple magic in the air.

Airtunes will revolutionise the way we listen to music at home and can't understand why it's not standard on all Apple routers. Printed from the garden yesterday and we live on the upper ground floor of a central London apartment complex.

All I need to do now is find a way of getting it out of the sideboard and on display because it's a funky little bit of kit. Thanks Apple.

472 of 595 people found this useful

AirPort Express Base Station with 802.11n and AirTunes

WARNING!! Works great for Mac / Not so good with PC

Written by GM from San Francisco

23/03/2008

I bought this a week ago and tried it out. For my MacBook, it was pretty easy. 5 minutes and I was done setting it up. However, when I tried to set up the A.E. on my PC, it didn't work. The Airport Utility on my PC kept saying that it couldn't detect an Airport Express device. For two days I wrestled with this problem. I looked through the user's manual and went to the Apple website, but nothing, no mention of this problem. Then, finally, I found the solution buried in the Apple forum. It turns out that if you turn on the wireless security setting (WEP or WPA) then the PC won't recognize the signal. Why didn't you warn me about that Apple! So the only way for this product to work if you have PC is if you leave the signal unsecure, which I am not too happy about.

You know Apple, you really should bring this problem to the forefront. Apparently a lot of people had this same problem when I was reading through the forums. Sometimes I think that Apple spends too much time glossing over how simple Apple products are to use, but then sweep all the defects under the rug. You're motto is "Apple: it just works." Liars. You just pretend that problems don't exist. You SHOULD warn people about this!!

404 of 531 people found this useful

AirPort Express Base Station with 802.11n and AirTunes

easy peasy!

Written by LH from Southampton

20/03/2008

insert the c.d., install the stuff! follow on screen instructions, to join your existing network have the way you are encrypted to hand and your w.e.p key or whatever. and you done.

O.k, not the most technically detailed description, but then I'm not. works a treat

460 of 651 people found this useful

AirPort Express Base Station with 802.11n and AirTunes

A MUST for travelers!

Written by JL from Tucson

15/04/2008

As a certified road warrior, this comes with me on all trips.
I did use it with a MacBook Pro, now it gets used with a MacBook Air (same usage, but now it’s needed as the Air has no Ethernet port).

Here is how to make the most of it (on the road):

1) HOTELS: Use it IN hotel rooms were they only give you a wired connection on the desk. Plug this into the ethernet cord, and into the power (in a hotel usually right there on the lap base) and in seconds you are connected with NO set-up!

2) OFFICES: Plug this into an unused ethernet connection (sometimes I have to pull one out of the back of someone’s PC, crawling under their desk!) and the wall and you have instant wifi, in an office that does not typically have it available.

3) SHARING: At meetings in hotels, purchase ONE internet connection and instantly setup your own Wifi network for you and your coworkers.

Drawbacks: I wish it was even smaller.
When packing it into a laptop bag, compared with the MB Air, this is adding bulk & weight, albeit small.

At $99 it's a lifesaver!

271 of 301 people found this useful

AirPort Express Base Station with 802.11n and AirTunes

never going back

Written by CP from dearborn

12/04/2008

I've been an apple user w/airport express driving our i-mac and macbook and printer for the last ten months. Before that 8 yrs or so we where pc users with towers and hard wires. Two things we will never go back to ; pc's and hard wire. Never going back ! I know about never.....never willingly going back !!!!
set up is easy and operation is transparent .

608 of 1011 people found this useful

AirPort Express Base Station with 802.11n and AirTunes

Sweet and Solid

Written by HE from Agassiz

11/04/2008

It took me less than five minutes to plug in and set up. I found AE well documented in (a rare experience) clear language. I use it at home to extend my existing wireless Airport Extreme network and take it with me when traveling. I don't stream music and have not tried any additional features it offers.

It just works, is ultra-portable and looks, well, what an Apple product should look like.

490 of 826 people found this useful

AirPort Express Base Station with 802.11n and AirTunes

Flawless

Written by JR from bountiful

11/04/2008

people that complain that they cant set this up within like 10 minutes need some help

549 of 985 people found this useful

AirPort Express Base Station with 802.11n and AirTunes

AirPerfect: Speed and Perfection

Written by DJ from Star

21/03/2008

If you love music this is a must! A recent move necessitated a new wireless router and being an iTunes addict I new this was the product to have. I scooped it up as soon as it was available. Every aspect of this device works as advertised. I did all the initial setup and installation from my Book Pro with no problems. AirTunes works easily and the music synchronizes perfectly playing on my home stereo and external speakers (connected to the laptop) filling my house with iTunes with no sound difference from room to room. the wireless printer is perfect and easy to setup. I had minor difficulties getting my wife's PC laptop to find and connect, after I did Windows updates and restarted the computer 3 times it worked. I have "n" wireless on my laptop and the speed is outstanding. It seems as fast as a hardline ethernet connection from the other side of the house. Well conceived, well designed, and well worth the purchase price.

150 of 191 people found this useful

AirPort Express Base Station with 802.11n and AirTunes

Great after setup nightmare

Written by BB from Edmond

29/03/2008

It took me about two hours to get this set up and I know what I'm doing. Too bad Apple doesn't document the installation and operation a little better. I have an Airport Extreme base station and a couple of the older Airport Expresses, and all I'm trying to do is extend my network. After several hard resets and setup do-overs, I finally ended up telling the Airport Utility that I was replacing one of my existing Airport Expresses and then everything fell into place.
Now that the setup is behind me the thing is working great. It's fast and it has stayed up and running without a hitch.

156 of 204 people found this useful

AirPort Express Base Station with 802.11n and AirTunes

Not ready for prime time

Written by MH from San Francisco

29/03/2008

Take it from someone who wished he knew what he was getting into... I happily used the previous Airport Express (the "g" version) for years without a bit of a problem. I recently got a new iMac, capable of "n" performance and so I upgraded to this new AirEx base station. BIG mistake. Connectivity is faster--but it drops randomly several times per day. Even the the green light is bright and happy, there is no WiFi connection: indeed, the Airport Utility can't even find the brand new AirEx base station. After endless fiddling: rebooting, restarting, unplugging, etc. the connection is reestablished... only to drop again when the screen saver kicks in, or when I swap users, or when a bird flies overhead at just the right angle. I've done a bunch of research and the verdict is... it has something to do with the firmware or the OS, but more than that no one knows for sure. Apple has yet to find a fix or even admit there's a problem (often, Apple Care will tell you to "contact your ISP" even though the problem is clearly on their end).

In other words, you're taking a real chance. This item is NOT ready for general use, except by those who are gamblers, or who don't mind having their wireless life interrupted over and over. I work for myself at home, and this whole experience has cost me time, money, and patience. Please take my advice, and stay away from this product until it is fixed... which, given the general trend at Apple, will probably be in about a year. In early 2009, you will want and deserve this product. Until then, STAY AWAY.

136 of 166 people found this useful

AirPort Express Base Station with 802.11n and AirTunes

Great product, but NOT plug and play!

Written by TM from Columbia

15/05/2008

This is a great product. But be advised that it is NOT plug and play ... at least not for Windows machines. If you have a PC and you buy this -- and I'm telling you it's a great product -- be prepared to spend A LOT of time working on getting it to connect with your PC. You might want to check the discussion boards to see the level of difficulty many are having. Here's a key piece of info: if your network uses WEP encryption, the base station will NOT work. You need to change over to WPA. Took me 2 days to figure this out. Caveat Emptor!

141 of 182 people found this useful

AirPort Express Base Station with 802.11n and AirTunes

Apple Airport Express

Written by AK from FRONTENAC

13/06/2009

I just bought this about a month or two ago and it is a good product. You can take it with you on the road and stream music to it. Pros: WiFi, Airtunes. Cons: A bit Pricey.
That's That!

P.S. You CANNOT use USB speakers with it. Only ones with #=3.5 mm audio outputs.

84 of 88 people found this useful

AirPort Express Base Station with 802.11n and AirTunes

one is not enough!

Written by GC from Mead

13/06/2009

seriously, we use 3 in the house for remote speakers, a printer and just to extend the range / power of our Extreme Base Station.

but the Airport Express really comes into it's own on the road! i travel extensively around the world, 2 more are in my suitcase. one to my desk at the client's office into WiFi hot-spots (esp when there are several of us using one desk in a remote office). the other makes every a hotel room a private WiFi for my MacBook and iPhone.

it's a no brainer to set up ~ in any environment, with or w/o security ... and without needing to call IT. i don't even have to worry about different voltages around the world.

86 of 94 people found this useful

AirPort Express Base Station with 802.11n and AirTunes

Great Data... Failed Airtunes!

Written by WQ from Miami

15/06/2008

I must admit, data transfer as a wireless device is great, add to that the fact you can stick it anywhere there's an outlet. Unfortunately I must give this product a THUMBS DOWN! Music streaming is horrid. I'm using a Macbook, as is my wife, with Wireless N; and the music just keeps cutting off and on. I'm an IT Director and well familiar with the technical workings of a network and have tried just about everything. Apple keeps coming up with "interference", but I can assure you there is none. I'm going to try one of the older Airport Wirelss G models and see, as I don't think they have this issue. What an upset... I'm taking mine back...

147 of 218 people found this useful

AirPort Express Base Station with 802.11n and AirTunes

Easier than expected

Written by AG from Weedon

6/06/2008

After months of deliberation, I decided a few days ago to order an Apple Express. The sole purpose is to stream my iTune music from my PC (windows XP) located in the kitchen all the way to the stereo in the living room on the other side of the house, using my wireless network (I have a Belkin wireless card in the PC and a Belkin wireless modem/router which is actually situated on another floor of the house - long story)

The buying process on the Apple Store was easy enough and I was pleased to see the little package in the postbox when I arrived back home tonight. The question was: Shall I wait until the weekend to have a few hours ahead of me before I start the install or should I just give it a try tonight? I opted for the second option (I've never been known to be a patient man) and here I am, 30 minutes later, music blasting into the living room.

The steps I took:
1) Remove packaging
2) Plug airport to main and stereo (note: cables for the stereo connection are not included, you need to have your own or buy separetely)
3) Turn on computer and launch install CD
4) Launch Airport Programm (I downloaded latest upgrades in the process)
5) Stress a bit when Airport Express is not appearing in list of wireless network and setup is not getting anywhere
6) Turn Airport Express off then on again
7) Hurray, it's recognised! Follow the setup process
8) Launch iTune, select to stream on stereo speakers and it works !!! 30 minutes after opening the package.

It was easier than expected and I am a VERY happy man.

91 of 109 people found this useful