Walter Mossberg of The Wall Street Journal finds few things wrong with Apple's AirPort Express, except for the with a positive review, minus complaints about difficulties encountered connecting the device to a Microsoft router.
Comments
OMG! Added configuration! Damn you apple! Damn you to h***!!!
next thing you know is they'll tell us that it doesn't support the myriad of extensions to 802.11g that make it even faster!
I guess Mr. Mossberg would like the Airport Express to cost over $200. Gee, I wonder if it would sell as well?
What if you're just buying it as an inexpensive base station to travel with. For that matter, what if you are just buying it for it's compactness and multiple set up capabilities. I see a different kind of base station in what the author talking about. I love my Express.
Ok, so what exactly would a remote do in this case?
The songs are being streamed from a computer. The AirPort express simply passes that on to the stereo.
I suppose you could have the Airport express send codes back to the computer to tell it to skip songs, etc. That would be kind of cool.
But the point of this is that you can find these devices using Rendezvous and the device won't necessarily be one that you own. I wouldn't want a remote control for that device to be able to do ANYTHING to my computer.
Overall I tend to like Walter Mossberg, but I don't see other companies with anything like this yet. Cut Apple some slack.
is right, but fails to mention the price of these competitors. For the price, I wouldn't expect a remote with this unit. Airport express is definitely geared towards the laptop user (but works fine with desktops). For $100 more I think they should be an Airport Express pro which is geared towards the desktop.
Apple intentionlly left out the remote because either
A. They are giving the option to develope for their device just like the iPod.
B. They want to introduce a new version in 6 months with a remote. This will have the benefit of getting more straglers, as well as to get some early adopters to be repeat buyers and get the new one with more functionality. Because the remote will not work on the older ones.
Hey don't flame me. You know I'm right. If I'm not, I'll be proven wrong as soon as Apple updates the older iPod software to match the new one.
Gotta love it. They're still complaining because they can't get 'shuffle songs' on the main menu. Go back to monday's postings and whine there. Thank you.
As for the AE, the review on Ars-Technica had a good point. You can get each of what this thing does for less, but if you want to use more than one of its features, its a good deal. (Me, I think the ability to use wireless in a hotel room is well worth the money, but that's just me).
As for the so-called 'missing remote'. I don't care. Me, I'd rather not spend $179 on a product for a remote I don't plan on using. Same goes with the audio cables. h***, its bad enough you get some of these useless cables with your computers when you buy them (how many telephone cables does one person need, I must ask!). And a remote would add a whole lot more to the cost then a silly cable would.
Of course, I'm bummed that the iPod doesn't come with a wireless remote. I mean, what kind of c*** is that! For my $299 I deserve better!
That's it, I'm getting a Dell DJ!
I got my AP Express this week and there was a glaring omission of a PowerBook G5 and $2500 cash.
I don't think option A or B are actually what Apple is trying to do. I would guess that eventually they will release a new ipod or connector to the ipod that would allow it to stream music directly to the airport express. This makes much more sense as the ipod is mobile and contains playlists on the go along with your full music library. This would sell more ipods and increase demand for airport express. No need to develop an entirely new product and try to market it as well.
OR
Network Headlines
Most Popular
MacNN Sponsor
Recent Reviews
iHome iW2 AirPlay speaker
iHome generally isn't known as a luxury brand when it comes to audio, but it is prolific -- the company's docks and speakers are every ...
Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover
One of the iPad's main weaknesses has always been productivity. It's not a question of apps; while it has taken a little time for a na ...
Logitech UE Air Speaker
If maybe a little more slowly than Apple would like, AirPlay is becoming a staple of the wireless speaker market for iOS devices. The ...
Most Commented
Popular News
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Mar 2004
F-Mossberg
Who cares about what Mossberg thinks. Good or Bad the man is arrogant and someone should knock him off of his podium already.