Erik.  I agree that WiFi is preferable but I don’t usually have a say in which hotel I am lodged in.  That is another reason that the Asus unit (and soon Apples) is a great convenience.  I can use the computer anywhere in the hotel room without having to stay “wired-up”.  Once in a while I am fortunate to stay in a WiFi enabled hotel and I do get spoiled.  Enjoy your cruise.

Man, Apple does it again…simple and useful.  Now I know why some of you guys are such hardcore Mac-daddy’s.  I’ll never switch, though…too much invested into the PC and support of apps….and the debate goes on.

is this the ASUS product that was mentioned as an alternative to this apple beauty?

Also I’m going to guess that the audio output only works with iTunes :(

Finally… will this work to increase the range of a pc wireles router or is it restricted to AirPort stuff :?

mine shipped to my us address last week, wont’t be able to play until next the 2nd of august, will then report here.  but as far as i can gather it should work in hotel situations and only with itunes.  some people have asked if it can be used as a wireless printer point, but no answer found as of yet. i just have my fingers crossed that its a compatible crossover to PC like the ipod is. we’ll see.
jigs

Mine also shipped, I’m looking forward to replacing a failing first-gen AirPort Base Station with this. The new iPods also look cool, but not a compelling enough update to get me to change over.

Well I’ve just been reading this review which would suggest that the wireless network extension only works with airport stuff :(

Now all I need is a PC version of this!!  Although I might still get one as I hate going to mate’s houses who don’t have wireless and get a squeeze box for the stereo… so many descisions (all this relies on my bank balance getting better first tho )

[quote author=“Mighty Matt”]is this the ASUS product that was mentioned as an alternative to this apple beauty?

Also I’m going to guess that the audio output only works with iTunes :(

Finally… will this work to increase the range of a pc wireles router or is it restricted to AirPort stuff :?

Yes. That is the Asus unit referenced.  I have one and it works fine for my TR3.

[quote author=“Mighty Matt”]Well I’ve just been reading this review which would suggest that the wireless network extension only works with airport stuff :(

Now all I need is a PC version of this!!  Although I might still get one as I hate going to mate’s houses who don’t have wireless and get a squeeze box for the stereo… so many descisions (all this relies on my bank balance getting better first tho )

matt, while i hold nothing that Jeremy Horwitz writes in very high regard, i did not read where the wireless part of airport express only works with other airport stuff?!  well, well see in first hand in just one week….

My bad… it was on the apple site I read about it only being able to extend airport networks

AirPort Express can extend the range only of an AirPort Extreme or AirPort Express wireless network.

[quote author=“Mighty Matt”]My bad… it was on the apple site I read about it only being able to extend airport networks

AirPort Express can extend the range only of an AirPort Extreme or AirPort Express wireless network.

matt, okay, that makes sense in a nonsensical kinda way.  i don’t think we will know the truth on any of this until real people (vs. reveiwers) get thier hands on these puppies.  did u order? i get mine next week but i have to take a vacation from all of this on thai beach first…

nah i ain’t ordered one as I don’t really have a proper use for it and I’m way low on the cash front at the moment!!

The only thing that I think this puppy is missing is another ethernet port so that you could use it on a set up which doesn’t have a router on it (ie. most of my mates’ setups!!)

Looking forward to a real review of this!

Here’s one at Ars Technica .

[quote author=“Drachen”]Here’s one at Ars Technica .

thanks drac! GREAT review, i think, it’s just hard for me to get my mind around wireless networking without having it in hand. i dont get WAP, WEP, Bridge, 800.numbers.G/I/B, wirleless access point (except the one at starbucks), etc..  not really.

I get hotel rooms with an ethernet cable hanging out behind the TV or tele. So that’s clear.  just plug the ethernet into the airport express and switch the button on the front of the TR from off to on.  That’s what I am hoping for there.

At home, it may or may not be more complex.  I have an ethernet cable coming down from the water tank into my bedroom window. It’s a 100.0 mbps LAN line that has a radio reciever at the other end. Hopefully the setup there will be just like the setup in a hotel room.  I am hoping I don’t need to get a “router” like the Linksys WRT54G 802.11g mentioned in the review.  Why would I need that?  My guess is if I had two computers in my tiny 500sqft flat. that i wanted to have wireless networked?

Okay, that ends my ignorance on this for the moment. 1 more week and i get to open my fedX package.  1 more month before I get back to my watertowered broadbanded apartment to test the the thing.  I need to know while I am in the US if I should buy the Linksys WRT54G 802.11g router as they are not avaialble here.  Thanks for listening.
jigs