true Digital Hub
Would anyone like to see a new Airport Base Station device? I remember hearing talk a couple months back but it has since quieted.
I for one would like to see a new device, give it a WAN and 4-LAN ports supported by a descent firewall, and a stronger wireless system supporting faster transfers and longer distances (at least comparable with most other products out there.) Also a possible good idea IMHO would be 2-Firewire ports giving you the option of file sharing without needing an actual server base (and the drive options most people would want with the ability to upgrade.) Perfect for sharing you music & video collection with the family. If they could make this affordable, (say $250-300 tops.) Hell if it was $350 and added a USB print server, that would be slicker than snot on a pump handle! I'd like some input.
[ 04-22-2002: Message edited by: The Power of X ]</p>
I for one would like to see a new device, give it a WAN and 4-LAN ports supported by a descent firewall, and a stronger wireless system supporting faster transfers and longer distances (at least comparable with most other products out there.) Also a possible good idea IMHO would be 2-Firewire ports giving you the option of file sharing without needing an actual server base (and the drive options most people would want with the ability to upgrade.) Perfect for sharing you music & video collection with the family. If they could make this affordable, (say $250-300 tops.) Hell if it was $350 and added a USB print server, that would be slicker than snot on a pump handle! I'd like some input.
[ 04-22-2002: Message edited by: The Power of X ]</p>
Comments
<strong>I like the printer sharing idea. I think quite a few folks would co-locate an Airport USB print server with the printer. Mine sit right next to each other right now, but I have several other computers/users around the house that could use that nicely. Same with the faculty Base Station at school, the profs are always grumbling about having to go back up to their office to print out things when in a meeting, or emailing it to the guy in the office next door. The overall expense would probably be less than a dedicated wireless print-server AND the Airport Base Station.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Does bluetooth have enough bandwidth to allow printer sharing? Be nice with a powerbook and the new Unix printer apps that apple bought
I just had another idea pop into my head as I was thinking about this concept, I know it's a little more far fetched. A CATV tuner built-in able to let maybe 4 people watch TV through this box (if CableTV bandwidth is suffient for such a product.) I know it's a little bit out there but I am just throwing ideas on the table for a Apple integrated device/ set-top box.
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Does bluetooth have enough bandwidth to allow printer sharing? Be nice with a powerbook and the new Unix printer apps that apple bought</strong><hr></blockquote>
I'm not terribly sure, but I thought Bluetooth was something like 1Mb/sec. I've seen a lot of people 'round here wanting Bluetooth in the iPod and other devices... I'm guessing they either a) don't know how slow Bluetooth is, or b) I'm completely wrong
I have a D-Link 713p which has 4 wired ports and print server capabilities which is pretty nice but the print server feature completely sucks. I picked it up for about $150. You can get an SMC Barricade which does the same for just over $100 if you look at dealnews.
(And don't bitch at me for being cheap, I know Apple has never been cheap, but I bought a base station and now I really question if it was such a good investment, considering other wireless access points with more features, that are nearly half the price.)
Network storage isn't gonna happen, CATV doesn't even sound plausible plus Jobs hates television so that isn't gonna happen, but an integrated print server would be REALLY great. Stick a USB port on that sucker, and connect it to a printer, and share it about the network... I'd love that. Schools would too, I'm sure. However, I'm not so sure Apple is heading that direction.
<strong><a href="http://forums.appleinsider.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=001565" target="_blank">http://forums.appleinsider.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=001565</a></strong><hr></blockquote>
Thing is, that's also the cable modem. There's no way Apple could make that on their own, and they could never make it a good deal just rebranding it (even if Motorola would let them), plus most cable ISPs only support a single model of cable modems anyway. But if Apple could take the hint and tack on a print server, there's no denying that would be nice.
(I'll drop the idea of the CATV, that's a little much; I forgot, on the Mac platform we to take baby steps.)