Apple shifted to SMB for network filesharing, which makes it easier to work with Windows-compatible servers. Apple’s attached drive support used to be a big deal when OS X was oriented around AFP, and it was difficult to create networked fileservers except Mac OS X Server or personal filesharing in regular OS X. And most Wi-Fi routers include USB-based printer support that’s compatible with macOS (although not always with iOS). Even quite inexpensive printers now include Wi-Fi networking, allowing a completely cable-free connection. The AirPort Extreme has an audio jack for sending music from a Mac or iOS device to a set of speakers using the AirPlay protocol. Guest networking (access to an isolated and protected network for guests)Įach of Apple’s advantages has slipped away over the years:.Separate network names for 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi networks.

DHCP assignment or “reservation,” offering a permanent local network address to a device on the network.Other features found in Apple’s base stations are easy to find in other routers: Time Machine support built into Time Capsule.Automated notification of firmware updates.A network punch-through protocol called NAT-PMP for enabling remote access for applications, like games and servers.Internet access to base station configuration and NAS drives via Back to My Mac.Base station to base station networking (via Wireless Distribution System or WDS).Network-attached storage (NAS) with AFP (Apple Filing Protocol) and SMB support.AirPlay audio passthrough (AirPort Express only).However, for Mac users in particular, the gateways had Apple-specific features you couldn’t get elsewhere. What about Apple’s proprietary base station features?įrom Apple’s introduction of the original AirPort until just a few years ago, its base stations were often the best on the market, even if sometimes the most expensive’.

B est router for mac desktop