FIRsT LOOKs NETWORKING
Apple Time Capsule 1TB
Mass Storage, Extended Wireless from Apple
T
he Apple Time Capsule 1TB is an unusual network device in that it combines a wireless-n router (the Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station 802.11n) with a network-accessible hard drive. It’s extremely quiet and has good wireless range, and the storage drive is delightfully simple to set up for Windows, Mac OS X, or mixed networks. The Time Capsule comes with a single drive, however, which means there’s no RAID redundancy. This is a bit of a surprise when you consider the price of this product. But in light of the features it does offer, the Time Capsule is a good solution for many different types of networks. The Time Capsule is pretty much identical to the AirPort Extreme 802.11n both in setup (which for the most part was quick and simple) and in looks. There are three LAN ports (and their LEDs), an Internet connection, and a port for connecting a network-accessible USB hard drive. The Time Capsule’s two radios (2.4-GHz and 5-GHz) can broadcast in simultaneous dual-band 802.11n mode—a relative rarity. You can also create multiple networks with different access privileges. So, for example, you can create a guest network with limited access for visitors or clients. As for NAS capabilities, the Time Capsule can
30 PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION JUNE 2009
Apple Time Capsule 1TB $499 direct l l l l m
PROs Quiet, high-capacity hard drive. USB port for external drives, printers. Simultaneous dual-band Wi-Fi. Allows extension of wireless range. CONs No automated backup included for Windows machines. No front-facing indicator lights. Can’t act as an iTunes server. No hardware redundancy.
automate backups for Mac clients, but not, unfortunately, for Windows. Not surprisingly, the Time Capsule’s wireless throughput was very similar to the AirPort Extreme’s: 65 megabits per second with our test laptop 3 feet away. Its hard drive read/write score, though, was only 5.3 megabytes per second. So for Windowsonly networks, you’d do better elsewhere. But the Time Capsule is still a great choice for Mac or mixed networks.—Mario Morejon >>CLICK HERE FOR MORE
