With so many of us signing up to the MP3 phenomenon, Apple is hoping to make use of the MP3 tracks stuck on your computer by giving you the ability to listen to them on a hi-fi anywhere in the house. The AirPort Express with AirTunes (£99 inc. VAT) allows you to transmit songs, print documents and expand your Wi-Fi network all from a device no bigger than a power adapter.

The main crux of the unit is its 802.11g wireless network capabilities, enabling users to set up a new network or connecting and extending the range of an additional AirPort network. As a standalone network, the unit works a treat. Simply plug in a DSL or cable modem and away you go. We tested the unit with a G4 PowerBook with AirPort functionality and a HP NX7010 laptop with built-in wireless connectivity. Connecting both laptops to the AirPort Express didn’t cause any problems.

Aside from the Wireless G network capabilities, the biggest selling point of the AirPort Express with AirTunes is its ability to transmit your MP3 tracks or an audio CDs wirelessly to your hi-fi. The unit comes with a 3.5mm stereo jack, which with the right cable – not included in the box – allows you to stream your tracks on your hi-fi. The whole process works very well and in our tests we found no loss of quality over the network. In addition to the music and the networking, Apple has thrown in a USB socket to connect a printer. This feature is welcomed as it’s a quick and cheap way of adding any printer to your wireless network.

The system isn’t without its drawbacks: You have to use iTunes, you can’t transmit to more than one AirPort Express at a time and you can only extend an AirPort wireless network. This unit worked within minutes of getting it out of the box and there is little to fault here. Its ability to work just as well with a PC as it does with an Apple Mac was also refreshing. However, we would hope that the next generation will allow for wider communication between points.

RATING 8
PRICE £84/£99 (EX/INC. VAT)
REQUIREMENTS Apple laptop with an AirPort Extreme Card or AirPort Card
Mac OS X v10.3 or later

CONTACT
0800 783 4866
www.apple.com/uk