03-01-2008, 02:13 AM
I might take advantage of the deal, I've been trying to decide whether to get a Capsule or an Extreme.
What I think the issue could be with Airport Extreme and Time Machine--even in optimal conditions---a USB-attached external drive connected to an Airport Extreme, for Time Machine's purposes--backups at regular intervals, wirelessly---it would be unbearably slow. It might not function in a satisfying enough way to be useful to Time Machine users.
The speed tests I've seen with a USB drive (not the fastest connection to begin with) attached to an Airport Extreme aren't very fast, even on a wired connection. On a wireless one, even at 802.11n fast connection, it's possible that it won't have the performance necessary to be useful for Time Machine's wireless backups. As it is, you can use Time Machine on a wired connection, no? If not, I agree, Apple should at least enable the newer, Gigabit Airport Extreme models so wired users can use Time Machine for backups, without having to buy a Time Capsule.
Time Capsule's Internal drive is significantly faster than a USB-attached drive. It won't be screaming fast, either, over WiFi, but it'll have acceptable performance for Time Machine's regular backups.
What I think the issue could be with Airport Extreme and Time Machine--even in optimal conditions---a USB-attached external drive connected to an Airport Extreme, for Time Machine's purposes--backups at regular intervals, wirelessly---it would be unbearably slow. It might not function in a satisfying enough way to be useful to Time Machine users.
The speed tests I've seen with a USB drive (not the fastest connection to begin with) attached to an Airport Extreme aren't very fast, even on a wired connection. On a wireless one, even at 802.11n fast connection, it's possible that it won't have the performance necessary to be useful for Time Machine's wireless backups. As it is, you can use Time Machine on a wired connection, no? If not, I agree, Apple should at least enable the newer, Gigabit Airport Extreme models so wired users can use Time Machine for backups, without having to buy a Time Capsule.
Time Capsule's Internal drive is significantly faster than a USB-attached drive. It won't be screaming fast, either, over WiFi, but it'll have acceptable performance for Time Machine's regular backups.