In case you dig the trendy look at the Linksys E4200 802.11n router but prefer something more wallet-friendly, then Cisco’s latest range of home routers and switches will likely fit your taste. Gone are the curved grooves and blinking LEDs at the top, but these routers — starting from $59.99 to $159.99 — still go about their usual wireless business at as much as 300Mbps, with additional simultaneous dual-band support at the pricier E2500 and E3200. Like their predecessors, you’ll also discover a refreshed, feature-packed Cisco Connect software suite within the box, which promises to make installation and management lots easier.
Also notable is the approaching virtual USB feature that connects printers and storage devices to the network — the E3200 and E4200 are expected to receive this update in the summertime. As for the switches, you will have a call of 3 new models going from $29.99 for 5 10/100Mbps ports, the complete way as much as $74.99 for eight gigabit connections. These kind of good-looking fellas are up for grabs starting today, and you may check up on the spec sheets after the break for all of the nitty-gritty.
Cisco Announces Next-Generation Linksys Wireless Routers and SwitchesHome Wireless Leader Unveils Sleek New Design with Unmatched Performance
for Premium Video, Gaming, and Entertainment ExperiencesSan Francisco, CA April 5, 2011 – Cisco® today continued its legacy of leadership in home networking with the launch of its new Linksys® E-Series family − a whole suite of powerful and simple-to-use next-generation wireless-n routers and switches. With sales of wireless-enabled products which includes tablets and game consoles steadily growing and Internet video usage exploding, consumers are searhing for greater performance, reliability and ease from their home wireless networks. The brand new Linksys wireless–n routers and switches, available today, offer an entire range of options that set a brand new standard for speed, range, and simplicity-of-use, while also sporting a visually-appealing new design.
The recent Linksys E-Series lineup includes five routers, each with the most recent technology in home wireless for a mess of home entertainment experiences. The recent routers not just provide the performance needed for today’s connected home, but in addition help to future-proof for brand spanking new and emerging media technologies which are gaining traction with consumers, which includes Internet-enabled TVs and Cisco’s Å«mi telepresence. Designed with faster speeds (as much as 450 Mbps*), other key features for select routers within the line include a 3×3 spatial stream configuration for improved coverage, external power amplifiers to preserve signal strength over a better distance and decrease dead spots, and virtual USB technology** to glue USB printers, storage and devices to the network. The complete line also boasts a brand new industrial design that mixes sleek contours and advanced functionality − recently earning the distinguished 2011 Red Dot Product Design Award for product design, innovation and quality.
“With greater than 70 million routers sold, Linksys brings a decade of leadership and innovation to create products that buyers trust for the ideal wireless quality, performance and experience,” said Simon Fleming-Wood, vice chairman of selling, Cisco Consumer Products. “Our new Linksys line offers an array of solutions for the desires of today’s home networking consumer – from basic Internet surfing to video and music streaming, to gaming.”
In line with industry research group IDC, only 39% people homes have wireless, while only 11% are using wireless-n technology. Over a higher five years wireless-n adoption is anticipated to almost double because of the growth of wireless connected devices equivalent to tablets, smartphones, and Internet-enabled TVs that require the newest wireless technology for optimal performance. (IDC, Worldwide Home Networking 2010-2014 Forecast Update, Doc.# 225479, Nov. 2010)
Cisco Connect Software Enables Easy Setup and Network Management
All of the Linksys E-series routers include the acclaimed Cisco Connect software that makes it easy for consumers to establish and manage their wireless home network effortlessly. Unlike other wireless products that require 20 to 30 complicated steps to establish a single computer, Cisco Connect takes you thru three simple steps from begin to finish. The included Cisco Connect software makes it easy to: 1) add additional devices to the network, 2) set parental controls, 3) provide Internet access for guests on a separate guest network and four) customize personal security settings consisting of passwords. Advanced users could also configure and manage their routers via the net browser.
The hot routers feature the most recent version of Cisco Connect, which now includes a web Speed Test that may check the bandwidth and speed of a user’s Internet connection.
New Switches Enable Easy Network Expansion and tool Saving Modes
The 3 new Linksys switches enable faster and simpler wired connections. New features include plug and play of Ethernet-enabled devices, Quality of Service (QoS) for traffic prioritization, auto-sensing ports, and gear saving features.
Pricing and Availability
There are eight new products within the Linksys family — five routers and 3 switches. The suggested retail prices for the routers range from $59.99 to $179.99. Prices of the switches range from $29.99 to $74.99. The total line of Linksys routers and switches come in starting today at retailers nationwide or by visiting the Linksys website at www.linksys.com/store.
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