News, info, and opinion by Mac users, for Mac users.

August 18, 2006

hardware

AirPort Expresses on fast track to graveyard?

Posted Aug. 18, ’06, 9:17 AM PT by Dan Moren
Category | Hardware

AirPort ExpressA few days ago, I wrote about my friends’ AirPort Express, which had mysteriously stopped letting them stream music to their stereo. While doing research on this issue, I discovered a far more disturbing trend: entire AirPort Expresses failing at high rates, only a little over a year after purchase.

French Mac site, Le MacBidouille (and its English-language counterpart, HardMac) have been at the forefront of this investigation for a while now. They’ve been collecting reports from AirPort Express users who’ve experienced problems, and tried to determine where the fault lies (if you’ve got a dead AirPort Express, you can submit your own report here). Having collected over 400 reports, they claim the average lifespan of an AirPort Express to be at just under 16 months. And indeed, though Apple only provides a 1 year warranty on the AirPort Express, the European Union mandates a two year guarantee on consumer goods, so some European citizens have had luck exchanging their AirPort Express under that law. US citizens, sadly, have no similar recourse.

Either way, this is yet another mark against Apple’s recent Quality Assurance record; and while they might correct the problem in whatever iteration of AirPort Express next emerges, what of all the people who spent money on the first models, only to have them die just after warranty? Even two years seems to me to be too short an expected lifespan for an electronic device—I’d like to see Apple offer to repair or replace the affected units, but I won’t hold my breath. Even a class action suit is unlikely to generate the appropriate response. For now, the best we can do is to inform and make our displeasure known.


3 Comments

Ward Author Profile Page said:

I'll point out that if they're only collecting data on dead AX units, then the average lifespan will be significantly shorter than if they considered units which are still working. Mine, for example, has been going strong for 25 months.

These are horribly flawed statistics.

August 18, 2006 10:16 AM
boyweho said:

hmmm, well I'll consider myself one of the lucky ones so far... I got mine right after I got my 12" PB G4 in Feb '05 which was over 18 months ago... I did buy AppleCare for my PB, but I doubt it covers my Airport Express, which is constantly streaming iTunes radio stations or my own CDs or MP3s...


ds. =)
Los Angeles, CA

August 18, 2006 7:05 PM
Christopher Bowers said:

I've had my AirportExpress units for over 2 years. They both haven't had any issues.

August 19, 2006 6:24 PM

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