Phoronix
reports that Linksys is finally shipping its
successor to the highly popular
WRT54G wifi router. The original spawned a number of open source router projects, including
DD-WRT , which partially shares its name. Features of the new model:
- Wireless-N & AC (2.4 & 5 GHz)
- 1.2 GHz dual-core ARM processor
- 128MB of flash memory
- 256MB of DDR3 RAM
- 4 exchangeable external antennas
- 1 gigabit ethernet port + 4 gigabit ethernet switch
- 1 USB 3.0
- 1 eSATA/USB 2.0 (somehow sharing the same port)
Although the specifications and commitment to open source are welcome, the retail cost of $250-$280 may turn some away.
The replacement router, while pretty to look at (not necessary, but a nice thing to have when the router sits out in a plainly visible part of the room), is not able to take third-party firmware. Not having DD-WRT has been a hardship. It's so wonderfully tweakable and gives me so much control that I find myself continually frustrated by the limitations of the factory firmware on my current router.
I'm pleased to see the release of the WRT1900AC, but its current pricing scheme is indeed very cost-prohibitive; I'll certainly not be running out to buy one immediately. In time, of course, the price will come down to something I can stomach, but how long that will take may well depend on how popular this router proves to be, and I have a feeling it'll be very popular. I could end up waiting a very long time to get one of these.