Netgear new upcoming WNDR4700 media storage router reminds me to the D-link wireless media storage router (DIR-685 with digital photo frame). Both routers include internal hard disk for media storage with built-in media server.
WNDR4700 Highlights:
- N900 wireless technology, ultimate range for larger home
- Powerful 1GHz processor
- Ready-share Vault for automatic backup strategy
- Time machine support for Mac
- Integrated storage SATA hard disk up to 2TB
- Ready-share cloud
- Built-in DLNA media server
- External USB 3.0 port (for additional storage or printer) and gigabit Ethernet ports
With the above highlight features, WNDR4700 would become an ultimate router to support high performance home entertainment network with solid connection of blazing speed N900 technology.
Unlike the previous Netgear high performance routers which are powered by 680MHz processor, this WNDR4700 is powered by 1GHz high speed processor to improve the overall performance of processing tasks including smooth HD media streaming and fast gaming.
Mac loyal users would not easily switch to products other than Mac. The same case in choosing the wireless router, Mac users would not easily switch to new wireless router other than Apple Airport Extreme for high performance network environment or Apple Airport Express for smaller scale network. It is understood that Netgear add more features to support Mac environment such as Time Machine. With the Time machine, you can create a full data backup at the first time and then later you don’t need to worry about the regular daily or weekly backup tasks you need to perform. Time machine will take care of your regular backup automatically only those files that change, seamlessly and wirelessly. Netgear also add this time machine feature into WNDRMAC true Mac router and WNDR3800 premium edition. See also WNDRMAC Vs WNDR3800 N600 routers.
In WNDR4500 N900 you have two USB ports to let you attach both external disk drive for share storage and USB printer. But 4700 includes only one USB port, not USB 2.0 as usual – it’s fast USB 3.0 port for fast data transfer. Now D-link with Dir-857 N900 router is not the only router with USB 3.0 port in N900 class.
In D-link DIR-857 you have additional SD Card slot with DLNA compliant, but WNDR4700 integrates internal SATA Disk drive upgradable up to 2TB storage. This is what makes this router is different than others in its class. With the internal storage you don’t need two USB ports for storage and printer. You don’t need to add external disk storage; you can use the single USB port for the share printer to reduce devices clutter. Another new feature is Ready-Share Cloud to let share your files to be accessible across the internet. Share your files, images and other documents to be available and accessible by your family and friends across the internet.
Have a look at the comparison table below for WNDR4500 Vs WNDR4700 Vs Linksys E4200v2 wireless routers.
| WNDR4500 | WNDR4700 | Linksys E4200V2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wireless technology | N900 with fine-tuned antenna | N900 with fine-tuned antenna | N900 with 6x internal Full 3×3 MIMO antenna array |
| Ethernet ports | Gigabit | Gigabit | Gigabit |
| USB Port | 2x USB 2.0 ports – storage and printer | 1x USB 3.0 port – storage or printer | 1x USB 2.0 – storage or printer |
| Storage | Add external USB storage | Internal SATA disk upgradable up to 2TB; additional external USB 3.0 disk | Add external USB storage |
| Other features | Broadband usage meter
Netgear Genie |
Ready-share Cloud
Broadband usage meter Netgear Genie |
Cisco Connect software |
All the three routers in the table are new generation high performance wireless routers with N900 wireless dual band gigabit routers.
By Ki Grinsing
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