AirPort Extreme is Apple's $179 high-end wireless router for both Mac and PC systems, as well as other Wi-Fi-enabled devices like the iPhone and Apple TV. It functions as a hub, connecting to the internet via an Ethernet cable, and wirelessly connecting to all your computers (thereby connecting them to the internet and one another) over 802.11 a, b, g, or n Wi-Fi.

Since it supports up to 50 simultaneous connections, it's ideal for small business networks. If your needs are more modest, you might consider the simpler and cheaper AirPort Express model. If you're looking for backup storage in addition to network access, look into the more expensive Time Capsule.

Unlike its predecessor (AirPort), it has a port for adding an antenna to boost signal strength and range, and a USB port so you can connect a printer and share it between all computers on your network. Thanks to an update in March of 2009, Time Capsule can actually host two separate Wi-Fi networks simultaneously with its dual-band radio. And a further update in October of 2009 added an improved antenna design that makes the router 25% faster, according to Apple.