September 29th, 2008
Netgear unveils new energy-efficient Draft N routers
The networking world has finally caught on to the whole green movement, with Netgear following in the footsteps of D-Link in releasing new routers that claim to be more eco-friendly.
The Wireless-N Router (WNR2000, pictured) and Wireless-N Modem Router (DGN2000) both come packaged in material that’s at least 80 percent recycled in origin, and also come with this new thing called an on/off switch. Amazingly, that switch is something of a new feature for networking devices, which remain on and sipping power even when no one’s making use of the wireless signal. (In the DGN2000’s case, you can switch off the Wi-Fi feature while still using the modem when you’re surfing the Net on your main PC.) They also come with power supplies that sport the EnergyStar label.
The units make use of the Draft N spec, which is the latest version of 802.11n, the long-awaited Wi-Fi standard that still hasn’t been officially ratified, though all major router manufacturers have released Draft N products for some time now. They also come with a litany of features that are common on most new routers: Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS), NAT and SPI firewalls, WiFi Protected Access (WPA, WPA-2) security, and so on.
Both routers are available immediately, with the WNR2000 priced at $89 and the DGN2000 costing $119. Of course, you’ll probably want to pair that new router with a Draft N adapter for a laptop or secondary computer. The WNR2000 comes bundled with a USB adapter in the WNB2100 kit, which is priced at $129. For some reason, the same bundle for the DGN2000 is only available in Europe and Asia.
Sean Portnoy spent several years as an editor at Computer Shopper magazine, most recently serving as online executive editor. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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