While I’ve yet to run into a home networking router that I am completely happy with, my D-Link DGL-4300 is about as close to getting everything correct that I’ve found. Now its been upgraded, and the latest model looks like the perfect thing to buy any geek who puts their internet connection through its paces.
The D-Link DGL-4500 Xtreme N Gaming Router brings much of the goodness that its forebear did, including the first “Quality of Service,” or “QoS” functionality that I’ve been able to use without dusting off old networking manuals. Called “GameFuel,” the QoS feature makes it easy to prioritize network traffic, putting low-priority downloads like Bit Torrent in the background, while letting important data like online gaming or VOIP calls to get first priority.
It also maintains the same four gigabit Ethernet ports that made me upgrade to the D-Link series in the first place.
But now the DGL-4500 adds 802.11n capability for maximum speed (if your other devices also support the “Pre-N” Wi-Fi standard, three antennas instead of two, a USB port for “Windows Connect Now” functionality, and—most sexily—an onboard OLED status screen placed exactly where every unix nerd would expect: on TOP.
It’s wholly unnecessary for those that just used their broadband connection to occaisonally surf the web—especially at around $170 online—but for those of us who spend too much time online, it’s got blinkenlight appeal.
Product Page [Dlink.com]
