The incomparable ArsTechnica crew review Apple’s latest doohickey.

For a piece of hardware that performs so many functions, it actually does them all fairly well. In looking through Apple’s AirPort Express website, you can see the way Apple pitches it: it’s the small, portable device that can extend your wireless, digital lifestyle throughout the home. Now if your home is a 500 sq. ft. studio apartment, you won’t need more than one wireless access point. However if your current wireless network does not reach everywhere you like, the AirPort Express might be what you need. It’s also good for frequent travelers — while in-room broadband is become more the norm in hotel rooms, WiFi does not have the same sort of penetration. Bringing an AirPort Express with on trips will untether you from the desk in your room.

On the other hand, the music streaming function is cool, but needs a little something more. The lack of any means to control the music aside from a computer is inconvenient. When the Express was announced and the technical specs digested, some of us were left scratching our heads, wondering where the remote control was. Apple has been coy about the prospects of some sort of controller for it, suggesting that such a device is an excellent idea. If Apple does not come out with one, expect a third party to to so.

And conclude with…

Is it worth the US$129? None of the functions in an of itself is worth the price. There are cheaper wireless access points, and one can build a more far-reaching network for less than the cost of an AirPort Extreme Base Station and an AirPort Express. There are other ways to share a USB printer — in fact you could buy another inexpensive printer and still come out ahead. Streaming music? There are other less-expensive options as well. But for a multipurpose device like the Express, the price tag is justified if you are going to take advantage of more than one of its features.

We all know you Apple Heads are going to buy it no matter what anyone else says. If anything it’s a great way to prevent little kids from sticking things in the electrical socket.