Linksys E1000

We reviewed the Linksys E3000 a few days ago, which included every feature a power user would want, but it also cost a pretty penny. But what if you wanted a basic router - nothing more, nothing else? Cisco has a solution for your problem in the form of the Linksys E1000.

The E1000 is a low-cost router with Wi-Fi N support and comes with the easy to set-up Cisco Connect Software. It does away with all the advanced features of its big brother, The E3000 and is aimed at average users who want a no nonsense, standard wireless.

Design and Build Quality
The E1000 looks exactly like the E3000, but is half its size. With an all black design and at 10.9 x 8.5 x 2.6 inches, it’s a snug fit into your work area. Like the E3000, the black plastic shroud is a fingerprint magnet. So if you’re a stickler for cleanliness, make sure you have a duster handy.

No complaints on the build quality either, the E1000 has the Cisco stamp of quality all over it.

Hardware
The E1000 is not as powerful as the E3000, it packs in a Broadcom BCM4716 Intensi-fi XLR 802.11n 2.4 GHz Router System-on-Chip, Broadcom BCM5325 10/100 switch, 32 MB of RAM and 4 MB of flash. The hardware is powerful enough for your day to day needs.

The rear contains five Ethernet ports: one for internet access and the rest to support clients on a local area network, but the lack of a Gigabit port and USB is a bit of a downer and I really would have liked for Cisco to have added it in.

Software
The E1000 comes with the Easy Connect software, which makes setting up your internet connection a cakewalk. The software does everything for you, so you can sit back and enjoy a cup of coffee while the router does its work.

The E1000 uses WPA/WPA2 encryption with WEP also available to those who adhere to older versions of the Wi-Fi standard. Both security features come with 64 and 128 bit versions.The E1000 also offers a guest network, where guests can log in with a password, but will not be able to access the printer or view the contents of the host's computer.

Performance
The E1000 performs quite well at short range. You will get the best throughput rates at distances of 5 to 12 feet from the router, with the signal dropping as you move away. The signal dropped drastically when I was about 20 feet away from the router.

So the overall performance is decent for a basic router, but I would have liked longer range. It also performs poorly when multiple computers are connected as the throughput goes to ground as the number of connected computers go up.

Final Verdict
The E1000 is a good option for those in need of a basic router. It’s a great product for your small home or apartment and does a good job for its price.

The Cisco Linksys is available for Rs.5,999 and comes with a one year warranty.