What is it about these class of devices that makes them so expensive? They tend ... | Hacker News

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jodrellblank on April 6, 2013 | parent | context | favorite | on: Don't use Linksys routers

What is it about these class of devices that makes them so expensive?

They tend to have 500Mhz CPUs, approximately no RAM, unresponsive very basic web interfaces, and fall over at the touch of a light breeze.

An el-cheapo Android tablet with 1.6Ghz dual core ARM processor, 1Gb RAM, WiFi, and a bunch of other technically hard stuff on top (IPS screen, battery) costs less than one of these style of WAP/switch/routers.

Are they really so different?

vacri on April 6, 2013 | [–]

Low turnover.

pbreit on April 6, 2013 | [–]

I was always wondering that too. Seems like they should be $25-50 max. Decent hardware with Tomato seems like the way to go.

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