Linksys

Linksys is betting big on its new blue router, a resurrection of the classic WRT54G design with modern components inside. The company (now owned by Belkin) today said it plans a new line of networking peripherals to complement the device, starting with an 8-port Gigabit Ethernet switch.

“It Looks so Cool!” Linksys’s public relations squad informed us in an e-mail, which also said the switch saves space by stacking beneath the $250 WRT1900AC router. And it does look pretty neat. But at $70, it’s a little pricey. The Netgear GS108NA 8-port Gigabit Ethernet switch is smaller than the new Linksys one and can be had for $47. For $80, you could buy a TrendNet 16-port Gigabit switch. You could even buy an 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Switch for $50 from Linksys. 

But nothing says “cool” like a sweet looking network switch. “With its sleek lines and designed to physically stack below the WRT1900AC, the SE4008 is a perfect match for the iconic WRT1900AC router (sold separately)—allowing users to expand their local area network and connect devices to the Internet without taking up additional shelf space,” Linksys said.