D-Link DIR-685

D-Link Xtreme N Storage Router DIR-685

First announced at CES 2009, D-Link's Xtreme N Storage "all-in-one" Router DIR-685 is the first wireless router that can also work as a network storage device and as a digital photo frame. However, we wish it were a $150 cheaper stand-alone router, as its $300 asking price is too high. While the DIR-685's single-band Wireless-N function worked well, its network storage performance was slow and the router's tiny 3.1-inch LCD is too small to be used as a digital photo frame. If you're looking for a good Wireless-N router with a few extras and don't mind the price, the DIR-685 is a good router to have. Otherwise, we'd recommended the true dual-band Linksys WRT610n or the D-Link DIR-855, which offer similar functionality (minus the photo frame) but cost about $100 less. Featuring an internal antennae, the DIR-685 is compact for what it has to offer, measuring just 4.4 inches by 5.8 inches by 1.2 inches. On its back, the router has four Gigabit Ethernet ports, one WAN port, and two USB ports. Unlike any previous router we've tested, the DIR-685 has a bay on the left side to host a 2.5-inch SATA hard drive of any capacity.