Wrapup

I think the NETGEAR XE104 wins this roundup for its compact design, built-in 10/100 four-port switch and relatively aggressive pricing. You'll also be more likely to find it discounted given that both Actiontec and SMC focus mainly on sales to resellers and VARs instead of retail.

But shame on Intellon and all these companies for not coming clean about what the Turbo technology really delivers for throughput. Prominently displaying a high throughput number that will never be seen in actual use is not fair to the average consumer, who usually doesn't read past the front of the product box. And adding "up to" that high number in small print on the back of the box doesn't cut it either, since they're just weasel words intended for manufacturers to hide behind instead of providing real information consumers can use to make an informed choice about what they're buying.

Sure, consumers can return products, but given that virtually all retailers now charge a 15 to 20% restocking fee, it doesn't seem right that buyers should have to pay to find out how over-optimistically spec'd products really perform, not to mention the wasted time and effort in doing so.

So unless you really need 10 Mbps vs. the 3-5Mbps you'll get from non-Turbo HomePlug, and are ok with paying twice as much for the privilege, I suggest leaving HomePlug Turbo products on the shelf. You'll not only save yourself money and disappointment, but maybe also send a message to manufacturers that you've had enough of their performance claim games and are not gonna take it any more!