At $249 list, the D-Link DSS-24+, a 24-port 10/100–Mbps switch, is a great value, which is why we are awarding it one of the two Editors' Choices in the under-$1,000 switch category. Unmanaged switches don't support VLANs, port trunking, spanning tree, or QoS as the more expensive managed switches do, but for many workgroup installations, they have everything you need: 24 ports of low-cost, high-performance connectivity.

There's elegance in the simplicity of the DSS-24+. You just plug in the switch and start connecting workstations. There is no configuration. The DSS-24+ has two LEDs per port. Each port auto-configures for speed, duplex, and MDI/MDI-X cable types. No crossover cables or uplink switches are required. As an option, D-Link offers a 100Base-FX module to let you connect to other fiber-based networks.