Yes, cable wins 100% of the time, but not always an option.
I have an Apple Airport Extreme at home as an extender. Works very well, possibly because most of the devices that connect to it are Apple.
It has USB ports on it, so I can connect a printer and a hard drive for extra network storage, which you can make accessible from the interweb.
It also has options for 2.4 and 5Ghz PLUS the bonus of Guest wifi, which gives access to the internet for friends etc, but they cannot access your local data or other networked devices.
You also have to remember, your wireless speed will only ever be as fast as the slowest device connected to it. Some of the older i products are slow...