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.

“This 8-Port Switch was designed and developed for our loyal WRT router fans," Linksys VP Mike Chen said in the company's announcement. "As with the legacy WRT router line, we had stackable solutions to help make it easier to connect other products, save space on the desktop all while building a tower of networking solutions that were all in one place and simple to access. Our introduction of the WRT 8-port switch is our first in a line-up of networking peripherals that will stack below our flagship WRT router to enhance the performance or use of a home network.”

Linksys boasted that the new switch has "Auto-Sensing Ports" that "maximize data flow rates to connected devices" and go into power-saving mode when a connected device is off or not in use. The press release doesn't mention that auto-sensing ports have been a standard feature for years. Even the $50 8-port switch that's been available from Linksys since 2011 has them.

But no matter, the appeal is more in what the switch looks like than what it does.