NETGEAR Recognized Among Top 10 Companies In Fast Company’s First Innovation Scorecard

Company Shortlisted from 119 Contenders for its Distinct Approach in Developing Partnerships

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – December 13, 2004 – NETGEAR®, Inc. (Nasdaq: NTGR), a worldwide provider of technologically advanced, branded networking products, today announced it received notable mention among the top ten public telecom and networking companies in the first quarterly Fast Company/Monitor Group Innovation Scorecard. The report was published in the December 2004 issue of Fast Company, the magazine for a generation of business leaders with high expectations, and co-sponsored by the Monitor Group, a global professional services firm.

“It’s one thing to have built a better mousetrap and another to have a new trap in the works,” wrote the Fast Company editors. “But the true measure of a company’s innovation is less about wood, wire and cheese than it is about culture. It is difficult to institutionalize innovation, as the notion of assigning order to a chaotic process seems contradictory. Yet companies such as NETGEAR thrive on an uneasy equilibrium between creativity and bureaucracy.”

According to the Fast Company editors, NETGEAR was remarkable for its ability to “stay three months ahead of competitors by churning out products . . . [with] a large network of partner companies.” Other companies in the shortlist include Motorola, Juniper Networks, Research In Motion (RIM), and Nokia.

The Fast Company/Monitor Group study comprised an initial list of 119 public telecom and network equipment companies with individual market capitalizations of over $100 million. Finalists were selected based on their past performance, future potential and innovation capacity.

“We are very pleased that Fast Company and the Monitor Group have recognized our achievements, especially given the pool of nominees,” said Patrick Lo, NETGEAR chairman and chief executive officer. “This notable mention serves as a testament to NETGEAR’s success in forming fruitful relationships with partners, in addition to our dedication to being first to market with innovative products.”

About NETGEAR®, Inc.
NETGEAR® (Nasdaq: NTGR) designs technologically advanced, branded networking products that address the specific needs of small and medium business and home users. The Company's suite of over 100 products enables users to share Internet access, peripherals, files, digital multimedia content and applications among multiple personal computers and other Internet-enabled devices. NETGEAR is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.netgear.com or call (408) 907-8000.

©2004 NETGEAR, Inc., NETGEAR and the NETGEAR logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. Information is subject to change without notice. All rights reserved.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 for NETGEAR, Inc.:
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Specifically, statements concerning NETGEAR’s ability to be first to market with innovative products, NETGEAR’s fruitful relationships with partner companies, NETGEAR’s market position, product reliability, expected performance characteristics, specifications, market acceptance, market growth, specific uses and end-user experience are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Safe Harbor. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, the following: the ability of NETGEAR to continue to innovate and be first to market; the ability of NETGEAR to continue to maintain and development successful relationships with its partners; and the actual price, performance and ease of use of NETGEAR’s products may not met the price, performance and ease of use requirements of end-users. Further information on potential risk factors that could affect NETGEAR and its business are detailed in the Company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, those risks and uncertainties listed in the section entitled “Risk Factors Affecting Future Results”, pages 15 through 22, in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended October 3, 2004, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 17, 2004. NETGEAR undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

For more information:

Corporate Inquiries:
Doug Hagan
NETGEAR Inc.
(408) 907-8053
doug.hagan@netgear.com

Media Inquiries:
Lisa Hawes
Account Supervisor
Sterling Communications, Inc.
(408) 395-5500 x227
lhawes@sterlingpr.com