Top 10 Macbook Air accessories
Have you bought yourself the latest Macbook Air, Apple’s lightest, smallest and thinnest laptop? Or maybe you are looking to get a birthday present or graduation gift (click here now) for a loved one who has a Macbook? If so, here are some accessories you definitely need to consider!
Sabrent Premium 3 Port Aluminum USB 3.0 Hub with Multi-In-1 Card Reader
There’s no doubt that the latest Macbook Airs are a thing of beauty. But in order to keep the design as sleek and lightweight as possible, there are very few connectors on board. The latest Macbook Air boasts just two two USB 3.0 sockets, one either side, whereas with most PCs you expect at least 4. One option may be to to get a USB 3.0 hub to connect up other devices, such as a DVD player, mobile phone and Ethernet connector (Ethernet isn’t included as standard). This one from Sabrent even comes with additional SD, Micro SD and even Compact Flash slots (remember them!) for transferring images onto your Mac. Alternatively you can get one with four USB adaptors in either black or silver. At the time of writing, the price of the four USB port device is just £12.99 whereas for three ports plus photo inputs it is £17.99.
4G USB modem
A MacBook has no built-in 4G, but you can plug in a wireless 4G dongle via the laptop’s single USB port. And these dongles are pretty much essential for getting online when you are away from home. One of the best we’ve come across is this little fella, the Huawei Unlocked E3372 LTE/4G 150 Mbps.
G-Form MacBook sleeve
The G-Form Extreme Sleeve is designed specifically for the 11-inch, 13-inch, 15-inch and 15.6-inch laptop user who is on the go. The 15.6-inch is also suitable for the 17-inch MacBook. The soft, flexible, lightweight, water-resistant Extreme Sleeve laptop case can easily be placed into another bag, backpack, or suitcase and protect your laptop from impact.
Mini DisplayPort-to-HDMI adapter
For some reason, Apple laptops do not have HDMI ports for easy TV connectivity – which is strange, because they are perfectly capable off putting out an HDMI signal. So a Mini DisplayPort-to-HDMI adapter will fix the problem without costing an arm and a leg.
Nifty MiniDrive
The MacBook Air has a built-in Flash drive of up to 5512GBmm but if you find that is not enough, then this Nifty MiniDrive can boost that by up to 64GB. The Nifty MiniDrive pops into your MacBook via the SD card slot, and what’s nice about it is that it sits flush with the body, creating a seamless and clean look.
USB DVD drive
There will still be the odd occasion when you need to use a DVD drive – maybe for the odd disc-based software installation, or even burning backups of data. Apple makes its own DVD-RW SuperDrive, but there are plenty of third-party alternatives are available (and they are generally cheaper).
USB Ethernet adapter
There is no Ethernet port on a MacBook Air, which means that to get online you need to go with wi-fi or else you will need an adapter. And sometimes a hard-line connection is the only choice you have, such as when travelling and staying in a hotel or motel. Apple does make its own USB Ethernet adapter, but as always, there are cheaper alternatives.
Apple AirPort Time Capsule
The AirPort Time Capsule is a wireless hard drive that works seamlessly with Time Machine in OS X. It’s also a full-featured Wi-Fi base station with the latest 802.11ac technology and simultaneous dual-band support, and it comes in 2TB and 3TB models.
Apple Thunderbolt 27-inch Display
When you’re at home, you can easily turn your MacBook air into a desktop computer with the Apple Thunderbolt 27-inch Display. This widescreen display has a cinematic 16:9 aspect ratio and a resolution of 2560×1440. You can connect your MacBook and have video chats with the built-in iSight camera and microphone, or take pictures using Photo Booth. It also has a built-in 49W speaker system with an integrated sub-woofer.
ZenDock
Here is a handy little device that helps you tidy up all those messy cables that come with using any electronic device such as a laptop. It has a FireWire, USB, ethernet, Mini DisplayPort, speaker and microphone pass through – which means that it ends up looking as though there is only one cable is attached to your MacBook.
Tech21 Impact Snap Case
Tech21’s Impact Snap Case will protect your MacBook Air from everyday bumps and scratches. The case features FlexShock, a specifically engineered hybrid energy-absorbing material which absorbs, dissipates and reflects force upon impact.
