Add-Ons You'll Need for Your MacBook Air
Tue Jan 29, 2008 11:56PM EST
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Blogs are buzzing with excitement at the possibility of seeing the MacBook Air in stores this week, and a few readers reportedly got a shipment notice from Apple with a February 1st delivery date. If you're one of the early adopters expecting a MacBook Air this week, then you should know you're going to need some extra accessories to make up for the notebook's lack of common features like extra ports, and optical drive. Here's a look at the accessories you'll need, and their price. Hope you put some extra money aside.
USB Hub (Varies): Apple is anything but generous when it comes to extra USB ports, so I'm not surprised the MacBook Air only has one. If you plan on using other peripherals with your super slim computer, you'll need a USB hub preferably one with an external power source. Check out these options.
Ethernet Adapter ($29): One thing that won't be practical when you travel is the lack of an ethernet jack on the MacBook Air. While most hotels have wireless connections, there are those that don't which is why you'll need a USB Ethernet Adapter like this one selling on Apple's site for $29.
MacBook Air SuperDrive ($99): The MacBook Air doesn't have an optical drive which makes it impossible to load software from CDs or watch movies on DVDs. Apple is already taking orders for the sleek MacBook SuperDrive, which according to the website is slightly bigger than a CD case, and easily fits inside a travel bag. The small optical drive connects via USB, and lets you play and burn both CDs and DVDs.
MacBook Air Sleeve ($30-$50): Contrary to what you have seen on those cute MacBook Air commercials, you're going to need more than a manila envelope to store your new computer in. Belkin is one of the few companies that has stylish sleeves specially made for the MacBook Air. They're available in leather, or neoprene, or fabric like Belkin's Expression Sleeve,which even has a removable shoulder strap for extra portability.
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7 Posted by deeptapioca on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:40PM EDT Report Abuse
I agree, are you kidding me, Lack of USB ports, Ethernet, wow, I thought thickness was better.
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8 Posted by fuz7261 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:04PM EDT Report Abuse
I'm a Mac fan and, while I like the form factor, I think whoever buys this computer is getting too little for their money. Just a nitpick: you can still "download" software from the internet; you just can't install software from a CD or DVD directly. There is an application that comes with MacBook Air that allows you to use the optical drive of another computer to install software.
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9 Posted by tazz100588 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:57PM EDT Report Abuse
macbook air is only good when you just want to show it off, not use it.
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10 Posted by dstarkx on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:49PM EDT Report Abuse
Don't worry , the early adopters will be whining for a refund when the next generation comes out in 3 months, costs less and has more features. I love how Apple users feel so superior, but in the end look foolish
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11 Posted by taterskidmark on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:57PM EDT Report Abuse
I think Apple isn't gonna sell much of these.You just have to make something that already had these features.
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12 Posted by thomashbonner on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:08PM EDT Report Abuse
nice... a laptop as thin as a pancake, but you need a backpack to carry all of the accessories to make it comparable to a slightly thicker MUCH cheaper laptop...
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13 Posted by gnothern on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:10PM EDT Report Abuse
This article is completely off-base (and some details are actually false). First of all, all of the "necessities" listed above aren't necessities at all. The only one I can see someone calling necessary is the optical drive, and here is where there is an actual untruth in the article: it says it is "impossible to download software or watch movies". Not only is this blatantly false, it misses the whole point of the Air. Apple has designed this computer to be used in the digital, wireless world we live in (thanks largely to , um, Apple). People don't listen to CDs in their computers, they listen to their iTunes collection. Now people buy and rent movies digitally from iTunes. As far as downloading software (or importing a CD to iTunes, etc.), Apple has included a new feature called "virtual drive" which wirelessly "adopts" the cd-rom drive from any computer nearby and treats it like a cd-rom drive of it's own. So all issues taken care of. Now I'm probably still going to get a superdrive for mine in those RARE cases where I need one (and the more I think about it, the more I realize just how rarely I'm going to need it), but to say it's a major issue is ridiculous.
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14 Posted by lmoon2550 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:55PM EDT Report Abuse
I LOVE my plain old MacBook, and wouldn't have this one if they GAVE it to me. No CD drive? What a waste of money!
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15 Posted by arcaperton on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:57PM EDT Report Abuse
The purpose of this computer is obvious. It is a supplement to a real computer, the same thing a laptop was always meant for. It would be entirely dumb to set this thing on your desk and hook up everything in the world to it just like you would a desktop computer. That would be like buying a sports car for a family vehicle. It just doesn't make sense. What does make sense is the fact that is is so thin and light that it doesn't break your back carrying it around. Of course you will have to have a few add-ons, but the fact that the computer is meant to be a supplement to a desktop brings the number of add-ons down to a minimum. Again, its not a standalone computer. It's just another fancy thing that is offered to make someones life a little easier. To sum it up, the only thing that might be need is the ethernet adaptor if you are to use the computer for what is was meant for.
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16 Posted by daddy_75202 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:34PM EDT Report Abuse
First of all, the folks that mention that every Hotel has wireless don't travel all that much. As of late, many hotels have decommissioned their wireless and gone back to ethernet for security concerns. I was at a "W" hotel last week and they had only wired connections in the rooms. Second of all, why are y'all wasting so much time on this whole apple vs pc thing? The fact is this: Yes, Apple computers are really cool to look at. They do get hacked far less than PC's. On the other hand, PC's are not so cool to look at and get hacked a little more than apples. The reason they do not look as cool? They are more functional and more interoperable than apples. They are on like 80% of the desktops around the world in both desktop configuration and notebooks. they get hacked more for simply this reason: There is nothing worth stealing on an apple. This is just a matter of market superiority. PC's are for business use and apples are for everyone else.
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17 Posted by halaabdoun on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:15PM EDT Report Abuse
Thank God I'm not a fan of Apple to begin with!
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18 Posted by rwhh30 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:57PM EDT Report Abuse
Hey- If I have to buy the little miss a stinking Louis Vuitton purse for $1,500, I'll spend whatever I want on my computer, golf clubs, and car. Life's short...enjoy what you want.
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19 Posted by mist_panther on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:22PM EDT Report Abuse
"Stop complaining about how it doesn't have the features of similarly priced laptops" The problem is that it is similarly priced. If it comes with less then what a regular lap-top comes with then in my oppinion it should cost LESS then the regular lap-top, not similarly priced.
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20 Posted by c8j2h on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:16PM EDT Report Abuse
USB Hub (Varies): Apple is anything but generous when it comes to extra USB ports, so I'm not surprised the MacBook Air only has one. If you plan on using other peripherals with your super slim computer, you'll need a USB hub preferably one with an external power source. Check out these options. ***Many peripherals such as printers can operate via bluetooth now, and there will be many more that will be released within the next year. Mac can connect to these without the need for extra USB ports. I never hook up an external mouse to my Macbook pro because the quality of the trackpad is so high that it's not needed.*** Ethernet Adapter ($29): One thing that won't be practical when you travel is the lack of an ethernet jack on the MacBook Air. While most hotels have wireless connections, there are those that don't which is why you'll need a USB Ethernet Adapter like this one selling on Apple's site for $29. ***Yup, or you can buy a portable router for a little bit more $$$, so you can lie on the hotel bed, or use it for another computer with an ethernet cable*** MacBook Air SuperDrive ($99): The MacBook Air doesn't have an optical drive which makes it impossible to download software or watch movies on your computer. Apple is already taking orders for the sleek MacBook SuperDrive, which according to the website is slightly bigger than a CD case, and easily fits inside a travel bag. The small optical drive connects via USB, and lets you play and burn both CDs and DVDs. ***You can connect to a PC or another mac with a DVD player in order to install software onto your computer or play a DVD. The mac connects wirelessly with the second computer and you can Additionally, people can also watch movies either by downloading them (legally or illegally), or there are programs that will extract the video of a main feature from a DVD into a video file that you can store on the harddrive.*** MacBook Air Sleeve ($30-$50): Contrary to what you have seen on those cute MacBook Air commercials, you're going to need more than a manila envelope to store your new computer in. Belkin is one of the few companies that has stylish sleeves specially made for the MacBook Air. They're available in leather, or neoprene, or fabric like Belkin's Expression Sleeve,which even has a removable shoulder strap for extra portability. ***Thank you for telling me to buy a protective case...I never would have guessed (sarcasm).***
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21 Posted by mpeter41 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:27PM EDT Report Abuse
Many of you may forget when Apple was the first company to scrap the 3.5" floppy drive from all of their computers. The PC supporters were in an uproar that Mac would have the nerve to suggest that the floppy drive was extinct with the recently new capabilities of cd-r. Then like usual every PC decided in Apples favor and decided that the 3.5" drive is not needed. This is exactully what Apple is suggesting again. With the capability of the internet and better (flash drives ect.) storage devices we are apporaching a day where cd's and dvd's will be inducted into the computer hall of fame. I dont think that apple is targeting this computer towards the poor college kid who needs a versital affordable computer rather a business man who would like a very protable computer to keep in touch with...oh as ps. please no more vista is better then leopard posts. You have not obviously used leopard.
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22 Posted by skewedude51 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:25PM EDT Report Abuse
The Air is designed for contractors that don't need a ethernet port, CD drive, or USB ports when they are meeting with their clients. They usually only need A good sized hard drive, a screen, possibly a mouse, a keyboard, the ability to connect with a projector and a sound system. This is why the Air only has these features.
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23 Posted by greg_stu1972 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:13PM EDT Report Abuse
It's like buying a car without a steering wheel.
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24 Posted by nelsonenzo on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:35PM EDT Report Abuse
Most of you haters are dumb. I will provide logical evidence that you are of inferior intelligence. 1)Not every laptop/computer is designed for every user. Just because it does't fit your needs doesn't make it a bad product. You can still buy one of thier full feature macbooks...thats' why they still sell them. If you where of greater intelligence, you would have realized that different products are desinged for differnt people. 2)Optical drives are becoming obsolete - just like you. Have you noticed that thumb drives can now hold 4x as much data as a DVD? And after the cost of hardware, they are cheaper compartivaly and endlessly more reliable. Within 3 years, optical drivew will be as common as floppy drives are now. it's called porgress. If you were intelligent, you would recognize progress. 3)You are likely still using a windows based laptop with built in security flaws. Your intellence factor just droped by 20 right there, no real explenation needed.
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25 Posted by dsen901 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:48PM EDT Report Abuse
my hat goes off to you gnorthern. maybe this blogger can read your comment and see the errors in her blog. i was about to explain this to the many poeople flaming Macs.thank you for posting. if you complain about an addon that cost $20-50 max when you plan to buy the MBA- then you definately shouldnt be spending 1800.
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6 Posted by mtipton77 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:29PM EDT Report Abuse
I agree with you totally. Did apple just think people would buy these laptops without researching? This makes me feel that Apple was trying to sell as many laptops as possible before people realized they were over-priced and underproductive.