With their new release CalDigit is looking to take back market share by providing a significant upgrade to their Thunderbolt docking station hardware. The new Thunderbolt Station 2 (TS2) provides Thunderbolt 2 support and is their most anticipated product to date. The TS2 comes with a host of new features. First, the look is professional and matches most Apple products on the market today, a great pairing to your MacBook Pro. The redesigned case now comes standard with Thunderbolt 2 ports accessing speeds of 20 GB/sec, two eSATA ports and the HDMI supports 4K resolution.
The new CalDigit TS2 is a direct competitor to the Elgato Thunderbolt 2 Dock and Belkin’s Thunderbolt 2 Express Dock HD. Even thought the TS2 doesn’t come with a Thunderbolt cable it’s pre-order price of $170 makes it the most affordable model. Not to mention it has more ports and a solid die-cast aluminum construction. It will be interesting to see if the other manufacturers begin to reduce their prices.
Rumors of a new Apple Mac mini have swirling for quite some time now.
Some Apple fans were expecting Mac mini announcements, statements or teasers during the worldwide Apple event held last on September 9th. Lots of other products were discussed (the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, the wearable Apple Watch, U2’s free album, Apple Pay to name a few) but absolutely nothing on the Mac mini.
Understandably, this has fans feeling a little disappointed.
Rumors previously speculated launch date of February 2014, but it’s now September and still nothing. Some are suggesting there might not be any Apple Mac mini at all this year, thanks to a lull in reports and insider statements from Apple employees.
The most recent report, by 9to5mac, showed a cached page from Apple support that hinted at a Mid-2014 release. But that time has come and gone.
For its part, Apple has never confirmed rumors about any of its releases, opting instead to let public hype build up until they make their own announcement. Fans are still hopeful for a 2014 release.
According to various Mac mini rumor sites, the a future Mac mini will be shipped with OS X Yosemite and will be powered by Iris-integrated graphics and Haswell processors.
The upcoming device will also implement next-generation 802.11 Mac-based Wi-Fi internet, suggesting three times the connectivity speed of existing Mac wireless networks. The Mac mini will also contain the latest Mac OS features, including HandOff, AirDrop, MailDrop, Continuity and a host of other unnamed software programs.
The current Mac mini comes in two build types and there is little doubt that the next Mac mini will follow suit but with better specs, while still maintaining the pricing structure of $599 and $799.
Some speculation points to a November or December release just in time for the 2014 holiday season, to allow the iPhone and the Apple Watch enough time to establish themselves in the public eye before a other new Apple products are introduced.
New to the Mac? Did you just go out and buy a new Mac Pro? Well it’s time to look for some great accessories that almost every Mac owner should have. That Mac is great, but it does have its limitations. With some of these accessories, you can work better without adding a ton to your budget.
Anker USB 3.0 9 Port Hub With Smart Charging Port
9 Port USB Hub
Unless you have a Mac Pro (old or new), you probably have run out of USB ports. The iMac only has a couple, and every Apple laptop only has two or three. So it doesn’t take long to run out in this world where everything connects via USB.
The Anker USB Hub, has 9 ports, will charge everything up to an iPad without being plugged into your laptop/desktop, and is USB 3.0. The only thing that would make it better is if they threw in a couple extra Thunderbolt ports, but you can’t get everything you want.
The downside is that it’s pricey. But you’ll be hard pressed to find one that looks great next to your beautiful Mac, and has 9 ports ($60).
Apple Magic Mouse
Apple Magic Mouse
We’ve looked and looked for the perfect mouse for the Mac, and there are just not very many that fit the Mac aesthetic. Logitech makes some really great mice, but they tend not to last very long unless you spend more than $100.
So we’ve settled on the Apple Magic Mouse. Now if you’ve purchased an iMac, you probably already have one of these. If not, you’ll need to buy it separate. The great part is that because it is made by Apple, it has gesture support built in, so you won’t lose functionality if you’ve decided to leave your track pad behind.
Sometimes a track pad just isn’t precise enough, the Magic Mouse takes care of that ($73).
Specialty Screen Cleaner Kit
Belkin Cleaning Kit
All Macs have screens of some sort, even if you’ve had to buy it separately. Even if you use a desktop, your screen will get dusty and smudged over time. We’ve linked to a nice cleaner kit for LCDs and LED screens, but you can find something else if $15 is too pricey.
Basically it just comes with spray that is safe for a screen and a microfiber rag. Wipe your screen down once a month and it’ll continue to look awesome ($15).
Bottom Line
Obviously we could have listed several more, and if we had gotten specific to certain computers, we could have listed even more. If you have a MacBook for instance, an Ethernet to USB connector is almost a must have. We also failed to include a great external optical drive, so there’s that as well.
Many Mac users will start accumulating accessories from the time they buy their first Mac until they die. New things come out, and as tech people we love to look at shiny new things. It’s just human nature.
Desktop computers, for the most part, are a thing of the past. Most people, when they are searching for a new computer, are looking for a laptop. The world is becoming more and more mobile, and desktop computers like the new Mac Pro just can’t be lugged around that easily. That doesn’t mean, however, that the usefulness of a desktop computer has gone away. If you’re looking for a way to get the best of both worlds, a MacBook and a MacBook Dock may be your best solution.
The point of a dock is to expand the capabilities of your MacBook so that you can attach a bunch of extra peripherals. You can then simply attach the dock to your laptop, and it transforms into a desktop. When you want to pack up and leave, just unplug the dock, and go. Everything else stays there for the next time you want the big screen experience. So we’ve searched long and hard for the best MacBook docking stations. Here’s what we found.
The Matrox DS1
Matrox Dock
This is a Thunderbolt-enabled dock, which makes it ideal for a plug and play desktop solution. Plug in your display, printer, and hard drives to the dock, and then plug the dock into your computer via Thunderbolt. Not only does this give you the advantages of the desktop computer, but also it allows you to keep the speed you’d see using internal hardware ($229.00).
LandingZone DOCK 15″ Secure Docking Station
The DOCK is an amazing piece of hardware. Unlike the DS1, it is actually a dock for your computer; slide the computer into the DOCK and it connects to all of your peripherals. Of course there’s a downside, in that you have to buy one specifically suited to your MacBook.
The benefit is that you get all the ports you’d get with a desktop computer. It has a ton of extra USB ports, VGA, and more. The DS1 has some ports, but is a bit limited since you have to expand it with Thunderbolt devices, plus there are cords everywhere ($199.00).
Henge Docks
Henge Docks
We came to a problem when we found Henge Docks. They make some awesome products and we just couldn’t choose. They have a vertical dock, which you slip your MacBook into like a sleeve. They also have a horizontal dock, which allows you to keep using your Mac while it is plugged into the dock. They also make some wonderful docks for the iPhone that go along with their other products ($59.00-$79.00).
The downside of their products is they are a bit pricey. They start at around $250, and they are Mac specific, so you’ll need to make sure you buy the one that was made for your Mac.
Bottom Line
The Henge Docks are really cool, so we’d probably recommend those over the others, but it’s all going to depend on what form factor you like best. The Henge gives you more desk space, the DOCK is great for when you need to keep using your MacBook, and the DS1 is great when you just want to stick to a minimal profile and expand via Thunderbolt.
For a lot of Mac users, the Keyboard is the canvas on which they paint their art. It takes just the right feel in order for a keyboard to reach perfection, and no two keyboards are exactly the same. That’s why many Mac users spend years trying to find the perfect match.
Apple ships a keyboard with every new Mac (except the Mac Pro and Mac Mini), but it is supremely subpar, and doesn’t last very long. So what is a Mac user to do? Here are three top quality Mac keyboards you should consider.
Logitech diNovo Edge Keyboard
Logitech diNovo
The diNovo Keyboard has that PC look but with an ultra-modern feel at only 11mm thick! Not to mention it comes with a charging station and a bluetooth adapter for your Mac. This item is reviewed on many tech sites consistently getting some of the highest marks. Many buy it for the TouchDisc alone which combines fine cursor control, scrolling and selection all in one. It’s black stealth appearance will definitely get some looks. It’s a laser cut plexiglass that feels smooth and responsive. If the standard Apple keyboard had an evil twin it would be this keyboard. Pricey, but like we said it sells easily time and time again with all its added features Get the latest price on the diVovo Keyboard here.
Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K750 for Mac
Logitech Solar Keyboard
We know what you’re thinking: Solar? Come on, that will only work under the sun, right? That’s what’s so cool about this particular Logitech keyboard. It works by collecting light from the light bulb in your office, as well as the sun. One of the worst parts about a wireless keyboard is that almost all of them eat through batteries like they’re going out of style. This solar keyboard doesn’t have batteries at all. It is always charging, and storing that charge.
If you’ve been using a Mac for a long time, you’ll remember the awesome Apple keyboards that came with the Mac back in the late 90s and early 2000s. They had amazing tactile keys that made the cool clickity clackity sound that everyone associates with the keyboard today.
That keyboard went away when Apple redesigned the iMac. Matias makes some of the best Mac Keyboards available. The Tactile Pro is a great keyboard that allows you to type fast. There are two things you should be aware of. First the Tactile Pro is loud, as it has that traditional keyboard sound. Second, it isn’t wireless, so you’ll have to deal with a cord. Luckily the cord is very long, so you’ll be able to route it through your desk Get the latest price here.
Logitech Bluetooth Easy-Switch K811 Keyboard for Mac
Logitech Easy-Switch
Our last choice is another Logitech keyboard. This one is a bit more traditional in that batteries power it, and it’s also Bluetooth, so you won’t have to worry about losing the little dongle that comes with the K750.
If you’re looking for a small compact BT keyboard that will work with both your Mac and your iDevices, this is the best choice. It’s aesthetically pleasing and the keys, though shallow, are clicky enough that you should feel right at home. Get the latest price for the Logitech Easy-Switch here.
Bottom Line
The keyboard is still important, even after 30+ years of personal computing. It’s likely to continue to be important, even as touch computing continues to revolutionize the term computer. Of the keyboards we look at here, we prefer the diNova, but it isn’t for everyone. If you’re a minimalist, then it’ll be great, but if you prefer a more traditional style, one of the other mac compatible keyboards will suit you better.
