5 replies to this topic

[Joe Weaks]

The Chair of my Technology department has been suggesting getting me a new MacBook. And with the new speedbump the models just received, the resistance became too much. My 2.16 Ghz white is on the way (I decided not to pay $150 for black paint).
It bothers me that I covet such a big ticket item (with poverty in the world, etc.).

So, perhaps I should drown my guilt with accessories!
Any suggestions on your favorite MacBook accessories?

Edited by Helen Brown, 18 May 2007 - 10:05 PM.
Title changes at poster's request

[John Allard]

The Chair of my Technology department has been suggesting getting me a new MacBook. And with the new speedbump the models just received, the resistance became too much. My 2.16 Ghz white is on the way (I decided not to pay $150 for black paint).
It bothers me that I covet such a big ticket item (with poverty in the world, etc.).

So, perhaps I should drown my guilt with accessories!
Any suggestions on your favorite MacBook accessories?

Two of my personal favorite accessories for the macbook are the radtech screensaverz (doubles to protect the screen and clean it, I recommend any colors other than shagwire and fuschia) and Apple's wireless mighty mouse. If you do a lot of work at a desk with a secondary monitor, I really like Griffin's new Elevator laptop stand. Enjoy the new macbook!

[R. Mansfield]

Any suggestions on your favorite MacBook accessories?

Make your desk into a true portable workstation.

• Add an external monitor of your choice (I found a used 21" CRT cheap, but of course the flatscreens are nice). Now you have DUAL monitors! You'll have to add a monitor adapter based on what kind of monitor you use. The Apple Store has these for every kind.
• Get a second power supply so you can leave the one at your desk plugged in and you don't have to go crawling under your desk everyday.
• Get the Griffin iStand to elevate your MacBook. The iStand is translucent so your MacBook will seemingly float on air! Also the elevation helps put your MacBook screen at an elevation near the external monitor. http://portfolio.cab...m_function.html
• Round it out with an Apple wireless keyboard and mouse combo.

The above is my basic setup. I come in everyday and set my MacBook on the iStand, plug in the power supply, monitor adapter, and USB cable that connects my printer and scanner and I'm set. Oh, and turn off your wireless keyboard and mouse at the end of the day to save on batteries.

This is the perfect portable setup in my opinion.

Edited by R. Mansfield, 24 May 2007 - 02:56 PM.

[Joe Weaks]

I will definitely be keeping a workstation at the office desk... larger monitor, keyboard and mouse. I'm undecided about shelling out for BT options just because I'm too lazy to manage the cable. Definitely getting second power supply--I did all of this when I last had an iBook.

I may keep the MacBook on the desk "below" the second monitor.

I've had the MacBook a day, and I do love it.

[R. Mansfield]

Well, I've been surprisingly please with the wireless keyboard and mouse. And there's sometimes when I need to give priority to plain old fashioned books (!) and I can simply move the mouse and keyboard completely out of the way because there's no cable chaining them to my setup

Another good MacBook accessory is Cool Feet: http://www.cableyoyo...olfeethome.html

My wife got these for me for Christmas, and they come in very handy. They suction cup on to the bottom of your laptop and not only allow for better airflow, but tilt the back of your laptop slightly upward so that you can type at an angle. I use these whenever I'm going to be at another location using my laptop for more than twenty minutes--such as a coffeeshop or the kitchen table or wherever.

The coolfeet come with little adhesive disks so that the suction cups on the feet have an ultrasmooth surface, but I've found that on a MacBook, you don't need them. Nor do you need to apply any "moisture" to the suction cups as the directions suggest (I can just imagine people licking them--yuck). The simply go on the bottom of my MacBook with a firm press and pop off just as easily.

[Kaala]

i have the macbook pro, bought it about 5 months ago. First mac and love it. Bough the mac bluetooth keyboard and mouse (got it as a christmas present ) and like those. Also, got a lacie 500GIG external hard-drive.

My mac is my primary computer so it's my desktop and portable though it's mostly plugged in. The macbook pro comes with a power supply that has some sort of interchange-able do-hickey on it with an extra power CHORD. I leave the chord plugged in when I'm at my desk, unplug the dohickey connector, switch it out for the "portable" one and am free to move about . This relieves me of the need to get on my knees every day (though for pray that would be a good thing) and reach under my desk to unplug everything.

Have fun!