Five essential accessories for your Apple MacBook Air
By Jonathan Schlaffer
As thin and light as the MacBook Air is, it’s still “slow” (relatively speaking) and users of the laptop will have to make do with one USB port, one headphone jack and one external monitor connection. It lacks even the most basic of connections which is a severe drawback. If you can deal with carting a few extra accessories then it’s highly advisable to pick up these five.
A USB hub. Since the MacBook Air has only one USB hub, it would be advisable to pick up a third party USB hub with at least four ports to expand your functionality. If you want to use more than one USB device at a time, you’re going to need it. Which is oh, say 99.9% of us. I suggest looking up the “Mini Mirror Hub” as it will go nicely with the MacBook Air (or any Mac for that matter).
The Ethernet USB adapter. Apple, in its definite wisdom decided to leave a dedicated Ethernet port off the MacBook Air. It would be nice to have an Ethernet connection where you only have access to a wired jack or want a faster connection than wireless can provide. Thanks for this Apple. At least you can buy a USB Ethernet adapter, probably the second most important thing on this list.
An Ethernet cable. Since the MacBook Air doesn’t have an Ethernet jack it stands to reason that it doesn’t come with an Ethernet cable. You’ll only need this if you don’t have a spare cable lying around somewhere. At least some of you will so this isn’t aimed at everyone.
Optical drive. It’s possible to do without an optical drive on-the-go unless you are going on a plane ride and would like to watch DVDs. However, wouldn’t it be nice to be able to burn media while you are at home and relatively stationary, of course it would. The other cuts Apple made are bad enough but to not have an optical drive built-in, please. I’m afraid you’ll have to use Apple’s external SuperDrive and it’s not even a guarantee it will work over the USB hub because Apple pushes extra power over the USB port specifically to power the drive. The external SuperDrive was designed to function with the MacBook Air only.
Carrying case. It’s nice to be able to show off the thinnest and lightest laptop from Apple but it’s probably not a good idea to carry it under your arm. When traveling your laptop should always be carried in a protective case, especially a laptop that costs $1,800 to $3,100. The company made a big deal of being able to fit the Air in a manilla envelope so why not buy the AirMail manilla carrying case. Or go for something that can carry the laptop and your accessories.
It’s sad to say that this list brings the laptop up to what can be found built-in to your run-of-the-mill $499 PC laptop (save for the carrying case) and you don’t even have to carry “extra” things with you. With the Air, many of us would be carrying the USB hub, Ethernet adapter and a flash drive on a regular basis. And if you want to use both with the Air at the same time, you’ll be needing that hub.
The fact Apple had (Intel) to engineer this product is sad. I could have designed a laptop at least as useless as the MacBook Air is.
Related:
Stumble It!
Entry was posted
on Sunday, January 27th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
under 
Print This Post
Read more entries by Jonathan Schlaffer.
January 27th, 2008
Accessory #1 - 1997 Mitsubishi Pedion laptop. Because then you would actually be carrying around the worlds thinnest laptop in case you care about that stuff, not just one that Steve Jobs tells you is the thinnest.
Accessory #2 - Sony Vaio TZ laptop. Because then you would actually have a good tool instead of just looking like one.
January 27th, 2008
If you’re going to run anything drawing juice from your hub, best get one with it’s own power adapter.
Why do you keep writing about this laptop since you hate it so? It’s not going to fit your idea of what a laptop needs to be, no matter how you try to cram it into your reality by adding the very items left out by the design team on purpose. I can see this being useful for Sales and Marketing folks for the wow factor. I wouldn’t buy one, but you act like the Apples going to stop selling the Macbooks.
January 27th, 2008
I don’t like the MacBook either what with its lack of dedicated graphics…
Apple should make a 13″ MacBook Pro and that would make them piles and piles of cash… which the MacBook Air won’t…
As for the MacBook… the screen is… well… not the best and the case isn’t perfect either so the line needs updated, I’ll be waiting…
The “engineers” work for Steve Jobs, Steve Jobs is the only one that would actually use this… this… thing…
January 28th, 2008
I think everyone is missing the ENTIRE point on this. This laptop is not designed to be a DESKTOP REPLACEMENT. Its designed to be and ultra-portable laptop. Its designed for those who don’t need an Ethernet cable, a bunch of usb ports, or constant access to an optical drive.
Get it straight! This is an ultra-portable laptop, NOT a desktop replacement!
January 28th, 2008
I don’t understand these silly articles. Yes, I have a small USB hub for my current ultraportable. I use it only at home, though, when I need to plug in the printer, etc. No, you don’t need an optical drive to bring with you, rip the DVDs and put them on the hard drive - it’s not rocket science. (or, you know, buy them on iTunes like they suggest, of course, if you’re into that). Also, you don’t have to use the external drive they suggest. You’re right as well, I would buy the external exthernet dongle, “just in case”, but most of the time there is wifi MORE often than there are wired connections available. And what are you doing that you need 100baseT so badly? Even streaming video works fine on wi-fi.
If you want to bitch, bitch about something lacking from this that other ultraportables DO have and that’s important, PCMCIA. Without that, it’s hard to use 3G internet cards, etc.
January 28th, 2008
I think everyone understands who this is designed for.While Apple fanbois are always receptive to the strange idea that lack of something is a positive (3G anyone?), what exactly does this thinness do for you? I keep hearing how innovative and visionary this laptop is, but I’ll be damn if I can figure what makes this better than other ultraportables. There have been thinner laptops, HP had one in 1997: http://www.news.com/Mitsubishi-unveils-notebook/2100-1001_3-205190.html
Toshiba’s was thinner with 2 usb and one ethernet ports in 2000:
http://reviews.zdnet.co.uk/hardware/notebooks/0,1000000334,10000319,00.htm
Ripping DVDs is a time consuming pain in the ass, and I don’t see the person this is aimed at ripping DVDs. There’s quite a few business that do not allow wireless because of security issues. The multitouch pad looks cool indeed, but that will probably be added to the Macbook Pro lineup. I’m not saying it’s a bad design, I just don’t get the swooning rapture over it.
February 8th, 2008
First, I agree it is over priced for what you get. Lets look at this realistically. Do you need all the accessories NO. I just bought the MacBook Air and love it. It is my I phone companion. I travel a lot and just need something for email access and the office vps or surf the web. I do not watch movies, nor play games. This is a live saver for me because it is light and easy to travel with. I will agree with the USB Ethernet because some hotels do not have wireless and sometimes for security I like to use Ethernet. I did not buy it as a desktop replacement. I can use my MacBook Pro for that. I bought it for what it is, An increadable ultra light notebook
February 10th, 2008
Writers who are not road warriors should not write articles about road warrior gear. (Music, Movies, etc.) God bless Apple for creating a laptop that does not waste my energy dragging around things that no true road warrior ever uses. Got one on day one and love it.
A million air miles per year.
Jason
February 21st, 2008
You folks are a hoot. All worried about the wired ethernet cable, ever hear fo wireless? hahaha. As for leaving things out, thats how you make it light, duh. And for those who have to carry the bloody thing around, you understand the lightness advantage.
Only downside is cost, but otherwise, very useful device.
February 23rd, 2008
I have it and I love it. It is not for everyone, but if you all ready have a desktop, why not get a laptop that you can actually carry around with you all day without your shoulder hurting. As for everyone on this site that has a problem with Apple I have a solution for you, stick with windows, no one cares if you do. As for me I use windows when I have to but I now prefer Apple.