Our latest roundup of Mac accessories includes several laptop bags that are almost more beautiful than the computer itself. Plus we’ve got storage solutions, shortcut keyboards, and more.
The $80 BearExtender Turbo for Mac, a high-speed USB Wi-Fi adapter for Macs featuring a maximum throughput speed of 867 Mbps—three times faster than comparable products, thanks to twin dual-band antennas. It’s compatible with OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard and later.
The Boa Nerve is a $155 messenger bag designed especially for 15-inch laptops. It offers a water-repellent coating, a nylon shoulder strap with magnetic quick release, reflective trim, and a rubberized bottom to keep your electronics protected against both the elements and shock.
The $180 Logic Pro X Wireless Keyboard is designed to “help you edit faster than ever by offering you all of the major shortcuts at once.” The keyboard is color-coded and marked with instructions to speed up the editing process for Logic Pro X users.
The $200 Ergo Pro Keyboard debuted this year at CES. It’s an ergonomically correct keyboard with thickly-padded palm supports, a center hinge that can be “tented at a 9-degree angle or inverted to 4.5 degrees.” The two halves can also be spaced up to a foot apart.
The $60 PowerMate Bluetooth is an updated version of Griffin’s popular PowerMate dial/button USB controller. You can configure it with custom commands for each Mac app. You can even use multiple controllers with your Mac, each configured to be used with a different app.
This company has introduced its Authentics line of wireless speakers, which includes the $600 L8 with four 30-watt speakers, and the $1000 L16 with six 50-watt speakers. Each offers Wireless connectivity in the form of both Bluetooth and Apple’s AirPlay technology. Both are inspired by the design of the old JBL L100 Century Loudspeaker.
This company announced two new storage products at 2014’s CES: The $490 Christofle Sphére (pictured), which offers 1 TB of storage and is notable for its design, and the Little Big Disk Thunderbolt 2, a 1 TB storage device with two Thunderbolt 2 ports for daisy-chaining. LaCie has offered no pricing information on the the Little Big Disk Thunderbolt 2, but says it will ship during the first quarter of this year.
At CES, Other World Computing rolled out its array of Thunderbolt cables, ranging from $28 for a half a meter of cable to $900 for 30 meters. The company also debuted its $500 Mercury Helios 2 Two Slit PCIe Thunderbolt Expansion Chassis, which features two Thunderbolt ports, expansion slots, and 20 GB/s performance.
This company is offering several new Mac-toting bags. The $329 Field Bag (pictured) carries a 15-inch laptop, and is made from twill waxed canvas and nylon, UV-resistant stitching. There’s also the $369 Messenger Bag, and the $309 Satchel, plus the $100 Sleeve for 13-inch laptops.
The K’lip USB key’s chief distinction is that its carabiner clip allows it to (natch) clip to just about anything, providing some insurance against loss. It’s also strong, able to withstand 200 kilograms of pressure, according to the company. But it’s still a Continental delight—you’ll have to order from France, where the basic 16 GB model costs just under 20 euros.
Author: Joel Mathis
Joel Mathis is a regular contributor to Macworld and TechHive. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife and young son.