Mac Computers With USB 3.0

Undoubtedly the arrival of USB 3.0 interfaces on MacBook mobile computers is a significant step to the future of SuperSpeed peripherals for Mac computers. Delivering up to TEN times the potential performance bandwidth over slower USB 2.0, USB 3.0 promises to provide far better performance for a broad assortment of home computer peripherals. USB3's backward compatibility with existing USB 2.0 components guarantees it will likely be a comparatively effortless change to the high-speed USB 3.0 standard.


Apple Inc. is now shipping USB 3.0 ports on the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, and the new Retina Display MacBook Pro products. It's expected that before the end of 2012, Apple will likely also be modifying it's Mac mini and iMac desktop computers to provide USB 3.0 ports. Apple has stated that in early 2013 the Macintosh Pro desktop tower will get a major revision that will feature both ThunderBolt and USB 3.0 port enhancements.


Aside from USB 3.0 cables, cards, and USB device sharing hubs, the USB 3 disk drive market for portable and personal computer file backup drives has already made the change to USB 3.0 interface. A broad variety of SuperSpeed backup solutions are presently available, and that includes things like USB 3.0 memory card readers and extremely fast US3 thumb drives.


A wider range of many other sorts of USB 3.0 Mac computer accessories have yet to reach the marketplace. However, we can look forward to additional gadgets such as USB 3.0 printers and scanners, USB 3.0 HDTV tuners, web cams, and SuperSpeed audio and video recording equipment to reach the market in the months ahead that will be good for both Macintosh and Microsoft Windows users as USB 3.0 adoption explodes across the computer sphere.

ThunderBolt Drives and Adapters For Mac

Personal computer manufacturers Intel and Apple unleashed a bleeding edge computer data interface named ThunderBolt about a year or so back. It's been slow to reach critical mass, but we're seeing ever more Mac ThunderBolt accessories technology reaching the market place. Capable of data speeds of up to Ten Gbps on each of its dual channels, it delivers twice the bandwidth of its closest competitor - the Five Gbps emerging "Super-Speed" USB 3.0 interface spec.

Mac users will find largest performance gains will be in the data storage area. A ThunderBolt HDD drive  ( visit http://www.thunderbolt-hard-drive.com ) interface promises insanely fast data transfer and backup speeds, particularly when paired with SSD flash drives. A full DVD disc of data can be copied in less than sixty seconds, an entire Terabyte backup drive worth of videos, music and pictures in just a few minutes. Expect other data intensive Thunderbolt peripherals for Mac and PC such as HDTV tuners, High-Def webcams and other high demand devices to hit the market to take advantage of the speed ThunderBolt technology provides. Keep in mind, ThunderBolt is not exclusive to the Mac platform. Intel and other PC makers will soon be shipping logic-boards with ThunderBolt interfaces built-in too.

These ThunderBolt ports are an extension of either a Mac or PC computers internal PCI Express bus. As such, it provides a very direct and multiple-lane freeway to a computer's memory and central processor. Imagine it as an expansion card slot that's just a small external port on the side of your laptop or desktop setup. This technology initially was launched on Apple's MacBook laptop and Macintosh desktop platforms as a solitary ThunderBolt port where the DisplayPort connection for video used to be. That's an important distinction to note: ThunderBolt can also drive high-resolution external LCD displays along with other ThunderBolt drive adapters that can adapt to other eSATA, FireWire, Ethernet and USB 3.0 peripherals.

A New Generation Of Mac Computer Accessories

SuperSpeed USB 3.0 is coming to Apple's Mac. It's one of those historical inevitabilities -- albeit one that's been rather deliberately delayed by Intel and Apple until they could get ThunderBolt out there and established first. However, with the release of Intel's latest Ivy-Bridge chipsets and it's inbuilt support for USB 3.0, the tide will shift rapidly as PC and Mac systems with native USB3 support ship en masse by year's end.

With Apple's World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) slated for this month, expect new product introductions that will reveal whether the Mac is going to get USB 3.0 support sooner - rather than later.

The benefits of 5GBps USB3 SuperSpeed are many: Familiar cabling, backward compatibility with legacy USB 2.0 and 1.1 speed devices, more milliamps of power for faster device charging, and more intelligent power use and management for better battery life in laptops and portable devices. With potentially up to 10-fold data transfer speeds, backing up data or synching an iGadget device will take a fraction of the time.

The benefit of SuperSpeed USB 3.0 accessories are just too compelling for the consumer. But most Mac users don't know that. What's been missing are real voices in the industry TELLING and SELLING it's benefits to the public. Without an icon like Steve Jobs telling users why they're gonna want the latest USB 3.0 enabled MacBook or iPad - the role of that will be left to Steve Cook or Phil Schiller in the months to come.

Best HD Webcam For Mac

As with digital cameras and DV camcorders - the trend is ever-higher camera sensor resolution. So too with webcams for Mac. As we crossed from the VGA and 1.3MP web cam era into 2MP and beyond - web camera now offering 720p and 1080p true wide-screen high-definition video chat are becoming more common. THe best of the best in Mac compatible webcams: Logitech's spectacular, state of the art HD webcam for Mac or PC:

With a Zeiss glass lens, and hi-res sensor, the image detail raises the bar for what an HD web camera ought to be:
Do note: HD video chat requires several things: A fast MacBook or Macintosh desktop system, ideally 2.4GHZ or higher, for HD conferencing a FAST, FAST internet connection like Premium Cable service (and not economy cable or DSL speeds) - and of course HD compatible Mac video applications that know how to sense and handle widescreen, 16:9 HD aspect ratios and transmitting HD content.

Fortunately, newer Macs have the processing oomph! needed. And with Apple's FaceTime HD - and Skype for Mac v5 now recently adding HD chat support, higher-quality videoconferencing is now at least possible. For most with more modest CPU horsepower and lower-bandwidth internet connections, buy an OSX compatible HD webcam for the stunning image clarity and quality - even when used at more modest 640x480 and non-HD resolutions.

Best MacBook Backup Drive? Think USB 3.0

Looking for a great little portable backup drive for your MacBook laptop or desktop Macintosh? The LaCie Rikiki Superspeed USB 3.0 Drive may prove to be a great near - and long-term choice.

For all the promise of ThunderBolt drives and devices - USB 3.0 SuperSpeed is an inevitability for Mac and PC's in the years ahead. Mac users can enjoy full USB 2.0 backup speeds on thier current Mac - and be USB 3.0 SuperSpeed ready when Macs and Windows systems start broadly incorporating USB 3.0 ports in 2012 and beyond.

As Professional-market SHIPPING ThunderBolt hard drives reach the market, the price premium is going to be too stiff for the average consumer. Especially since ThunderBolt almost REQUIRES SSD solid-state drives to even begin to take advantage of TBolt's 10GBps bandwidth. For the rest of us Mac users -- It's just smart money to think to the future, and look for an affordable spinning platter laptop drive for today's Mac backup needs that's USB3-ready.

Best Bluetooth Speaker for iPhone - iPad - Mac

Few portable Bluetooth speakers have the quality of engineering, frequency response, smart features and wow-factor like JawBone's JamBox. This A2DP stereo Bluetooth speaker with microphone offers compact, HandsFree call management, awesome music quality, great design and portability.



What makes this such an awesome wireless speaker for Apple iPad, Mac, iPhone and Touch is it's audio engineering. Dual precision engineered drivers PLUS a rubberized bass transducer built into the Lithium Ion battery pack's back delivers impressive frequency response in a 2.1 stereo travel speaker that you can hold in the palm of your hand. At around $199 list, it ain't cheap. But then, it doesn't sound cheap either. And comes in different colors and speaker grill patterns to suit your style.

Best Portable USB Computer Speaker?

For Presentation speakers - or battery-free laptop audio on the go - my favorite USB bus powered stereo speaker is the Z305 model of the Logitech USB Laptop Speaker - It has smart integrated design elements and side-firing drivers for wide angled stereo separation, cable-wraps to tuck away the wires, and perhaps most importantly, some very good quality speaker drivers that deliver a pleasing audio feild that will easily outperform any iBook or MacBook's built-in micro-speakers.

Best WiFi Mono Laser For Mac - With Style!

Samsung offers a good range of monochrome and color laser printers for Mac OSX - but perhaps most interesting is the sleek, slick Samsung ML-1630W Personal Wireless Mono Laser Printer - the SMALLEST laser printer made to date. This diminuitive printer has both looks and functionality in a compact form factor ideal for WiFi or USB printing from any Mac desktop or laptop:

Best Cheap Mac Compatible Laser Printer : Low-Cost Black and White

There's good reasons to want to own a simple monochrome black and white laser printer for your Mac laptop or desktop: Dirt cheap cost per page at high speeds for your basic printing needs. Paired with a color inkjet all in one, you can have the best of both worlds.

For a dirt cheap monochrome Mac OSX compatible laser well under a $100 - ponder Brother's 2240 USB laser. Over the years, this bargain printer has moved up from 300 to 600dpi, improved print speeds, and now offers 2-sided 'D' duplex printing options.


For a bit more: The next step up in Brother's highly affordable Apple friendly laser line-up. In addition to the the convenience of Duplex, 2-sided printing, 2270DW also offers Airport wireless or Ethernet connectivity (as well as USB2) for your Mac network printing needs

Best Cheap Color Laser Printer For Mac?

So much has changed in the Mac compatible laser printer market in the past few years. Far more compact and lightweight, better OSX printer driver support, faster print speeds at low cost per page compared to inkjets. These have all come to a new era of diminuitive, low-cost COLOR laser printers for Mac.

With far more efficient CMYK toner cartridge designs and simplified mechanics, the days of big, bulky lasers is over. Case in point, Samsung's CLP-315 is a great basic color laser for Mac without the hassle and futzing of ink-guzzling inkjets:



Prefer the convenience of a wireless laser for your Mac network: For about $50 more, the 315W gives whole-house freedom to print from anywhere with both Wi-Fi (802.11b/g) and 10/100 Ethernet ports (in addition to USB 2.0):