Just saw this article on Engadget:
http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/24/adding-insult-to-injury-usb-3g-modems-wont-fit-in-the-macbo/
http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/24/adding-insult-to-injury-usb-3g-modems-wont-fit-in-the-macbo/
$3
Yep, time to kill off the Macbook Air.....insurmountable problem here....
NOT.
"But it's not as tidy!" (see above)
Nice, subtle trolling there. Congrats.Hopefully some 3rd party company will come out with a special bag to hold everything you need to travel with the MBA:
USB Hub, preferably battery powered
USB extension cable
USB Ethernet dongle
USB HDD to hold all of those photos/music/video that Apple has been telling us to buy from iTunes.
3g wireless cellphone modem since it's not built in like many ultraportables
3rd Party external battery and charger for when you travel more than 3 hours and actually work.
Apple power adapter
DVI adapter
Belkin and others, are you ready?
They used the worst 3G modem for this test. The Sierra Wireless Cards (which are available for the big 4 in the US) all have flip out USB connectors, instead of the molded USB connector on the bulky modem they used for the test.
Seriously, people will always find something new to complain about.
TEG
I'm sorry, but I can't agree with anybody defending a design that makes it difficult to use common peripherals. It's the same stupidity with the iphone headset jack - it annoys me to no end that Apple forces everybody to get new equipment to fit their rather arbitrary design decisions. I understand that they wanted thinness above all and that with the design they had to think of a new way to have the rather large USB ports, but surely there must have been an alternative? It's a clear example of allowing an obsession (thinness) to override all other considerations.
$3 - 24inches.
Yep, time to kill off the Macbook Air.....insurmountable problem here....
NOT.
Actually, EVERYONE should use one of these, the way ANYTHING rigid sticks out of ANY USB port, it is only asking for a bump to break the connector INSIDE the machine, with a small cable it is flexible and bends, not ruins your $2grand toy if you hit it.
The Ovation U727 is the best USB CDMA modem on the market. It is also one of the smallest. There is no sinister plot here. Just 2 designs that dont work together perfectly.
The U727 comes with a cable, a clip to hook onto the back of the screen and a bag to carry everything in. Use those and it works great.
The Radio Shack adaptor looks perfect but it seems they don't have it anymore. Any suggestions for something similar? I have an extension cable but it's bulky to carry around.
No need to be rude.
I did a search and found this thread. I searched for the suggested product but it was out of production. I checked Amazon but no one commented as to whether such a product was appropriate for the MacBook Air. Besides which, I didn't want to deal with shipping for an $8-10 item.
In any event, I just went to Fry's and found the Belkin F3U134vFLEX. It works great. So for anyone else in this situation, I recommend this.
http://www.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=250761