I just realized I might have a monkey wrench in my purchase plans. Shhh, don't tell my friend - he's been chanting "mini, mini, mini" at me for almost a week now. HMPH.
I have no intention of buying an Apple Thunderbolt Display. I can't run a big glossy screen in my office area, and I have vision issues that make them difficult in perfect conditions. And no, I can't move the office - i'm stuck with the 39"x59.5" west facing window directly behind my back - with another to the diagonal right behind the desk, and another west one behind and 6 feet to the left.
So my plan was the 11" MBA plus a Dell u2312. Connecting the monitor won't be a problem, but I realized that my arsenal of FW400 drives wouldn't have anything to connect too (I have 3 FW and a couple of USB2, the FW can do USB but man, that is so slowwwwww!).
The announced Belkin Hub would do the trick - but it is announced and not shipping, and at $299, well, the Mini plus display is looking like a better solution for now.
Is there a current "cheap" solution to this - or am I SOL for the moment and stuck with the Mini for a retail purchase solution?!
I have no intention of buying an Apple Thunderbolt Display. I can't run a big glossy screen in my office area, and I have vision issues that make them difficult in perfect conditions. And no, I can't move the office - i'm stuck with the 39"x59.5" west facing window directly behind my back - with another to the diagonal right behind the desk, and another west one behind and 6 feet to the left.
So my plan was the 11" MBA plus a Dell u2312. Connecting the monitor won't be a problem, but I realized that my arsenal of FW400 drives wouldn't have anything to connect too (I have 3 FW and a couple of USB2, the FW can do USB but man, that is so slowwwwww!).
The announced Belkin Hub would do the trick - but it is announced and not shipping, and at $299, well, the Mini plus display is looking like a better solution for now.
Is there a current "cheap" solution to this - or am I SOL for the moment and stuck with the Mini for a retail purchase solution?!