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Drives for 13" MBA 2012

M

maxy123

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jul 29, 2012
18
0
I have 13" MBA 2012, I need to purchase USB 3.0 Ethernet adapter and USB 3.0 Superdrive.

I think both are not available with Apple yet. Are there any alternatives?

(I know Amazon has USB 2.0 Optical drive for $35 for MBA but I want USB 3.0)
 
There are a few out there as far as I know, but I believe it's all blue-ray optical drives which is a totally different price range than the Apple Super-Drive.

I am searching for one as well, but I will just be waiting for the Apple USB Super-Drive because it will be the best looking option out there at a reasonable price. :)
 
Asus makes a pretty good option. Not super slim like the superdrive, but Bluray and USB 3.0 for about $150.

As for the ethernet adapter, I believe Apple is going to have the 10/100 USB 2.0 and the 10/100/1000 Thunderbolt adapters. I don't think there are any plans to release a USB 3.0 gigabit adapter. Best bet for that would be watching amazon or monoprice for something released by another manufacturer.
 
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As long as you only want a DVD drive, USB 3.0 is unnecessary since 2.0 is fast enough. Don't know if bluray eats up the 2.0 bandwidth or not but DVD for sure doesn't. IOW, don't look for a USB 3.0 DVD drive.
 
maxy123 said:
I have 13" MBA 2012, I need to purchase USB 3.0 Ethernet adapter and USB 3.0 Superdrive.

I think both are not available with Apple yet. Are there any alternatives?

(I know Amazon has USB 2.0 Optical drive for $35 for MBA but I want USB 3.0)
Click to expand...

I don't know about optical drives, but you should get the Thunderbolt to Ethernet adapter: http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD463ZM/A?fnode=51

It will probably work better than a USB 3.0 one.
 
Smartie said:
As long as you only want a DVD drive, USB 3.0 is unnecessary since 2.0 is fast enough. Don't know if bluray eats up the 2.0 bandwidth or not but DVD for sure doesn't. IOW, don't look for a USB 3.0 DVD drive.
Click to expand...

USB 2.0 is fast enough for Bluray. I've been using external and internal BD drives for a few years and never found the internal/SATA connected drives to be any faster. I picked up one of the slim BD drives with an enclosure for $40 off Ebay (Here's a link):

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BDC-TD03HA-...Ray_Drives&hash=item564b9bd11f#ht_4434wt_1413
 
Thanks guys, still confusing!

I think after reading your posts, I realized its better to buy Blu ray player since I have lot of Bluray collection and hardly have any DVDs.

So, my next choice is Bluray drive with USB 3.0 or USB 2.0(if really good reviews)
 
pfjellman said:
Don't most thunderbolt displays have an ethernet port and/or another thunderbolt port on the back for daisy chaining?
Click to expand...

Well, the only available Thunderbolt display (Apple's) does. However you could also be using the Thunderbolt port with a Mini-Displayport adapter to a display that doesn't have Ethernet or Thunderbolt.
 
maxy123 said:
I have 13" MBA 2012, I need to purchase USB 3.0 Ethernet adapter and USB 3.0 Superdrive.

I think both are not available with Apple yet. Are there any alternatives?

(I know Amazon has USB 2.0 Optical drive for $35 for MBA but I want USB 3.0)
Click to expand...

I'm not aware of Apple making a USB 3.0 version of their Superdrive.

As far as Ethernet adapters, use the Thunderbolt adapter as I don't think Apple is making a USB 3.0 Ethernet adapter either.
 
Stetrain said:
Well, the only available Thunderbolt display (Apple's) does. .
Click to expand...

Exactly, and it doesnt support any of the video outputs from my work laptop as far as I know, only Thunderbolt. Since i sometimes work from home and don't have room for two large monitors, I can't use the Thunderbolt display. (Not to mention its a LOT more monitor than I need so it'd be tough to justify the cost even if I could use it with my work laptop)
 
Stetrain said:
Well, the only available Thunderbolt display (Apple's) does. However you could also be using the Thunderbolt port with a Mini-Displayport adapter to a display that doesn't have Ethernet or Thunderbolt.
Click to expand...

Exactly. I guess if you spend 1k you're set, but most of us cannot afford the apple display/would never pay so much for a display.
 
TwinCitiesJHawk said:
does this one require more than 1 usb port to use? Also, what software are you using to watch blu-ray movies? Thanks!
Click to expand...

It requires only one USB port, but also comes with another USB to power adaptor plug for any machines that don't provide enough juice. I've used it on my iMac and MBA, which do have powerful USB ports, but not sure how it would do on a PC.

I've using Pavtube Bluray Ripper for Mac for most of my BD backups (not actually watching the physicial discs from the machine, but I do know there is one product that supports this (can't recall name). I've used MakeMKV and DVDfab as well, along with Handbrake to do the official conversion. I then store them on the server and watch them through my AppleTVs.
 
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