Useful Mac Accessories Worth Checking Out

[sudo-sandwich]

Check out the new Mac studio carry-on shield case. Surprised this one didn’t make the list.

Mac Studio Shield Case

The best Mac Studio Case for transporting your Mac Studio with accessories. Handcrafted compact soft case. Made in San Francisco, USA.

www.sfbags.com

View attachment 1984369

I took my 2009 Mac Pro on a flight as a carryon once, bare with no packaging. Turns out it's exactly carryon size. Also, the TSA asked me what it is, patted me down, and scanned the inside for explosive traces.

 

[page3]

For those interested in mechanical keyboards with proper keys ? Keychron do a few ISO layouts.

Here‘s mine.

 

[hydrochloride]

Stop buying things for your things.

 

[theluggage]

OWC Mini Stack Starting at $279?? Are they Nuts?? Seriously ??

You Can Buy something Similar for $89 on Amazon.

The OWC is 40Gbps Thunderbolt/USB4 rather than 5-10 Gbps USB-C/3.1.

If you just want to add a single, bog-standard SSD and/or plug in low-speed USB peripherals, the cheap option should be fine.

If you’re going to get a top-end NVMe SSD, plug in other Thunderbolt/USB4 peripherals, use 4K/5k displays etc. - especially more than one of those - then you need to stump up higher Thunderbolt prices.

 

[arielp.1404]

Why would you promote Satechi products when they clearly stole/cloned all of their designs from Hyper? I've had great luck with their products. https://www.hypershop.com/

most likely both of them OEM from the same manufacturer

 

[unfunfionn]

For those interested in mechanical keyboards with proper keys ? Keychron do a few ISO layouts.

Here‘s mine.

View attachment 1984629

I have a Keychron K3 keyboard that I really like, with one very annoying problem: the bottom row of keys is inexplicably different to a Mac keyboard despite them clearly targeting Mac users. To the right of the space bar, there is a CMD, Fn and Control key, but no Option. Despite them including a pack of alternative keycaps, they don't include a replacement Option key. Their customer support says they don't even manufacture them. A few months later, I'm still tripping up with my right hand when typing.

 

[nwcs]

I have a Durgod cherry MX red keyboard I use with the PC side of my existence. Very nice to type on.

But I discovered that even MX red mechanical keyboards are for single people who live alone

Lol, I had ones like that back in the 90s. It’s why I wanted the clear one these days!

 

[decimortis]

The corner radius of the MagicBridge not matching the Magic Keyboard irks me.

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

"worth checking out"
"mechanical keyboards"

choose one.

I have both a Mac- and a PC-version of the Vissles LP85 coming in the next couple of weeks. Reviews of early samples of the keyboard have been overwhelmingly positive. They’ve been relatively frequent with updates and transparent with production snags (covid related).

I have a Logitech G915 hooked to its dongle on my PC and connected via Bluetooth to my MBP. Another mechanical keyboard worth checking out.

I have a Keychron K3 keyboard that I really like, with one very annoying problem: the bottom row of keys is inexplicably different to a Mac keyboard despite them clearly targeting Mac users. To the right of the space bar, there is a CMD, Fn and Control key, but no Option. Despite them including a pack of alternative keycaps, they don't include a replacement Option key. Their customer support says they don't even manufacture them. A few months later, I'm still tripping up with my right hand when typing.

At the risk of sounding like a shill for Vissles, they revised their Mac keyboard layout several times based on community feedback before going into production.

What I really need is a great 4k curved 32" in monitor.

I can recommend a great 2k 27” and good 2k 34” if that helps, lol.

The corner radius of the MagicBridge not matching the Magic Keyboard irks me.

I have the older version designed for the silver/white TKL Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad. I honestly don’t recall that different radius on mine.

 

[johnmarki]

The OWC MiniStack is perfect if you want to run a media server with your Mac Mini. It blends in, runs quietly, and always stays connected (with the correct drives & settings in MacOS)

 

[svish]

Satechi Pro Max hub is a good one.

 

[AndrewC89]

Satechi Pro Max hub is a good one.

I use a case on my MacBook so a direct plug in hub like that really isn‘t a good option. This is the dongle I use for anyone in the same boat as me:

Satechi USB C Hub Multiport Adapter, USB C Docking Stationing Station with 4K HDMI, 60W USB C PD Charging, 2 USB-A, Ethernet, Micro/SD Card Readers, for MacBook Pro/Air M1 M2 M3, Windows - Space Gray

Elevate your productivity with the Satechi USB C Hub Multiport Adapter, a versatile docking station designed for MacBook Pro/Air M1, M2, M3, and Windows devices. This compact hub features essential ports including 4K HDMI (60Hz) for vibrant display output, Gigabit Ethernet for stable internet con...

www.amazon.com

 

[AndrewC89]

Check out the new Mac studio carry-on shield case. Surprised this one didn’t make the list.

Mac Studio Shield Case

The best Mac Studio Case for transporting your Mac Studio with accessories. Handcrafted compact soft case. Made in San Francisco, USA.

www.sfbags.com

View attachment 1984369

I love Waterfield bags. They make an amazing case for the AirPods Max that has built in magnets so you can put the headphones into low power mode without using the stupid ”purse” apple gives you.

AirPods Max Shield Case

The best AirPods Max Case with in-case charging and a central magnet that puts the AirPods Max in low-power mode. Made in San Francisco, USA.

www.sfbags.com

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

OK now here's a flashback for you long-timers. Years ago- early/mid 2000s maybe- this company called Macessity sold a product called the Slimkey 2. Here's a picture...

It was minimalist height with width that could perfectly accommodate a full-width keyboard with number pad. Those are USB 2 jacks on the side.

I wish I could find something similar with USB-3 or 4. There's LOTS of stands out there of course, but they are generally much taller than this one at only about 25mm from the desk surface. The easier access of those USB jacks vs. "around back" positioning on iMacs made them quite useful and yet out of the way... even invisible from the front.

All these years later, I still use this thing... now with a stand-alone, Ultra-wide monitor and that hub now fed by a Mac Studio connection. Why? That minimalist profile and height while perfectly fitting a full keyboard is simply ideal for my purposes.

 

[TechnoLawyer]

The problem I've found with keyboards like the Keychron is that they loose connection with the computer fairly quickly if you don't type on them (to save power) and takes a few seconds to connect, and the battery dies too quickly meaning you have to charge it almost every other day or so.

Contrast this with the Apple keyboard, which stays connected for a long time before going into power saving mode, reconnects in 1/4 the time as the other keyboards, and the battery lasts like 3 months before needing a charge. So, while I love mechanical keyboards, I keep ending up going back to the Apple keyboard.

Don't buy a mechanical that cannot work in wired mode, use it in wired mode.

 

[NightOne]

OWC Ministack STX vs. Trebleet Mac Mini TB3 Dock and Why?

Go

 

[sudo-sandwich]

"worth checking out"
"mechanical keyboards"

choose one.

I wouldn't put it so matter-of-factly, but I really don't get mechanical keyboards. People told me they were great, but even the ones with moderate switches have so much key travel that it halves my WPM.

My work gave me a high-end mechanical kb, but I still use the default wired Apple keyboard. The 2015 MBP one is even faster cause the keys are slippery.

 

[Stiksi]

VIVO Adjustable Under Desk Mounting Platform ($55) - If you use your Mac in clamshell mode, this adjustable mounting platform from VIVO is worth checking out because it installs right under your desk and keeps your laptop out of sight and out of the way, freeing up desktop space. You can also use this as a pull out option for your laptop or other products.

$55 or 190£ damn…

 

[G5isAlive]

I highly recommend a stand for your MacBook, especially if you use it connected to an external display. It helps keep the temperature down, which could extend the life of your battery.

worth consideration with an Intel MacBook, my M1 max rarely even gets warm. Never hot.

 

[Sukach]

The problem I've found with keyboards like the Keychron is that they loose connection with the computer fairly quickly if you don't type on them (to save power) and takes a few seconds to connect, and the battery dies too quickly meaning you have to charge it almost every other day or so.

Contrast this with the Apple keyboard, which stays connected for a long time before going into power saving mode, reconnects in 1/4 the time as the other keyboards, and the battery lasts like 3 months before needing a charge. So, while I love mechanical keyboards, I keep ending up going back to the Apple keyboard.

I'm in the market for a new keyboard and since getting my M1 MBP, I always use the Touch ID for passwords so I think I'm locked into getting an external Apple keyboard for that reason.

 

[marco114]

To me, this is by far the best keyboard I have ever used:

Logitech MX Keys​

 

[likegadgets]

I ordered the VIVO Adjustable Under Desk. Brilliant. I keep a MBO M1 MAX Pro 16 in clamshell mode when not traveling. I have a CalDigit T4 with all the peripherals, monitors and external drives that connects to the MBP with one cable. I needed the longer T4 cable (2meters) to reach the MBP under the desk on the VIVO mounting platform. I also use the he Twelve South MagicBridge