Gear Diary » Apple MacBook Laptop Gear

iPhone Backs from The Brooklyn Bakery Store Will Make You Swoon

Judie Stanford — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:15:08 +0000

If you hate putting your iPhone in a case, but you still want it to look unique and interesting, then you might want to consider one of the imaginative adhesive leather backs from The Brooklyn Bakery Store. Made to resemble natural and unnatural skins, these leather objects of art will really make your iPhone stand out. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Twelve South Does it Again with HoverBar for Mac and iPad 2

Dan Cohen — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:52:39 +0000

If you use a Mac and an iPad, then Twelve South's new HoverBar is for you. It lets you use your iPad 2 an adjustable arm that floats iPad 2 next to an iMac or Apple display, allowing you to use iPad as a secondary, touchscreen computer.

[It] turns iPad into the ultimate sidecar for an iMac or Apple display, presenting more ways to use iPad more often. Connect HoverBar to your Mac, snap iPad 2 into the secure clip and you now have one powerful dual-computer work setup. Having iPad floating next to your Mac allows you to monitor your Twitter stream, stocks and local weather -- or run FaceTime on your iPad while you email, edit a file, or cut a video on your Mac.

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Seagate Thunderbolt Adapter Speed Comparison with USB 2.0

Dan Cohen — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:59:17 +0000

We told you about Seagate's new Thunderbolt adapters last week. Yes, we are finally seeing products come to market that take advantage of the speed increases offered by Thunderbolt. But how fast IS Thunderbolt? Sure you can see lab testing but that doesn't necessarily tell you about using it at home or work. We shot a video of moving 2.5GB of data from a MacBook air to an external drive using both USB 2.0 and Thunderbolt. This is a normal use-scenario for something like this so the speeds you see here are what you might expect if you get one of the adapters.

See for yourself…

Click here to view the embedded video.

Want to know more? Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

iLuv Adds to Their Product Line for CES

Douglas Moran — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:30:57 +0000

iLuv makes accessory-type gear. Cases for you phones and tablets; earphones; power adaptors; audio docks; stuff like that there. And like most tech companies, they have some new items that they are waving in front of our collective noses at CES, like:

A Kindle audio dock
New cables with charge and sync features
New Mac adaptors and cables
New charging solutions for your favorite gadget

I don't know what kind of gear you have, of course, nor what kinds of accessories you may need for said gear. But suffice to say, you probably need something, right? A new case for your iPad; power converters for your laptop; screen protectors; something Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Twelve South Bass Jump 2 Portable Subwoofer for MacBook Review

Dan Cohen — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 22:00:16 +0000

The MacBook air isn't designed to be an entertainment device. The anemic speakers on it make that point quite clearly. Sure, they work well enough, but I would be hard-pressed to call them anything more than functional. The speakers on the iMac are far better but even they still fall a bit short. That's where Twelve South's BassJump 2 Portable subwoofer for MacBook comes in. Let's take a look. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Black Friday Giveaway Winners Announced

Dan Cohen — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 14:30:12 +0000

We had some great accessories to give away beginning last Friday. We figured it was a great way to mark the formal start to the holiday shopping season. Below you will find the prizes we had to give away, links to read the reviews or buy them directly and, of course, the winners. All winners have 24 hours to email their name, the prize they won and their address to contests@geardiary.com. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Black Friday Giveaway #3

Dan Cohen — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 18:30:53 +0000

It's Black Friday and that means you can save some cash on things you want for yourself or to give to family and friends. Discounts are good but you know what is better? FREE! And we're giving away some awesome stuff today absolutely free. All you need to do is enter. This item has a value of $69.99. What is it and how can you win? Read on! Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Black Friday Giveaway #1

Dan Cohen — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 17:30:26 +0000

It's Black Friday and that means you can save some cash on things you want for yourself or to give to family and friends. Discounts are good but you know what is better? FREE! And we're giving away some awesome stuff today absolutely free. All you need to do is enter. This item has a value of $34.99. What is it and how can you win? Read on! Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Crimson Screen Protectors for MacBook Air

Douglas Moran — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:30:13 +0000

For me, one of the tricky things when buying a new device these days is, how do I protect it? Honestly, I love the size and feel of my iPhone when it's "naked", but there are a couple of problems with it: it's durn slippery and prone to be dropped, and it's unprotected. But I don't like bulky cases, either (unless we're talking Vaja; then we're in a whole different discussion). What to do? Some folks find that putting thin films or simply screen protectors on their precious gear is the way to go. Crimson offers a number of options in this regard, including their new offerings: anti-glare protectors for the MacBook Air (11" and 13") Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

GD Quickie: Protect Your Private Parts with LapGuard

Dan Cohen — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 21:00:36 +0000

Ah life… so many things to worry about these days. Nuclear proliferation, the economy, global warming (errr climate change), earthquakes, how Duke Basketball will do this year and now this… laptop sterility. Yes, in addition to worrying about whether or not your cellphone is giving you a brain tumor you now need to worry about what your laptop is doing to your reproductive system. Why? Because "recent reporting suggests that radiation emitted from Wi-Fi enabled laptop computers may be harmful to your reproductive system" and this apparently holds true for men and women. That's where Digital Innovations' LapGuard comes in. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Twelve South PlugBug QuickLook

Dan Cohen — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:37:13 +0000

We brought word of Twelve South's new PlugBug Mac/iPad accessory the other day. Within seconds of learning about the new product Judie and I had both ordered one. It is a great traveling companion if you have a Mac and an iPad or iPhone, so it seemed like a no-brainer. It is! Mine just came and, once again, I'm impressed with what Twelve South has done. Here's a quick video look at the PlugBug.

Click here to view the embedded video.

You can order yours for here on the company site for $34.99 Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Twelve South PlugBug iPad/iPhone Travel Charger- a Simple but Brilliant Apple Accessory

Dan Cohen — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:45:04 +0000

Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best ideas. That's how Twelve South's new PlugBug strikes me. The accessory lets you use one plug to charge both your Mac and your iPad. "Simple", "fast" and "clean" are the words that came to mind when I got the announcement a few minutes ago. Deciding to order one for myself was a no-brainer. So what exactly is the PlugBug? Let's let Twelve South explain. PlugBug…

piggybacks onto a MacBook Power Adapter, allowing you to charge a MacBook and an iPad/iPhone simultaneously from one power outlet. The ingenious PlugBug connects to all MacBook Power Adapters. Simply snap PlugBug onto a MacBook Power Adapter, in place of the adapter’s

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Twelve South’s BassJump 2 Pumps Up the Bass!

Dan Cohen — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 15:00:49 +0000

The folks at Twelve South always have a way of surprising us. They make awesome leather cases like the BookBook for iPad or iPhone but they also make an amazing iPad stand called the Compass. (I use mine all the time.) Now they have something even more outside the box- the BassJump 2 speaker. The new BassJump 2 is a portable, USB-powered subwoofer that "turns MacBook Pro or MacBook Air into a travel-friendly sound system". Powered by a single USB connection, the BassJump 2 uses proprietary software that "blends the sound output of the BassJump subwoofer with the output of Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Gear Diary at 5 Giveaway: It’s In the Bag Winners Announced!!!

Dan Cohen — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 02:45:10 +0000

We've got winners! Three awesome laptop bags, lightly used review samples, were up for grabs and today we are announcing who is getting them. But before we get to that here's a bit of a reminder. We've got two other contest currently running. There's the "Gear Diary at 5: You CAN Get There from Here, Magellan RoadMate 9055-LM Giveaway". Check it out and enter here. And then there is the "Gear Diary at 5: Win a Sceptre 24″ HDTV / DVD Combo AND Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

The Beyzacases MacBook Air 11″ Zero Series Case Review

Judie Stanford — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 14:30:22 +0000

Please allow me to gush for a moment, because it is not something I'm usually inclined to do ... I truly enjoy using my little 11" MacBook Air; it is the computer that I grab when I don't want to be tied to a desk. I use it on the couch, I use it outside on our deck, and sometimes I use it "just because" ... and when it's time to travel, I typically toss my Air inside whatever bag I happen to be carrying. The 11" Air is the most totable (while remaining usable) laptop that I have ever owned. While I prefer to keep my Air inside a protective sleeve when it's being Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Acme Made Announces New Clyde St. Messenger Bag

Dan Cohen — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 18:00:34 +0000

Judie and I are both huge fans of Acme Made's products. We've reviewed their Clutch, their Skinny Sleeve, their Slick Case for iPad and their awesome Courier laptop bag. We got word today of a brand new style, the Cylde St. Messenger, and it looks great too. Here's Acme Made's description of it:

The Clyde St. Messenger is a solid, all-purpose messenger bag. It’s built tough with lots of interior space and pockets to store it all. With styling that looks as good in a conference room as it does on the street, the Clyde St

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Macbook Air Gear Review: ACME Made Skinny Sleeve Stretch Shell

Judie Stanford — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 21:30:34 +0000

If you have one of the sexy 2010 or 2011 MacBook Airs, then it makes absolutely no sense to cover that svelte beauty in a big fat laptop case. ACME Made has got perhaps one of the thinnest and most minimalistic sleeves that I have seen, so whether you prefer to carry your Air in a laptop bag or not, the Skinny Sleeve Stretch Shell may be its perfect protector.

I was sent a review sample in black, but there is also a purple version; the Skinny Sleeve is available for both the 11" and 13" MacBook Airs. Composed Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Review: AViiQ Portable Charging Station

Dan Cohen — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 21:00:29 +0000

The promise of converged devices like the iPhone was, among other things, the ability to travel light. Instead of needing to bring a phone, an address book, a music player, a note pad, a camera, etc., smartphones promised to replace all of that and be the only thing you needed to bring with you. Funny but, at least for many of us, that hasn't happened. Sure, my iPhone DOES replace all those aforementioned items, but along with my iPhone I now carry an iPad, a Bluetooth headset and, at times, a second phone. And in order to keep them all working I also need to bring wall chargers and cables. That's NOT converged living Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

New PDAir MacBook Air Case Releases

Douglas Moran — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 14:00:51 +0000

So, you have a nice, new MacBook Air 13". Mmm, shiny! Nice! And wouldn't it be a bummer if it got scratches all over that nice, shiny casing? Well, heck yes it would! So maybe what you want to do is pick yourself up a case for it, yeah/ And as I've told you a b'zillion times here, PDAir is always quick off the mark when it comes to making cases available for new hardware. So why not check them out? Full information below.

Leather Case for Apple New MacBook Air 2011 13" - Book Type (Black)
Leather Case for Apple New MacBook Air 2011 13" - Horizontal Pouch Type (Black)

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Now Shipping: AViiQ Portable Charging Station

Dan Cohen — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 14:00:17 +0000

I've been working hard to streamline the tech I use. I now I only use a laptop (although I have to admit to using a docking system at home) and am trying hard to keep the cords and peripherals I use in check. With so many gadgets available it is just TOO EASY for things to get out of control. That's why AVIIQ's new charging system caught my eye. Sure it is great if you are on the road but there is no reason you can't use it at home too. We have a review unit on the way but let's take a quick look at the announcement we just received Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

The Neat Company’s NeatWorks Software Updated for Mac OS X Lion

Dan Cohen — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 14:00:51 +0000

I'm totally sold on The Neat Company's hardware/software combination that I reviewed a while back. It is a great way to move in the direction of being totally paperless and, best of all, it just works beautifully. I was bummed to discover that the Neat software was one of the things that would not work while I was running the beta version of OS X Lion but, then again, that's the price you pay for running Beta software. Well I'm happy to share with all of you that the company has updated their software and it is now compatible with Lion. As the email I received explains Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

USBFever Releases o’ the Week

Douglas Moran — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 12:00:51 +0000

Oh, those busy little beavers over at USBFever! Looking for a new case for your iPad? Or how about your Macbook Air? Or perhaps a bike mount for you new HTC gadget? Yup, they got all that, and that's only on this week's list. If you're looking for accessories, they've probably got something close to what you're looking for, at least. So if you have a need that way, surf on over and see if they can help you fill it. Judie didn't name this site "Gear Diary" for nothin', after all! Full list of USBFever releases for this week:

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

It’s a Post-PC, Post-Spec World but in the Real World Specs Still Matter

Dan Cohen — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 16:00:25 +0000

By his own admission Steve Jobs is quickly moving us into a "Post-PC" era. This new era is not "post computer" era. Rather, it is an era in which computers look less and less like desktops or laptops and more like... well iPads and iPhones. (Perhaps a better name for this new era in computing would be "PC Rev2".) This process of moving into PC Rev2 will be sped up when iOS 5.0 is released this fall since it finally makes it easy to cut the cord. Yes, iPhones, iPod touches and iPads that have been slaves to Macs or Windows PCs will finally sync and update without physically needing to tether them to a Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Nuance Releases Dragon Dictate for Mac 2.5

Dan Cohen — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 12:44:42 +0000

Last week Apple released their updated MacBook Airs. I picked up an 11" MBA with 4GB RAM and a 128GB ssd. I love the thing. There were a few reasons for the purchase. First, the new generation of MBAs are super fast. That along makes them a great choice. Second, this release brought back the backlit keyboard that had disappeared in the prior generation. I didn't realize just how much I missed the backlighting until I had it again. Third, the diminutive size of the 11" MBA makes it simple to being pretty much everywhere. As much as I love my iPad there are some things you just need access to Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

MacBook Air 11″ (rev Summer 2011) First Impressions

Dan Cohen — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 17:00:26 +0000

For the last few months I have been using a 13" MacBook Air as my primary computer. It works beautifully. It is thin, light, and more than speedy enough for my needs. In addition, since the screen resolution is the same as the 15" MacBook Pro I used briefly a few years ago I don't feel like I'm compromising because of the size. All of that noted, however, there was part of me that, for these last months, had my eyes straying to (lusting for?) a different laptop. Yes, back in January Elana got an 11" MacBook Air and I have thought about getting one (again since I owned one briefly when they were Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

OS X Lion’s AirDrop- First Experience with it Explains Why it Rocks

Dan Cohen — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 18:30:32 +0000

One of the features that will arrive with OS X Lion later this week is AirDrop. AirDrop makes it possible to quickly and simply share files with someone on your local network. Personally I didn't see much of the point… until just now. Judie and I are both working on our Macbook Airs here in NJ. My 13" has an SD slot while her 11" Air doesn't. (And boy oh boy has she been complaining whining about that fact!) She took some pictures for a review and wanted to get them on her computer. At first we were going to Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Review: NeatDesk for Mac Scanner/Software Combination

Dan Cohen — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 21:00:01 +0000

One of the keys to Apple's remarkable success with their iOS devices is the fact that they control both the hardware and the software side of things. Good software is nice to have. So is nice hardware. But when you put the two together; when the hardware is specifically designed to work with the software and the software is specifically designed to work with the hardware… now THAT is a combination worth speaking about. The result? Well just take a look at Apple's numbers since the iPhone was first released. The same holds true for Neat's organizational tools since they created both the receipt scanner AND the software that works with it. The result is Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Laptop Gear Review: USB 2.0 Port Replicator with Digital Video

Dan Cohen — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 20:00:10 +0000

My computer usage has undergone a radical change over the last year. Actually, that is not entirely true. The fact is, my computer usage has undergone a series of radical changes over the last year as I have experimented with a number of different device arrangements. At this time a year ago I had a 27" iMac and a 13" MacBook Pro. In the fall I got rid of the 27" iMac and went to using the 13" MacBook Pro full-time. The MacBook Pro was replaced by a 13" MacBook Air as soon as the updated version became available. Then computer disaster struck: I dumped Crystal Light into the MacBook Air's keyboard and was Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Laptop Gear Review: The Acme Made Clutch

Dan Cohen — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 17:00:40 +0000

Two years ago Judie reviewed Acme Made's Courier laptop bag. Her conclusion

I am really impressed with just about everything the ACME MADE Courier delivers. This bag is such a beauty; but it is also an amazingly light workhorse with plenty of pockets, compartments, and an impressive carrying capacity. If you are searching for a laptop bag that doesn’t look like all the others – and that doesn’t compromise function at the expense of form, then the Courier may be the bag for you!

I loved the look of the Courier and was grateful when the company sent one in Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Gear Deal: Dell M109S Ultra-portable LED DLP Projector

Dan Cohen — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 13:05:57 +0000

This Gear Deal is good for today only and ONLY while supplies last. Dell's M109S Ultra-portable LED Projector weighs just 1 pound and offers 858 x 600 Resolution. It has 800:1 Contrast Ratio and both VGA & RCA Inputs. Normally $399 you can grab it right now for $150 off. That drops the price to $249 which is $80 less than our Gear Sponsor has ever seen. AND it will ship for free. Details and ordering can be found here. Gear Deal: Dell M109S Ultra-portable LED DLP Projector via LogicBUY Continue reading on Gear Diary ...