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So what accessories for laptop are you loving?

G

Greenone

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Sep 19, 2005
405
0
I'm soooo happy with the accessories i bought, that I feel compelled to share in hopes of helping others (aaawww, what a good samaritan I am! ;) )...

Let me preface by saying that I just got pinkeye from my 3 year-old and I'm so thankful that for the last week or so I've been using this on my keyboard:

1. http://www.iskin.com/protouch_PB1.html

cause now I can just wash that and keep from contaminating my keyboard! I do wonder though, what kind of disinfectant I can use on the power button and scroll pad (and maybe also the latch). Any suggestions that won't get these parts too wet?

I also got one of these, which are so great cause you can protect your screen from the keys but also can use it to clean the screen and other parts of your computer:

2. http://www.radtech.us/Products/NotebookScreensavRz.aspx

Hopefully it's okay that I use both it and the iskin in my laptop and close the lid on both (hope that's not too much under there ) seems to be okay.

3. Here's my most favorite purchase so far (besides the Powerbook!) - it ROCKS!:

http://www.laptopdesk.net/laptopdesk2f.php

I love it cause it's super stable but not too heavy, it has strong rubber grips on the top and bottom, so the PB won't slip off my lap when I'm getting comfy on the couch, I love how it doubles as a laptop prop (don't remember exact name) so my laptop is propped up higher on my desk, at a comfortable angle, and the laptop isn't getting hot at all cause it allows it to breathe underneath. It makes typing so much easier (and on the writsts) and I like that the laptop is higher up so I'm no longer hunching over. It also came with a mousepad attachment which I haven't used yet cause I don't yet have a mouse, but it will be useful when I do. Highly recommend! I think it's sold at quite a few online stores so find the best price. I think I paid $25.00 or $30.00 or something like that.

I also suggest a good laptop bag with sleeve (many come with) and also maybe a lock so you can run up and get your latte from the counter at your local coffee shop without being so worried about the couple of minutes you'll be gone.

That's all I can think of (whew - quite a lot - but all very worth it!)

Anyone else?
 
strydr

strydr

macrumors 6502
Mar 25, 2005
252
0
SoCal
If you use the 'book at a desk, add a keyboard. Also, a good travel mouse ( I use a Logitech V500). I use a iCurve for my laptop stand, but it's only usefull at a desk. If you worry about keeping it clean, put a small bottle of iCleanz (I think that's what it's called) in your kit. O-ya, if you use it at several locations, (ie, office and home), get a second power adapter. If you have other rechargable electronics, look at the iGo (found @ RadioShack), it has adapters for just about everything electronic. I use it to power my PB, cell phone(s), PSP, etc.. It has adapters for home/car/airplane, so you pretty much always have connectivity.
 
G

Greenone

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Sep 19, 2005
405
0
strydr said:
If you use the 'book at a desk, add a keyboard. Also, a good travel mouse ( I use a Logitech V500). I use a iCurve for my laptop stand, but it's only usefull at a desk. If you worry about keeping it clean, put a small bottle of iCleanz (I think that's what it's called) in your kit. O-ya, if you use it at several locations, (ie, office and home), get a second power adapter. If you have other rechargable electronics, look at the iGo (found @ RadioShack), it has adapters for just about everything electronic. I use it to power my PB, cell phone(s), PSP, etc.. It has adapters for home/car/airplane, so you pretty much always have connectivity.
Click to expand...

Great suggestions, thanks! As for the icleanz, I'm afraid it might not be a disinfectant (which I'm definitely going to need). I'll look into it...
 
G

Greenone

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Sep 19, 2005
405
0
puckhead193 said:
my icurve and my apple BT mouse/keyboard :cool:
Click to expand...

If I find I'm using the PB a lot at my desk the majority of the time, i might get the icurve cause this one I'm using gets it closer to eye level but not quite to eye level. Looks very cool! What I use is still is a HUGE improvement over not having it at all, and I love how I can use it in my lap!

Hey here's a question: for wireless connection, which of those two Apple wireless routers that they sell is better for the money? I live in a large (well tall mostly) house - 4 floors, though I won't be taking the laptop in the basement and I want to know if the smaller one for around $120.00 will be good enough if I leave it on the second floor.
 
G

Greenone

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Sep 19, 2005
405
0
_bnkr612 said:
Apple BT mouse, Airport Express, Keyboard/Screen protector.
Click to expand...

Airport Express is the bigger and more expensive one, right? Were you suggesting that one for my big house or were you just putting in your two cents about what you like? Shoot - I need to go look at the two routers.
 
Clix Pix

Clix Pix

macrumors Core
Oct 9, 2005
21,659
48,699
8 miles from the Apple Store at Tysons (VA)
My accessories (so far) for my shiny new 15" PB: the iLap (raindesigninc.com), MS Bluetooth mouse, the wonderful Radtech Screensavrz and, oh, yes, laptop sleeves (the gorgeous quilted orange Timbuk2 and the basic black, very protective Tom Bihn "envelope"). Still wrestling with the decision about the laptop bag -- am fiddling with two different Crumplers at the moment. I've commented on this in the thread about laptop bags, so won't repeat myself here.

The iLap is an elegant product, both a stand to use on the desktop and a comfortable way to snuggle up with the PB on a sofa, bed, or wherever else I want to be. It is very lightweight and the aluminum finish not only matches the PB but also serves the purpose of conducting the heat away from the machine. I am very pleased with it.

That is a good idea about getting a second power adapter; I remember a long time ago with an old laptop I had a problem when the power adapter went pflooey and I couldn't use the laptop until I'd gotten a replacement power supply, which took some time. As mentioned, too, if you're shuttling the PB back-and-forth between two places all the time, it would be very handy to already have the power adapter right there instead of transporting it each day.

OTB
 
G

Greenone

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Sep 19, 2005
405
0
jpeeters said:
I love my foofbag powerbook sleeve. I ordered the Half-a-giraffe a couple of months ago and everybody I show it to just loves it!

http://www.foofbag.com/
Click to expand...

Cool sleeves! I bookmarked it. I love the purple people eater and giraffe one. I wonder...are any of those small "hairs" at risk of getting into the machine?
 
SummerBreeze

SummerBreeze

macrumors 6502a
Sep 11, 2005
593
0
Chicago, IL
jpeeters said:
I love my foofbag powerbook sleeve. I ordered the Half-a-giraffe a couple of months ago and everybody I show it to just loves it!

http://www.foofbag.com/
Click to expand...

I love my foofbag as well! I got the pink corduroy one, and I've gotten so many compliments on it. My friend actually liked it so much that she went out and bought one for her iBook.

As for accessories, I use my Wacom tablet far more than I should. Sometimes I find myself using the pen as a mouse whilst surfing the internet. I also love my 3rd party dock (because I lost the connector cord and was way too cheap to buy a new one and a dock) and my Sandisk card-reader. I guess I'm pretty much just in love with my entire system.
 
Clix Pix

Clix Pix

macrumors Core
Oct 9, 2005
21,659
48,699
8 miles from the Apple Store at Tysons (VA)
Routers..... I would say, if you've got just an all-Mac household and a largish house, that the Apple Airport Extreme would be the way to go. I have a "mixed" network of PCs and Macs, so have a Linksys wireless G router which also has four ethernet ports for plugging in the machines that don't have network cards. If I can ever figure out how to network my printer, too, I'll be plugging it in there as well. The two Airport-card-equipped Macs have no problem seeing the wireless signal and connecting to the network.

I've also just gotten a Wacom 6x8 tablet (in white, to match my shiny white iMac!) but haven't installed it yet. Looking forward to working with it soon, as I've got some images I need to be post-processing. People are waiting...

OTB
 
G

Greenone

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Sep 19, 2005
405
0
On the Brink said:
Routers..... I would say, if you've got just an all-Mac household and a largish house, that the Apple Airport Extreme would be the way to go. I have a "mixed" network of PCs and Macs, so have a Linksys wireless G router which also has four ethernet ports for plugging in the machines that don't have network cards. If I can ever figure out how to network my printer, too, I'll be plugging it in there as well. The two Airport-card-equipped Macs have no problem seeing the wireless signal and connecting to the network.

I've also just gotten a Wacom 6x8 tablet (in white, to match my shiny white iMac!) but haven't installed it yet. Looking forward to working with it soon, as I've got some images I need to be post-processing. People are waiting...

OTB
Click to expand...

We'll have a PC and this mac so does that mean the apple routers will be no good for us?
 
J

jpeeters

macrumors newbie
Oct 18, 2005
13
0
Greenone said:
Cool sleeves! I bookmarked it. I love the purple people eater and giraffe one. I wonder...are any of those small "hairs" at risk of getting into the machine?
Click to expand...

I don't think you have to worry about them. The fabric is an excellent quality, and the inside of the sleeve is another soft, not "haired" fabric.
 
Clix Pix

Clix Pix

macrumors Core
Oct 9, 2005
21,659
48,699
8 miles from the Apple Store at Tysons (VA)
Greenone said:
We'll have a PC and this mac so does that mean the apple routers will be no good for us?
Click to expand...

On the Airport Extreme router there is only one place to plug in the ethernet cable for LAN, as well as one connection port for a printer; in my case because I have two old desktops (PC) and one old PC laptop which, although it is supposed to work with wireless, really doesn't, I needed a router in which I could plug each of those machines. The two Macs don't need to be plugged in, as they both have the Airport card. I have had a wired/wireless network for a long time, but when I got my iMac decided it was time to upgrade to Wireless G and went with the Linksys WRT54Gx2, which is working just great with everything, both wired and wirelessly. In your situation, since you've got only one PC and one Mac, I'd go with the Airport Extreme, plugging the PC into the router, since your PB will be able to connect wirelessly. Others who have actually used the Airport Extreme and Airport Express can be more helpful in this regard, as to how well they work, etc. I think the Airport Extreme is the more powerful of the two.

Eventually I'll be cleaning out those old PCs and getting rid of them but for the time being I need to be able to connect them to the router for networking so that I can transfer files from them into the iMac and the PB.


OTB
 
G

Greenone

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Sep 19, 2005
405
0
On the Brink said:
On the Airport Extreme router there is only one place to plug in the ethernet cable for LAN, as well as one connection port for a printer; in my case because I have two old desktops (PC) and one old PC laptop which, although it is supposed to work with wireless, really doesn't, I needed a router in which I could plug each of those machines. The two Macs don't need to be plugged in, as they both have the Airport card. I have had a wired/wireless network for a long time, but when I got my iMac decided it was time to upgrade to Wireless G and went with the Linksys WRT54Gx2, which is working just great with everything, both wired and wirelessly. In your situation, since you've got only one PC and one Mac, I'd go with the Airport Extreme, plugging the PC into the router, since your PB will be able to connect wirelessly. Others who have actually used the Airport Extreme and Airport Express can be more helpful in this regard, as to how well they work, etc. I think the Airport Extreme is the more powerful of the two.

Eventually I'll be cleaning out those old PCs and getting rid of them but for the time being I need to be able to connect them to the router for networking so that I can transfer files from them into the iMac and the PB.


OTB
Click to expand...

Thanks!
Thanks also to the person who provided a link to a nice external hard drive. I saved that...
 
D

dcv

macrumors G3
May 24, 2005
8,021
1
The iLap by Rain Design is the best thing *ever* for lounging purposes! :)
 
S

smartgirlglasse

macrumors newbie
Oct 21, 2005
23
0
On the Brink said:
That is a good idea about getting a second power adapter; I remember a long time ago with an old laptop I had a problem when the power adapter went pflooey and I couldn't use the laptop until I'd gotten a replacement power supply, which took some time. As mentioned, too, if you're shuttling the PB back-and-forth between two places all the time, it would be very handy to already have the power adapter right there instead of transporting it each day.

OTB
Click to expand...

If you're in the market for a secondary adaptor, I'd recommend the iGo. I had to purchase one when my PB Brick started smoking (during law school finals, no less!) and Apple gave me the runaround about repairing it. The iGo comes with multiple adaptor tips, so when my and my SO go traveling, we can just bring the one iGo for my PB and his Dell. It also has an airplane/car adapter and a thing for charging your cell phone. It's just dandy.
 
strydr

strydr

macrumors 6502
Mar 25, 2005
252
0
SoCal
smartgirlglasse said:
If you're in the market for a secondary adaptor, I'd recommend the iGo. I had to purchase one when my PB Brick started smoking (during law school finals, no less!) and Apple gave me the runaround about repairing it. The iGo comes with multiple adaptor tips, so when my and my SO go traveling, we can just bring the one iGo for my PB and his Dell. It also has an airplane/car adapter and a thing for charging your cell phone. It's just dandy.
Click to expand...

Ya, the iGo is great. Anyone who has a laptop, a cell phone, and whatever other electronic goodies, should have one of these.
 
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