We've selected some interesting accessories that will make using your iMac more comfortable. Some of them are universal, and some are designed specifically for this monoblock.
You know, there is still some injustice with the iMac in terms of accessories. If for the iPhone and iPad there are a ton of different cases, cables, speakers and other related products, for the MacBook there are also enough of them, then in the case of the iMac there are not so many good, suitable things. But they exist, so let's talk about them in a little more detail.
BlueLounge Jimi
One of the significant drawbacks of the iMac is the location of the USB ports on the back, which means you have to constantly feel for the port blindly. Moreover, when trying to insert a flash drive by touch, you can scratch the back panel of the iMac, which is also not very good.
BlueLounge offers a simple and elegant solution with its BlueLounge Jimi adapter. One part of it is inserted into the USB port on the back, and the second part is visible under the screen of your iMac. The dongle supports the USB 3.0 standard, so you won't lose any speed at all.
Among the shortcomings, I will note a certain “tightness” of the adapter. For those who like to simply pull out flash drives without holding the connector, this is not suitable, since along with the flash drive you will begin to lift the iMac’s display.
Otherwise, it’s an excellent and convenient accessory; you can buy it from us for 900 rubles.
O!macworm HuBack
I was almost finishing the article when I came across this accessory from Ozaki on the di-House website. In essence, this hub is very similar to the BlueLounge Dongle, with the only difference being that it uses not one, but four USB connectors. The cost of such a hub is 2,200 rubles.
BlueLounge Soba
A universal solution for tangled cables, not just for iMac. “Soba” is a kind of “unifier” of cables; as a result, they do not get dirty, tangled or lost.
According to the manufacturer, this accessory should transform this situation:
First you need to install cables in Soba, for this there is a special adapter that expands it.
After installation, you connect one end to the iMac, and install the other in any place convenient for you. At the other end there is a special separator that makes it easy to find the required cable.
If some of the cables from the iMac go in the other direction, then you can use another “splitter”: it divides the Soba into two parts, a kind of tee or, rather, a “double”.
Soba comes with special pads that can be stuck on the inside of the table to prevent parts of the “soba” from dangling on the floor.
In my opinion, Soba is more suitable for owners of traditional PCs with a lot of cables. With its help you can easily hide cables and protect them from dirt. For the same iMac, for example, I don’t have so many cables that there is a need to hide them somewhere.
In the kit you get three meters of the “soba” itself (it can be cut into pieces of the desired length), a set of adapters, dividers and special table covers. The accessory is interesting, although not everyone will need it. The manufacturer sells white and black versions of “soba.”
To better understand how Soba works, I suggest you watch the official video from BlueLounge, it is short but very clear.
In Russia, I did not find stores selling Soba, so I can only guide you by the American price, where such a splitter costs $25. From the point of view of elegance, such an accessory looks very good, but I think that some people will be sorry to pay 1,250 rubles for it.
Just Mobile Drawer
This accessory is an aluminum stand with a compartment for various “small things”.
The manufacturer offers two use scenarios. In the first case, you remove the keyboard and mouse from the Drawer; as a result, you only have an iMac on your desk, which is perfect for lovers of minimalism.
In the second case, in the “box” you can simply store various available materials - memory cards, card readers, flash drives and other “trifles”. There is also a recess on the front for a pen or pencil.
And the manufacturer asks for such a keyboard $100 or 100 euros in Europe. And although Drawer really looks beautiful and solves the problem of storing scrap materials, I somehow don’t really want to pay 5,000-7,000 rubles for an “aluminum box”. Although I repeat, Drawer looks great.
Anker USB hub
The problem with the placement of USB ports had been bothering me for quite some time, and a couple of months after purchasing the iMac, I started looking for a USB hub for it. The only problem was that I wanted to buy a beautiful hub that would match the design of the iMac, so my choice was sharply reduced. In the end, I settled on a USB hub from Anker. It did not have a separate power supply, it looked great and had a reasonable price (about 600-700 rubles at that time).
Pay attention to the appearance of this hub; the curve at the back is very reminiscent of the original Apple keyboard, and the rest of the design is very similar to it.
On the bottom there is a special microfiber surface so that the hub does not slip. The connection is made using a USB 3.0 cable (the same one is used for Galaxy Note 3).
Already on the second day of use, I immediately realized what the main drawback of this hub was. Notice the LED on the left side. When working, it constantly lights up green and thereby distracts attention. In addition, even when you put your iMac to sleep, the diode stays on and interferes with sleep. If not for this annoying flaw, then I would still use the hub from Anker, but for now it was replaced by an accessory from BlueLounge.
If you still want to purchase such a hub, then you better take a look at the Cateck® USB 3.0 Premium 4 Port Aluminum USB Hub. For the same price ($16), it doesn't have the terrible LED and looks identical. Both hubs are sold on Amazon.com
LMP Bluetooth KeyPad
Another annoying little thing when I first started using the iMac was the cut-off Bluetooth keyboard, with the navigation arrows too small and the numeric NumPad missing altogether.
I saw a partial solution to the problem in the London Apple Store, where the LMP Bluetooth KeyPad was sold. This accessory was able to connect to a wireless keyboard and formed a kind of analogue of its full-size "sister".
Unfortunately, this did not solve the problem with small navigation arrows, plus, the experience of using the KeyPad was not at all like Apple technology. This mainly concerns cheap plastic, stylized as aluminum.
Apple Wired Keyboard
But the proprietary wired keyboard, on the contrary, definitely deserves attention. For only 2,200 rubles, you get not only a device in a corporate style, in an aluminum case and with a familiar layout, but also a USB hub with two USB 2.0 ports, which was a pleasant surprise for me. In general, as they say, cheap and cheerful. I really hope that Apple someday will release a wireless analogue of a full-size keyboard.
Satechi F3 Smart Monitor Stand with Four USB 3.0 Ports and Headphone / Microphone Extension Ports
But this accessory is definitely worth the money. Judge for yourself: for $33 you get not just a stand for your iMac, but a full-fledged USB hub with USB 3.0 support, as well as microphone and headphone jacks located on the front.
The whole thing connects to the USB port on your iMac with one USB 3.0 cable (the same one used for the Note 3).
I repeat, for one and a half thousand rubles (+/- 200 rubles) this is an excellent gift or just a purchase for the owner of an iMac.
Twelve South BackPack for Mac
This accessory is an aluminum shelf for your iMac. It can be placed on both the back and front sides. And what to keep on it is up to you to decide.
In addition, the kit includes “feet” for placement on the back of the MacBook Air. The manufacturer does not recommend placing a MacBook Pro on these “legs” due to the fact that they may simply not support the weight of the laptop.
This shelf costs $35 on Amazon.com.
Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K760
A beautiful and comfortable keyboard made specifically for computers running OS X. Fits perfectly into the overall design of Apple devices. Among the features, I would like to note that it works on solar batteries; in theory, it most likely will not have to be charged at all. In retail it sells for 2,500-3,000 rubles.
By the way, there is also a version of this keyboard with a full-size keyboard (Logitech K750) and Numeric Pad, I already asked for it for review, so stay tuned.
Twelve South HiRise for iMac
At first glance, this accessory resembles the Just Mobile Drawer, but it also has several differences. Firstly, the iMac is not placed on a stand, but inside it. In this case, you can choose the installation height yourself. And secondly, for owners of the Mac Mini+Thudnerbolt Display combination, there is a great opportunity to install the Mac Mini itself inside the stand and save space. The cost of the accessory on Amazon.com is $73. And it’s better to take it than Just Mobile Drawer.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many different accessories for the iMac, although they can all be divided into three large parts: stands, USB hubs and keyboards. And in these segments, manufacturers can’t come up with anything.
You can order cheap accessories and components for MacBook with delivery in Moscow. The BuyGadget online store offers spare parts and components for Apple products - from luxury cases to batteries and adapters.
Accessories and components for MacBook
In this section of the BuyGadget online store catalog, you can choose and buy accessories, components and spare parts for the MacBook. We always have a large selection of powerful, long-lasting batteries, as well as cases with bags, power supplies, adapters and spare parts for repair and/or replacement. We invite you to choose and buy online products for use with any MacBook model - be it an Apple MacBook Air 11 inches or Pro13.
Assortment: choose a solution
Available for purchase in the BuyGadget store (Moscow):
- Power supplies for Apple gadgets.
- External batteries are compact and powerful.
- Spare parts - from screws to Magsafe connectors, coolers and cables.
- Adapters and plugs.
- Cases and bags.
- Components - cases, adapters, memory units, kits for mounting additional hard drives.
Thanks to a well-thought-out assortment, the BuyGadget store will help you:
- Solve the issue of repairing your MacBook yourself and replacing faulty units.
- Increase device performance.
- Increase the functionality of any model - from MacBook Pro to Air models.
- Cope with the task of conveniently connecting additional devices and charging in any conditions.
Help in choosing
The BuyGadget store does not just sell components, accessories and spare parts at an affordable price. We help buyers make the right choice. Use:
- Detailed descriptions with photos.
- Consultation - order a free call.
- Experiences of other buyers - read the reviews.
Finding a suitable power supply or battery, additional memory or replacement parts is easy with us.
Buy - simple and fast
Whether you need a stylish case or a cable for your HDD, you can easily find the product and pay for it quickly: we provide the opportunity to choose a form of payment and delivery method.
You can pay for your purchase by card, bank transfer, PayU or RBK Money, as well as in cash: to the courier or at the pick-up point.
Delivery in Moscow and the Moscow region - at your request: we are always ready to meet you at the office and hand over the goods.
You can check the availability of the accessory you need with the manager or directly in the catalog.
You can order components at any time. Personally, we are ready to receive you on weekdays: opening hours are from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
It's no secret that we love Apple technology and the accessories that make it even better. Stickers, cases, stands for MacBook - how can you find something really worthwhile in this variety? Good news: Hongkiat has selected 9 great accessories for your MacBook.
This time, we will talk about those useful gizmos that will make your MacBook more convenient to use: they will help you cope with the ubiquitous wires, save space on your desktop and solve problems that are familiar to every MacBook owner. If you have ideas on how to add to this list, share with us in the comments.
1. Nifty MiniDrive
If you think 128GB or 256GB is too little, check out the Nifty MiniDrive. An additional 64GB fits in the SD card slot. While regular SD cards protrude from its edge, Nifty uses MicroSD to fit perfectly into the shape of the MacBook. It is also available in different colors. Currently, Nifty MiniDrive is only compatible with older MacBook Pro, Retina and Air models. Support for late 2013 models is in development.
ZenDock is a cable manager that will once and for all get rid of the tedious wires that occupy your desk. It has FireWire, USB, ethernet, Mini Display Port, microphone and audio output, all in one single cable!
ZenDock is currently only suitable for older MacBooks; development of a cable manager for late 2013 MacBook Pro models will begin in the near future.
MagSafe is made in such a way that it comes off very easily. Sometimes it's too easy. For example, if you use a laptop while lying on your bed, one awkward move and the power cable will fall out.
A Snuglet is a small metal device that plugs into your MacBook's power port and prevents the cable from coming out until you want it to. You can remove the Snuglet using the paper clip in the photo above, and its use will not affect the power of the MacBook in any way.
4. LapTuk Pro
Another way to organize your desktop space if you use a MacBook with a monitor. The LapTuk Pro's all-metal stand allows you to hide your MacBook inside it, so it doesn't take up any desk space. The monitor is located on top and is even more convenient to use.
LandingZone is a desktop docking station that solves the problem of various wires being pulled loose when you want to move your laptop off your desk. Everything you connect remains connected until you return.
LandingZone in the most expensive configuration has 4 SuperSpeed USB 3.0 ports, a Kensington lock, Mini DisplayPort and ethernet. A Kensington lock will prevent anyone from opening your MacBook if you're not nearby.
6. Henge Docks
HengeDocks are another stand that will save desk space if you're working with an external monitor. The MacBook is positioned vertically, it is convenient to take it out and put it back, and the stand itself looks very stylish and unusual.
7.
If you work with multiple monitors, the Matrox DualHead2Go is for you. The device uses a Thunderbolt connector to connect two additional monitors (in total, you get as many as 3 screens). The tiny box charges via USB and powers 2 monitors with a resolution of 1920x1200.
mTower is another solution for those who want to save space on their desktop. The stand takes up three times less space than a MacBook. In a “suspended state,” all connectors and wires function stably, and, importantly, the mTower is made of anodized aluminum and cools your laptop during operation.
9.
On the one hand, the length of the charging cable for a MacBook is a plus, because it can be connected to an outlet that is quite far away. On the other hand, this length makes it less portable. PowerCurl is a simple and effective solution to the problem. The reel for storing the adapter and wires is available in two colors - gray and blue.
Have you chosen gifts for the New Year for MacBook owners you know or are you looking for something for yourself? Tell us in the comments which accessories you liked and which ones you didn’t.
