Two New Gadgets for your MacBook Air

In surfing the Web, I came across two gadgets that will enhance your MacBook Air experience. You can buy one now and the other one will come out this fall.

You can buy AOC’s 16 inch monitor right now. I read a review of this device in TUAW.com.  You just plug in this monitor to a USB port (after installing the downloadable Mac driver) and you’ve got a second screen handy for presentations to small groups. It costs $129 to $139 depending on the on-line vendor. 

I just checked at Frys.com and they do have it in stock. Check your store to see if they have it set up for display.

The second device is Belkin’s Thunderbolt Express Dock, available in September 2012. Let me quote from the press release:

LAS VEGAS - January 8, 2012 - Belkin today unveiled new details about its upcoming Thunderbolt Express Dock. The latest version of Belkin's Thunderbolt Express Dock is currently on display in Belkin's booth, LVCC South Hall #30651, at the 2012 International CES.

The Belkin Thunderbolt Express Dock enables Macbook and Ultrabook users to instantly access multiple desktop peripherals with one cable. The dock allows users to simultaneously connect to multiple USB devices, watch movies in Full HD 1080p, transfer volumes of data in seconds, and view online content at gigabit Ethernet speeds. The dock provides an easy transition from a desktop workstation to unrestricted mobile productivity.

"People purchase MacBook Airs and Ultrabooks for ultimate portability, but constantly plugging-in and unplugging numerous cable-connected peripherals is an annoying and time consuming ordeal," said Martin Avilla, general manager of Belkin's Core Business Unit. "The Thunderbolt Express Dock provides a much-needed solution that creates a cleaner, faster, more productive workspace and reliable connectivity to desktop devices and the Internet."

Belkin Thunderbolt Express Dock - $299

• Quickly connects into a desktop workstation and instantly accesses multiple devices with a single cable
• Adds reliable, gigabit Ethernet connectivity to your laptop
• Includes three USB 2.0 ports, one Firewire 800 port, one HDMI port, one 3.5mm Audio port, one gigabit Ethernet port and two Thunderbolt ports (one upstream and one downstream) for daisy-chaining to another Thunderbolt compatible device.
• Utilizes Thunderbolt Technology for data transfer rates of up to 10Gbps bi-directionally

Availability
The Belkin Thunderbolt Express Dock will be available in September 2012 at select retailers worldwide and on Belkin.com.