Certain names in USB-C and Thunderbolt docks and hubs carry a lot of weight, like CalDigit and Satechi — both well-respected brands. But in today’s M2 MacBook Air setup, a discussion broke out over the user’s exceptional experience with a CalDigit Thunderbolt dock and a commenter’s woes over a Satechi Thunderbolt dock. Read some of the commentary and learn more about the gear below.
Need a great new laptop, but don’t want to wait for Apple’s models with M4 chips to come out? (Or maybe you just don’t want to spend that much.) Well, you can’t do much better than a few hundred bucks off M3 MacBook Pro models. Amazon offers some smoking-hot prices on 14- and 16-inch versions with various specifications. Take a look at some bargains below.
Today’s M1 Mac mini user highly recommends a killer keyboard we rarely see in setups, from a brand we see everywhere in setups — Keychron. The maker’s popular K line of affordable keebs features a full-size mode that doesn’t show up all that often, perhaps because many folks favor smaller ones these days, eschewing the number pad.
This refurbished 13.3-inch MacBook Pro from 2018 boasts a Touch Bar, and the laptop’s on sale for just $399.99. Whether you love or hate the Touch Bar, there’s no denying its potential to speed up your workflow with quick access to tools, shortcuts and app-specific controls.
Plus, it’s cool and fun … and discontinued!
The latest Woot! Apple Computers and Accessories sale nears its end — Friday at 10 p.m. Pacific. So act fast if you want to get great deals on Apple computers and accessories. The gear is mainly from yesteryear (Intel-based iMacs and Mac mini plus iPad cases and folios for older tablets).
And in a second accessories sale ending Monday, the Amazon bargain site offers a bigger variety of iPad cases and folios.
“iMacs: the preferred multimedia work station of iCarly,” Woot! says of the main sale. And on the iPad cases page: “Buy what your dad will inevitably call a “doo-dad” or “thing-a-ma-jig” or “damnit-I-just-had-it-somewhere.”
The Kensington SD5000T5 EQ Thunderbolt 5 Triple 4K Docking Station is the first Thunderbolt 5 dock to get Intel certified. It boasts 11 ports and delivers data transfer speeds up to 120 Gbps (15,000 MBps).
The dock is intended for professionals and content creators.
What’s better than a HomePod? Well, two HomePods, obviously — especially if they’re paired for true stereo sound. Today’s MacBook Pro and Xbox setup, under-lit for a dark and moody vibe, includes AirPods Pro 2 but gets its robust in-room audio from a set of paired HomePod minis placed on HomePod mini stands near the back corners of the desk.
If you’re on the hunt for an affordable Windows laptop, check out this HP EliteBook 840 G6. It comes equipped with an eighth-gen Intel core processor and 16GB RAM, and it costs only $299.99 (regularly $499).
In the never-ending arms race for more and bigger external displays in computer setups, one distinct subset is the ultra-wide, curved gaming monitor. Samsung is big in that game, and today’s M1 Mac mini user likes his 49-inch Samsung Odyssey G9 monitor, which he pairs with a couple of 32-inch 4K flat displays. And by the way, the big curved gaming monitor is deeply discounted right now on Amazon.
The user also asked for feedback on his new setup. You can see that below, too.
Want a MacBook Pro with Touch Bar? You can grab one now for just $379.99. In addition to the now-discontinued Touch Bar — a thin, customizable LED strip that replaces the traditional function keys above the keyboard — this refurbished Apple laptop comes with an Intel i5 processor, four Thunderbolt 3 ports, 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD.
Worried about buying a refurb? Don’t be. Grade “A” refurbished devices like this one arrive in near-mint condition. If there are any signs of wear, they’re invisible if you’re more than a foot away. Check out what else this budget-friendly computer has going for it.