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Macs are amazing computers, but they don’t provide you with everything that you need straight out of the box… that’s what accessories are for! Whether you’re on the market for some new Mac-compatible gadgets or you want to find out about the accessories you never knew you needed, read on to learn about six of the best Mac accessories money can buy in 2016!
Belkin Thunderbolt 2 Express HD Dock
For Mac users with a lot of gadgets and peripherals but not quite as many ports, the Belkin Thunderbolt 2 Express HD Dock is the perfect accessory, and all you need is a single Thunderbolt port! The Express HD Dock takes up one Thunderbolt port, but it gives you two more in addition to three USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI port, an Ethernet port, a headphone and a microphone/headphone jack. Basically you’re getting eight ports by using only one, which is a godsend to many.
The best part about the Thunderbolt 2 Express HD Dock is that it doesn’t slow down your connections at all. While you might think of the device as a “middleman,” it doesn’t affect file transfer speeds whatsoever when using the USB 3.0 ports. Dual monitor displays and 4K resolution are supported by the dock, though in order for both displays to handle 4K, one of them must use a Thunderbolt connection.
The device is sleek and attractive, designed to match the aesthetic of your Mac, and while it’s a bit pricey, Belkin is known for making quality products, so you won’t have to worry about the Thunderbolt Express Dock 2 giving out on you any time soon.
Magic Mouse 2
Whether it be a comfort issue or simply a matter of personal preference, you may not like the feel of the trackpad on the Macbook. That’s where Magic Mouse 2 comes in. Designed by Apple, the Magic Mouse 2 is sturdy, tracks like a dream, looks good, and fits comfortably in the palm of your hand. It’s rechargeable, so you won’t have to worry about batteries, and it features a Multi-Touch surface that allows you to swipe through pages and the like, just like you can with the trackpad, so you’re not losing any functionality.
IRISCan Anywhere 3
This is one of the coolest accessories on the market, and definitely one of the most useful if you come into contact with a lot of physical documents but prefer to keep your files digital. The IRISCan Anywhere 3 is a portable scanner that is incredibly easy to transport and simple to use… just slide a document through, whether it’s a full-sized contract or a business card, and the scanner will save it to an SD card and transfer it via Wi-Fi to your computer… you don’t even have to be near your computer to use it!
When the files are transferred, the OCR software suite will automatically detect all the key information from the documents that you’ve scanned. It will turn them into fully editable files that you can work with immediately, making your transition from physical files to digital ones an absolute breeze. The scanner can handle 12 documents a minute and up to 100 before needing a recharge. For $150, you’re getting all that you paid for and more!
SpiShutter
When the picture of Mark Zuckerberg’s laptop with a piece of tape over the webcam hit the net, millions of people were reminded that they needed to pay better attention to webcam safety. Why use a piece of tape though when it’s unsightly and can actually hurt the finish of your computer? And if you use your webcam often, that piece of tape becomes an annoyance as you constantly have to remove and reapply it…
That’s where SpiShutter comes in. This unique device magnetically attaches to the top of your computer and simply allows you to slide it open or closed whenever you want to use your camera. It’s attractive, inexpensive and durable, and it stays in place when you close your computer without adding a ton of unnecessary bulk.
Snuglet
The MagSafe connector that Apple came up with to charge there computers is genius. Not only does it feel awesome to plug in your computer, it’s saved countless users from a broken laptop by simply snapping out of place when the cord gets yanked. With all that being said, though, the connector isn’t perfect. It can be a little too sensitive at times and won’t provide a charge if it’s even just slightly out of place. That’s where the Snuglet comes in. It’s a simple little gadget, but it works wonders by fitting snugly around your power cord in order to give the MagSafe connection a little more stability. It won’t, however, give the connection enough strength that the cord can’t be ripped out if you accidentally trip over it, so there really aren’t any downsides (especially considering the low price).
Seagate Backup Plus External Hard Drive
Storage- or lack thereof- is a problem for many people in the digital world. These days it’s rare to find someone without some sort of external hard drive, and for Mac users, there’s no better option than the Seagate Backup Plus External Hard Drive. It comes in a 500GB, 1TB and 2TB version, so no matter how much storage you need, Seagate provides options.
The Backup Plus is compatible with Mac right out of the box and can connect to your computer via Thunderbolt, USB 2.0 or 3.0 or Firewire 800. It’s light and attractive and priced wonderfully for what it is, so whether you need to backup your computer’s hard drive or simply need more space for your files, you can’t go wrong here.