The connector looks like a tiny warped hockey puck with an eSATA port on one side and a USB 3.0 port on the other. It marries the two cables so the user can connect their drives. Simply turn on the drive, connect the cable to the adapter, connect the USB 3.0 cable on the other side and plug it into the notebook. It also supports USB 2.0 so you can still plug the drive in even if you have the older version USB.

The little adapter won’t add much weight to your accessory bag at only 1 ounce, nor will it take up much room at 2.25″x2.5″x.75 in size. The device works with both Mac and Windows PCs. You get the adapter and a USB 3.0 cable in the box. We have no idea what effect it has on speed, but USB 3.0 should be just as fast as an eSATA drive. The adapter is $29.95 at NewerTech.com.

NewerTechnology eSATA to USB 3.0 Adapter Adds Life to eSata Drives is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

Unfortunately it won’t be available for shipment  until after Christmas, but can be pre-ordered today at MIC Gadget. We don’t know how well it performs or whether the USB slot will allow users to connect a USB microphone, headset or keyboard like the Apple USB adapter will. Some reported that their USB adapter no longer accepts anything but cameras, but our tests show it is not a universal problem as our adapter works fine. Whether this third party adapter works with other accessories is yet to be seen.

The 3-in-1 iPad Camera Connection Kit comes in either white or black. Currently it is already out of stock, but you can give the MIC Store your email address so they can notify when it is back in stock.

So you can see just how useful such a product could be we are including our video review of Apple’s product below:

iPad 3-in-1 iPad Camera Connection Kit Simplifies Picture Importing is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

The BVUMD3 is a USB docking station like the other DisplayLink powered docks we have looked at before, but this one is built with size in mind. It’s so small and convenient that we have had it hooked up since right after we returned from our Summer Road Trip and almost forgot that it was there.

The Diamond BVUMD3 packs 3 USB 2.0 ports and a DVI connection for hooking up a monitor (it also comes with a VGA adapter so you should be good to hook up any monitor you have on hand). The dock works with Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 as well as Mac OS X with up to 1080P support.

The Diamond dock connects to your system with a USB to Mini USB cable and is great for moving all your peripherals to one connection that can be easily removed for travel. You can use the monitor connection on the dock to add a second or a third monitor to your notebook for added productivity as well. The Diamond BVUMD3 retails for $99, but we have seen it for as low as $63.

Performance:

As far as performance goes, we were able to use the Diamond dock without any issue for standard computing tasks such as comparing two Word documents side by side, working in multiple Excel workbooks and browsing the web in multiple windows.

The Dock also handled entertainment easily allowing us to watch Big Buck Bunny streamed in HD without any issues and also gave us flawless playback of the 1080P trailer. If you prefer to watch something while you work, this adapter will help you do that.

The Adapter supports many resolutions up to 1920 x 1080. Our monitor runs at 1440 x 900 and it worked great. You control the resolution, sizing and whether you want to extend or duplicate your display right from within Windows which sees the dock’s monitor as if it were connected directly.

One Cord Connection

Convenience:

In addition to making it easy to add another monitor and keep your cords hidden, the Diamond dock shines when you want to disconnect and take your notebook with you. Since all of your cords, except power, are connected to the dock you only need to remove one USB cable from your computer and you are good to go.

If you have windows open on the other monitor they will automatically switch back to your main notebook display so you don’t need to hunt for a hidden window when you try to get back to work on the couch or at the coffee shop.

Value:

At $60 the Diamond BVUMD3 is a great value for users who constantly find themselves plugging and unplugging USB devices from their notebook. We do wish that the dock included audio so that it was easier to connect an external set of speakers, but at this price we can forgive the lack of a line out.

Conclusion:

Given the overall ease of use, ability to keep your cables out of sight and the convenience of having everything connected to your notebook with one USB cable it’s hard not to like the Diamond USB BVUMD3 dock. We definitely recommended this affordable option for anyone who wants to be able to disconnect and Go.

We tested the dock out on Windows 7 where the drivers where automatically found, if you want to use the BVUMD3 on Mac you’ll need to visit DislayLink for the MAC drivers.

Pros:

• Easy to use
• Works with HD video
• One cord for USB accessories and monitor

Cons:

• No audio

You can find the Diamond BVUMD3 Mini USB Dock starting at $63.

Diamond BVUMD3 Mini-USB Docking Station Review: Small & Convenient is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

The MagSafe connector uses magnets to keep the a cord in place while allowing for an easy breakaway connection if the cord is tripped on or pulled accidentally. If this technology makes its way into the iPhone or iPad it will still likely retain the ubiquitous 30-pin dock connector that we all know and have a billion accessories using it. Perhaps we will see a dock connector that uses the MagSafe technology, but doesn’t require it.

While there are arguments for a MagSafe adapter on the iPad or iPhone, I’d be more impressed if Apple put Qi wireless charging tech inside the next iPad and iPhone.

Via Gizmodo

Your Next iPad or iPhone Could Have a MagSafe Connector is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

That’s where BroadBand2Go comes in. This Pay-as-you-go mobile broadband service from Virgin Mobile offers 3G data connections with a $99 USB adapter for rates as low as $10 and as high as $60 for 5GB of data.

Virgin Mobile sent one over for us to test out and I will be putting it to use on my daily commute and then on a trip later this month to see how it holds up under what would be normal use for a pay-as-you-go data device.

Usage:

So far I have been using this connection in the passenger seat on I 75 for a 30 minute commute to get some extra work done. I haven’t pushed its limits trying to stream video or anything like that, but have used it to get work done. The current subscription is 300MB for 30 days at a cost of $20. With this plan I have been able to continue covering the iPhone 4 WWDC announcement on the road, answer a few critical emails from my dayjob and get work done fast.

Speed:

The speed of the Virgin Mobile BroadBand2Go adapter varies depending on the signal you receive and officially will be between 600 kbps and 1400 kbps. In my numerous tests with SpeakEasy’s speed test this is an accurate description. When I was in a stationary location I had tests between 764 kbps and 1,290 kbps (1,29MB per second). When driving along I 75 in Northwest Ohio there were ups and downs in speed but I averaged between 550 and 775 kbps. Next week I will test out the service in southern Ohio and in Atlanta, GA to see how speeds are outside of my daily commute.

Installation:

Installing the BroadBand2Go USB adapter and connecting is as simple as can be. Plug in the modem, install the software that is on the device, surf the net. In all the installation took about 5-7 minutes which is great considering the potential for this device to serve a family of infrequent travelers or a small business that doesn’t need a dedicated connection. I could switch between the Toshiba e205 I just reviewed to the HP Mini 5102 that just arrived in a matter of minutes and keep working which is an incredible luxury. The device also has a Micro-SD slot which you can plug your own Micro-SD card into and use as a thumbdrive which is a handy feature for taking an important file with you.

So far I am loving the USB adapter. I do have a wireless tether app installed on my rooted Droid, but the simplicity of the USB device is appealing. I also like that I don’t have to worry about draining my phone’s battery. We’ll be putting the device to the test in the next week and sharing a full review of the BroadBand2Go adapter from Virgin Mobile soon. For more details on the BroadBand2Go service visit our previous coverage.

BroadBand2Go: First Impressions of Virgin Mobile’s USB 3G Adapter and Service is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Since then I’ve been looking through CyberGuys.com for a similar product and found the Ziotek T Liberator line of adapters to add an outlet to your notebook power adapter. These adapters cost between $3.99 and $4.49 depending on the type of power cord your notebook uses and offers a 2 prong or 3-prong plug.

You can purchase the following versions at CyberGuys:

• 2-prong power plug to 2 prong notebook cable – $3.99
• 3-prong power plug to 2 prong notebook cable – $4.49
• 3-prong power plug to 3 prong notebook cable – $3.99
• 2-prong notebook cable to 2 prong notebook cable – $4.49 – run 2 power bricks off the same cord, great for a camera battery charger.

If you travel often, this could be the best $4 you’ve spent on a notebook accessory!

Notebook Travel Accessory: Add an Outlet to Your Notebook Cord for $4 is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

The adapter is available in a 2-prong model for $15 and a 3-prong grounded model for $21; but sadly is only available in Japan for the time being.

This is perfect for plugging in the iPad power brick for a faster charge than you can get over most USB ports or handling one of the few gadgets that still can’t be charged by USB.

Engadget points out that a Triple Tap ($1.50+) will give you similar access to extra plugs, but you lose out on the ability to bring the plugs 6 feet from the outlet for easy access on a hotel desk.

Bottom Line: If you spend more than one weekend on the road in poorly laid out hotel rooms, you need the Elecom Power Strip Adapter. Let’s hope it makes it to the U.S. soon.

Via OH GIZMO

Must Have Travel Tool Adds Outlets to Your Notebook Power Adapter is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Most notebooks can add a second display with the built in VGA port, but some of them have resolution limits that can detract from the experience. On desktops adding another monitor usually means opening up the computer and installing a second videocard which is pretty straightforward, but still a bit intimidating to many users.

With DisplayLink powered adapters like the 2 we are giving away all you have to do is plug it in to a USB port and you’re good to go. You don’t even need to download drivers and software since they are on a small flashdrive inside the adapter.

After the adapter installs you can manage it from the standard Windows display control panel to move it around, change resolution or personalize your background.  In all adding a second display to your system with a DisplayLink adapter takes about 10 minutes.

We used two of the adapters to add 2 extra displays to the HP Mini 1000, which doesn’t have a VGA connection of its own and were able to almost quadruple our screen space thanks to two 1280 x 1024 displays. Check out a demonstration of the DisplayLink powered adapters in the video below.

The two DisplayLink USB to DVI adapters we are giving away support up to 1920 x 1200 or 2048 x 1152 widescreen via DVI. If you are looking to purchase one of these adapters, look for one of the USB to DVI from popular manufacturers like HP; click here for a full listing of the USB to DVI adapters from DisplayLink.

How to Win:

To enter to win, tell me how you would use a DisplayLink USB video adapter. Let us know in the comments, and you’ll be entered to win one. Two comments will be chosen at random from all valid entries received by March 19th, 2010 at 11:59pm PST.

Update: Hugo De La Rosa and DonS won based on random numbers generated at Random.org.

Contest – Add Another Monitor with DisplayLink is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.