The update also bring other fixes. Users can download the update directly at the links below or by using the Software Update feature built into OS X, which you find under the Apple Menu.

The MacBook Air EFI Firmware Update 2.3 not only enables the Internet recovery of Lion but also fixes a problem where the system might restart if you press the power button right after your computer wakes from a deep sleep. Get the update here.

If you have a 2010 MacBook Pro, then you get the MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 2.6, which you can download from Apple’s support site. It only addresses the recovery feature. 2010 iMac’s get an update to version 1.8 with a download found here.

For those who might now remember, the Internet Recover feature of Lion creates a sector on the hard drive that runs a special operating system installation that will connect your computer to the Internet, download Lion from Apple’s servers, and install it on your computer. You don’t need to carry around a USB or DVD to recover your computer so long as your hard drive doesn’t stop functioning.

If you don’t have OS X Lion, you can purchase an upgrade in the Mac App Store for $29.99 to gain the ability to restore form the Internet and many other features. If you purchased your 2010 MacBook Pro as a refurbished unit from Apple, it may have come with the ability to upgrade for free.

Apple Updates 2010 MacBooks EFI Firmware for Internet Recovery is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

I was fortunate, but what if the finder decided to be a keeper? What if she also found a way to crack my system password, access my email, bank site, and other personal details that I have on the system? I’d be screwed because I did not do some very simple things. I did a few things right, but should have done more.

Make sure you learn from my failure and don’t fall prey to the dishonest people out there. I got lucky, but you might not.

Here are a few ways you can keep your MacBook, or Windows notebook, protected, and even track it down if it goes missing. Best of all, you don’t have to spend a dime to do this.

Prey Tacking Software

This summer our editor Josh Smith posted about his use of LoJack for Laptops, a laptop tracking application that helps you recover your laptop if stolen or lost. That solution will secure your computer for a price. A free alternative he mentioned comes from the folks at the Prey Project. I chose it because I’m cheap, but it also will let me add features for a decent price.

Like LoJack, Prey keeps you protected from unscrupulous people who get access to your system. Sign up for an account and install the software on your Mac, Windows, Unbuntu or other Linux system and it runs quietly in the background. In fact, you won’t even know its running. That’s a good thing since the bad guys won’t know it either. On my Mac it doesn’t have a menu bar icon or an app icon in the Applications folder.

You can watch the company’s video demo for the Pro plans which do cost anywhere from $5/month for a personal account up to $399/month for enterprise users with a slew of PCs to protect. You can use the service for free if all you want is very basic tracking. Added features include installation on more computers, an active mode that keeps track of your computer all the time, not just what you report it, and a few more features which you can see on their plans page. They also have apps that work for iPhone (in beta and will be released soon) and Android.

Prey Project introduction from Carlos Yaconi on Vimeo.

iCloud Find My Mac

For Mac users, the forthcoming iCloud will offer a new service very much like the Find My Phone for iOS. It will track your computer and let you know where it was last used based on where the bad guys log onto the Internet. The feature will be ready to go for all users on October 12 when iCloud launches and offers a free version with up to 5GB of file storage and other paid versions with added storage. Use the storage to backup and sync files between Macs and iOS devices.

The key security feature finds your Mac on a map (see image above). It will also let you send a message to the computer so that you can tell the person who “found” your computer that you want it back and how they can do the right thing and turn it into you. If you need to you can lock the system down and remote wipe the user data in your Home folder.

These solutions may work great, but what if you lose it and no one finds it or what if it you, someone else or mother nature destroys it? What if the bad guys know what she’s doing and wipes the system before any of these security apps can kick in? You need to do a few things to protect your data. You should be following these best practices anyway.

Back Up Your Data

Have a regular backup plan. If I hadn’t recovered my MacBook, at least I’d still have all of my documents and files. That’s because I use SugarSync to synchronize my important files between my three computers and their cloud storage service. I also regularly keep a backup copy of all of my music, videos, and pictures. I backup the media files manually since they take up too much space for SugarSync to handle (over 200GB). Every time I download new music, create a new video or load new photos onto my computer, I back them up to my 2TB Firewire drive hooked up to my other computer.

iCloud will come in handy for Mac users because it also handles file backup/syncing. Windows users can take advantage of SugarSync, DropBox, or Windows Live Skydrive, just to name a few. Whatever you choose to use, use it! For unlimited data backup in real time, get a Carbonite account.

Password Protection

Passwords protect you only if you do the following:

• Make good passwords including random numbers, letters (both caps and lowercase) and if possible punctuation marks
• Don’t use common words, names, well known personal data like birthdays
• Use different passwords for all of your sites – don’t have one password to rule them all
• Use a password database application like Lastpass

The last suggestion can really help if you password protect your Lastpass account with a really good password. Then, you only have to remember one password. Lastpass stores your password database online in encrypted form so that not even they know what the passwords are. They also don’t know your password, so you make sure you make a good one but also remember it. View the Lastpass instruction video below:

Finally, don’t keep your passwords written down near your computer. If you have little notebook with all of your passwords in your computer bag, then you are just asking to have your bank account emptied by a criminal.

Lock It Down

Finally, remember that your computer can be taken even if you just go across the room for a refill or to the restroom for a pitstop. A good lock can help, like a Kensington lock or Griffin’s TechSafe Calbe Lock that I recently reviewed.This system doesn’t work with the MacBook Air, but if you don’t have a Kensington lock slot on your computer, this is a good solution.

With these you lock your computer to the table or some heavy object and the grab-and-go criminal will be thwarted from stealing your computer.

How to Protect Your Notebook in Case You Lose It is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

You can get the firmware update by following a link that Apple posted in their discussion forums. The direct link offers a DMG file to download and run on your Thunderbolt equipped MacBook.

After applying the file you will likely have to power down your computer and monitor. After a reboot all should be fixed.

Here’s the description from Apple:

The 24-inch LED Cinema Display Firmware Update addresses an issue that may cause intermittent display flickering. This firmware will only install on the Apple 24-inch LED Cinema Display when it is connected to a Thunderbolt-enabled Mac.

IMPORTANT:
This firmware update may not resolve the flickering issue if a Mini DisplayPort extender cable is used.

NOTE:
Some USB and FireWire devices may prevent firmware updates from installing correctly; disconnect non-essential devices and use only an Apple keyboard and mouse to apply the update.

Strangely, this fix won’t show up in Software Update yet. We are not sure why. Maybe it is a beta driver and Apple released it for those really bothered by it enough to post in a forum.

This problem now aside, I’d love one of these. It serves two purposes – not just an external display but also a Thunderbolt hub with USB ports as well. Plug one thing in and you get your external hard drive and any other peripherals. At a grand, they seem a bit out of reach for most average consumers, though.

(Via MacRumors : Mac News and Rumors)

Apple Releases Fix for Flickering Thunderbolt Displays in Forums is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

If you are interested in adding PCIe cards to your laptop, the device makes it possible with a silver box housing a 220 watt power supply and three PCIe 2.0 slots. Two of the slots will hold the faster x8 cards and the third only works with x4 cards. You can “daisy chain” up to six Thunderbolt devices through the box.

Magma markets this solution to video and broadcast professionals, audio professionals and other enterprise users who need to work with specialized PCI cards but also want to use a laptop with a Thunderbolt port. You can add SSD drives on PCI cards. You could also have a high powered video card for gaming and more memory. Whether any of these will be compatible with your MacBook is uncertain.

The box, ridiculously enough, comes with a carrying case. Not many people will actually bring these boxes with them except in specialized circumstances, like video professionals who need their powerful 17″ MacBook Pro on the set while they shoot video and add it to their computer through some special PCI video controller. But most people will likely use these at home or the office and only plug it into the Thunderbolt port when at the desk.

We don’t have a price or ETA, but you can learn more at the company’s web site. You can also sign up to be notified when it is going to ship. Based on the prices of other Thunderbolt accessories, don’t expect this to be cheap, though.

Magma ExpressBox 3T adds 3 PCIe Expansion Slots to MacBook via Thunderbolt is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

Why a 15″ MacBook Pro is a Great Option

Although I own the 15″ Pro and the 13″ Air , and would hate to give up either one, I would  let you have the Air before you could take away my Pro. I consider the 15″ 2011 MacBook Pro the best computer I’ve ever owned and the perfect do-it-all system. Fifteen inches fit my needs well as a good desktop replacement that I can also take on the road without weighing me down. Since it sits on my desk about 80% of the time, why not a 17″ system? The price! I was not willing to pay more than $2,000 for the system and the cheapest 17″ model costs $2,500.

While it sits on my desk, I plug it into a 26″ Samsung LCD. I can’t wait for someone to create a reasonably priced Thunderbolt docking station so that I can plug in my Ethernet adapter, USB devices and monitor with just one connection besides the Magsafe Power connector.

On the road, the 15″ MacBook gives me a decent sized screen with high enough resolution to be able to put two apps open side-by-side without needing a magnifying glass. At the same time, the system doesn’t weigh me down too much. It isn’t a MacBook Air, but carrying a 15″ MacBook Pro is still comfortable. Opening two apps at a time on the 13″ MacBook Pro would be way too cramped, and as I said above, the 17″ costs too much.

The system provides enough power to do almost anything you can imagine doing with a laptop. I can play games, encode video, edit large RAW photos and run the system for hours thanks to decent battery life. Multitasking doesn’t slow his system down either.

MacBooks all have great keyboards and beautiful big trackpads. I like the MacBook Pro’s backlit keyboard, but even those are available on the Air. What the Air doesn’t have is an optical disc drive. You can add one via USB, but who wants to carry around an extra drive, if you know you will need it a lot? I switched mine out for extra storage, but most users won’t do that, so a DVD burner might be an option you need. You can’t get it built into the Air.

Video Review

Best Use Cases

So who should consider a 15″ MacBook Pro? I find it easer to say who should not. People who need a really large screen for detailed image editing or art work would be best served with a 17″ display, unless you are willing to only do this kind of work when you connect the computer to an external display.

Second, if you need to have more than two programs open at one time without overlapping the windows, then get a larger display.

Third, users who want a small and really light portable computer should not bother with the 15″ MacBook Pro. I don’t think it’s too heavy, but if you want ultra-portable, then it will be.

If you don’t fit the above categories, then you will love the MacBook Pro. Especially if you need a computer with a perfect balance between portability and power. The 15″ MacBook Pro hits the sweet spot of those two needs.

Pros Compared to Other Systems

• More powerful than Air
• More portable than 17″
• Best keyboard and trackpad of any laptop I’ve used
• Upgradable hard drive and memory unlike Air
• Pro offers best options for power for things like gaming and processor intensive tasks

Cons

• Less portable than 13″ Pro or the either Air
• Can’t get an anti-glare screen option
• Not good for those who need a ton of screen real estate

Recommendation

If you just want the cheapest MacBook you can get, the Pro is not your best choice. Get an 11″ Air. But if you don’t mind paying more, the 15″ MacBook Pro has proven to be the best computer I’ve ever owned and I have no hesitation in recommending one to people. I think the size, power and weight makes this one of the best do-it-all systems around in the 15″ screen size.

If you opt for the MacBook Pro, do not buy the hard drive or RAM upgrades from Apple, unless you are really nervous about opening up the case. RAM upgrades are stupid easy. Unscrew the bottom plate and pop out the old and pop in the new. The hard drive upgrade might challenge you, but with our help you can do it.

Also, unless you need a ridiculously powerful processor, I don’t think you need to spend extra to go from 2.0 to 2.3 GHz. The added cache will help you handle intense tasks, but most people don’t need to bother.

If you can afford it, get the highest resolution possible and the anti-glare screen if you ever think you will work in direct sunlight. If not, the glossy screen works well even in bright indoor lighting.

Available Options

Apple offers two base 15″ MacBook Pros costing either $1,799 or $2,199. The primary differences are as follows:

• 2.0GHz vs. 2.2GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7 processors
• 500GB vs. 750GB 5400rpm SATA hard drive
• AMD Radeon 6490M w/256MB GDDR5 graphics vs. 6759M w/1GB GDDR5 graphics

If you choose the lower cost option, here are some of the upgrade options you can pick:

• Add 4GB of RAM for $200
• Faster 7200 rpm hard drive for $100
• Larger 5400 rpm hard drive for $200
• 128GB SSD for additional $200
• 256GB SSD for additional $600
• 512GB SSD for additional $1,200
• 1680×1050 glossy display for $100
• 1680×1050 anti-glare screen for $150

Options available on the more expensive 15″ MacBook Pro that are not available on the lower cost include a slightly faster processor (2.3GHz instead of 2.2GHz) and more L3 cache (8MB instead of 6MB) for an additional $250.

Other options you can pick if you get the more expensive 15″ MacBook Pro include the same list as above.

The detailed specs are as follows:

• 2.0GHz, 2.2GHz or 2.3GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7 processor with 6MB shared L3 cache (8MB for 2.3GHz)
• 4GB of 1333MHz DDR3 RAM (2x2GB sticks upgradable to 2x4GB for 8GB total)
• 500GB 5400rpm SATA hard drive with options faster 500GB 7200 or larger 750GB 5400 drive
• Optional 128GB, 256GB or 512GB SSD drive in place of hard drive
• 8X slot loading SuperDrive supporting DVD+/-R, DL, RW or CD-RW
• AMD Radeon HD6490M graphics with 256MB of GDDR5 memory and Intel HD Graphics 3000 with 384MB of DDR3 shared memory with auto switching or AMD Radeon HD 6750M with 1GB of GDDR5 memory
• Resolution of 1440×900 and up to 2560×1600 supported on the Thunderbolt/mini-display port for external displays with an optional 1650×1080 glossy or anti-glare screens
• 802.11n a/b/g/n Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth 2.1
• Gigabit Ethernet
• 2 x USB 2.0
• Firewire
• HD capable FaceTime camera
• Mic and headphone jacks with digital and analog capability
• Stereo speakers and omnidirectional built-in mic
• Full size backlit keyboard
• Mult-Touch trackpad
• Up to 7 hours of battery

Which MacBook is Best For You? – 15″ MacBook Pro is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

I’m going to share the first 10 apps I install when getting a new Mac. Some of these items will be obvious, but others will be new to you. These Mac Apps represent the most essential tools I use on my computer, and I wouldn’t begin to imagine using a Mac without them.

You can find many of these apps in the Mac App Store, and can often find a free trial direct from the app’s website.

First 10 Apps to Install On Your Mac

Chrome – Free

Chrome is a better browser.

When you get your new computer Safari is an OK option for your browser, but if you use multiple computers, Chrome is your best friend. Chrome is a browser from Google that offers a better user experience. IN addition to syncing your bookmarks and history between computers, Chrome has a collection of handy features. My favorite feature is the ability to type searches and web addresses in the same box. This sounds small, but if you’ve wasted time typing a search in the address bar of Safari, you’ll appreciate this. Chrome doesn’t yet support the full screen features in Lion, but we expect it soon.

Evernote – Free

Evernote remembers so you don't have to.

Evernote is my digital file cabinet. If I even think I need to see this webpage, photo, document, serial number or anything else again, I put it in Evernote. If i had adopted this practice 2 years ago I could have saved myself 4 hours just yesterday that I spent looking for my Microsoft Office key and an old document. Evernote can perform text recognition on your scanned notes, the pictures you take with your smartphone and inside pdfs you upload. The app and the service are free, with a premium option available for power users.

Pixelmator – $30

Pixelmator makes photo editing user friendly.

If you need to do basic photo editing, but want more power than you get in iPhoto, Pixelmator is a great option. I have access to Photoshop and Pixelmator, but I found that Pixelmator is more accessible to the average user. Tasks are easier to find and actions make more sense to me in this app than in Photoshop. I still turn to Photoshop when I need a lot of power, but for touching up some photos of Vacation, Pixelmator is my go to app.

SizeUp – $13

SizeUp lets you move windows with your keyboard.

I cannot live without this app. SizeUp lets you snap your windows to the side or jump them to another monitor using keyboard shortcuts. Windows 7 users will recognize this as Aero Snap, but Mac users should just recognize it as awesome. You can customize your keyboard shortcuts so that it’s easy to snap windows to one side fo the screen and to jump them from one monitor to the next. The app also supports keyboard shortcuts to maximize your window or to push the window to another Space.

Dropbox and SugarSync – Free

Both Dropbox and SugarSync deliver a similar service — syncing your files to the web and to other computers. Dropbox gives you 2GB of free storage and SugarSync gives you 5GB of free storage. SugarSync offers more options and control, while Dropbox is a simpler implementation. I use both of these tools to keep files in sync and to share. If I need to share a large file, I use SugarSync to send a link to another SugarSync user or to anyone with an email address.

Skitch – Free

Skitch lets you take screenshots and more for free.

Skitch is a free app that lets you take screenshots of anything on your computer and capture images from your Mac’s webcam. When you take a screenshot, you can choose the specific area, or take a snapshot of a specific window. The tool goes a step further by allowing you to edit and sketch on your pictures and screenshots. I use it to take notes and annotations for how to guides, but it works for adding funny doodles to family portraits too. Skitch is now free, which rocks.

Sonos - Free

Sonos Desktop Controller

To use this app, you’ll need a Sonos player, but once you get one, you’ll wonder how you did without. I am reviewing the new Sonos Play:3 speakers right now and this Mac App allows me to play radio, Pandora, Rhapsody and my local music over speakers anywhere in my house. I can start playing music from the Sonos Mac App, and use the app on my Android phone or on my iPad to change the station while in the other room. The speaker will run you $300 and the Wireless bridge another $50, but if you want portable, wireless music that’s easy to control, Sonos is it.

LaunchPad-Control - Free

Launchpad-Control hides program icons from Lion’s Launchpad

If you have OS X Lion, you have the new LaunchPad, which gives you fast iPad-like access to your apps, but unfortunately there is a bunch of junk in the LaunchPad by default. For instance, when I pull up the LaunchPad, I see 30 un-installer icons, which I will never want to click in LaunchPad. With this free app, you can control which apps show up in LaunchPad and which are hidden.  Here’s a closer look at LaunchPad-Control.

Nag - 99 cents

Nag makes reminders easy.

If you ever lose time while working or playing on your Mac, Nag is the app for you. This app lets you create quick reminders that nag you when time is up. I use this to remind myself to cut out for a meeting or when I know I need to take a break from what I am working on. The click for time setup makes it simpler than pulling out my phone and it is way faster than trying to create a calendar reminder to tell you to stop looking at puppies fighting themselves in mirrors on YouTube and get to work.

Caffeine – Free

Keep your mac awake with Caffeine.

If you have a MacBook, Macbook Air or MacBook Pro, then I highly recommend Caffeine. This free app sits in your menu bar, and allows you to click once to keep your screen from going dim. Perfect for sharing an iPhoto slideshow, attending a web conference or just keeping your Mac awake while you read a boring document.

What’s your must have Mac App?

The Essential 10 Apps For Your New Mac is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Already earlier this year, we listed ten great cases for the Air. But with the release of some new cases, it’s worth coming back to the subject. Here are four new cases or bags that we think are worth your attention, and one repeat recommendation that we still love that survives from the previous list.

In David Letterman fashion let me count them down, starting with a nice sleeve and ending with my favorite.

5. Zagg Invisible Shield Sleeve for MacBook Air – $54.99

Zagg is mostly known for protecting screens with their thin film that stands up to the punishment you can get from keys in a pocket. Or even rocks, if you drop your phone. They also make a shield for the MacBook Air that will protect your aluminum case. The company promises that the Invisible Shield keeps finger prints off your computer, although I’ve not had too much problems with fingerprints on mine. I hate any accessory in my bag that rubs against, and then scratches, the soft aluminum Apple uses. Zagg’s shield will protect the computer and make it look like you don’t even have anything around it.

Zagg offers a guarantee: they will replace the shield if you ever damage it. That way you don’t need to worry about messing up the shield.

4. Incase Perforated Hardshell Case – $59.95

The Incase Perforated Hardshell Case for the 11″ and 13″ MacBook Air should meet your standards for a quality case that will protect the MacBook Air without adding a lot of weight. The hardshell case offers great protection. The case feels nice, with a smooth coated plastic. The cutouts give access to all the ports and connectors. The bottom of the case raises the Air slightly, giving it plenty of ventilation since the Air’s aluminum can get a little warm when running under a strain.

I like the look of this case. Incase offers similar cases for all of Apple’s products. This one costs $59.95. You can choose between black, white and purple.

3. Knomo MacBook Air Envelope – $75.95

The Knomo Envelope will appeal to business users or others who just like things that have a high quality look and feel. Designed only for the 11″ MacBook Air, the case protects your computer with a soft genuine leather and soft black velvet lining. The Flap snaps closed. Each case has a unique ID number to help you find your computer if stolen.

The case comes in black for $75.95 direct from the company or from your Apple Store. They also sell cases for other sizes and even other manufacturers. The lady’s bags look really nice, but I wanted to keep this unisex.

2. The Cartella for MacBook Air by Pad & Quill – $79.99 or $89.99

If you want your MacBook Air to look like a book instead of a MacBook, The Cartella does the job. Made for both the 11″ and 13″ MacBook Air and iPad, on the outside the case looks like a book. An elastic band around the case holds it closed to keep your computer in the case. Layers of Baltic Birch wood hug your computer on the inside. Pad & Quill trimmed the case in three colors – red, green and blue on the inside flap and under the computer. On the inside of the cover a pocket holds a few papers.

Here is my video review.

Pad & Quill calls this a bookbindery case. It reminds me of a huge ledger that you might see in a 19th century London accountant’s office. I can imagine Bob Cratchet using books like this. If you want a somewhat unique case, The Cartella will grab attention while protecting your case from scratches and dings.

The company updated the design since my review with rounded corners and a tougher quality interior cloth. Pad & Quill discounted the cases $10 bringing the price for he 11″ to $79.99 and the 13″ to $89.99.

1. MacBook Air Travel Express Case from Waterfield Designs – $79 or $89

Waterfield Designs cases have a special feel and look to them. The rugged ballistic nylon used to make them not only keeps your precious MacBook Air safe, but also looks nice. They remind me of cases that an incredibly talented seamstress might make for your computer if you commissioned her.

Waterfield Designs released the MacBook Air Travel Express Case when the new Air came out. Inside the soft lining keeps your Air and accessories from scratches. The case can be used with just the Air, or it can house accessories in a number of pockets. You have room for a phone, a thin mouse like the Apple Magic Mouse, your charger and other items. Apple’s external Super Drive will fit as well. The zipper opens along both the long and short edge to open very wide.

The model they sent me for testing had rings and a strap to use the case as a shoulder bag. You can get it without the strap, but I like to carry around my Air hands free over my shoulder. My iPad 2 fits in the the case with my Air, but it is a tight fit and would not work if I had a lot of accessories.

The case comes in a black nylon with a colorful accent stripe. They offer black, copper, flame, green, pearl and pine. The 11″ starts at $79 and add $10 for the 13″. If you have your own shoulder strap but need rings sewn into the case add $5. Add $12 for a simple strap and $22 for a cushioned strap.

Five Awesome MacBook Air Cases is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

Touchgrind is a finger skateboard game, which requires more dexterity than I currently possesses, but is fun nonetheless. The Mac app is free in the Mac App store, though you do need to adjust to ads which tell you about the mobile versions of the game.

After spending some time playing the game, controls are responsive, and the larger display certainly beats trying to play this on a small screen. I still can’t quite understand how to control my finger skateboard, but that’s indicative of my shredding skills.

Here’s a look at Touchgrind in action on the Mac:

To play Touchgrind on the Mac, place your fingers on the mousepad so that they are on the skateboard. When you hit the right configuration, the skateboard will begin moving. As you approach stunt areas, lift off you front finger then the rear to get some air. If you time it right, you can grind or pull off a trick.

Illusion Labs is right when they say, “Touchgrind is a game of skill that takes 10 minutes to understand but weeks of lectures, boring meetings and family dinners to master.”

Touchgrind Mac uses your multitouch trackpad for controls.

It’s pretty cool to see fun games coming to the Mac App Store for free, especially when Touchgrind HD is $7.99 for the iPad.

To use Touchgrind on the Mac, you will need OS X Snow Leopard or higher with the Mac App Store installed. You also need a MacBook (MacBook Late 2009 or MacBook Pro 2008 and newer) or a Magic Trackpad.

Touchgrind Brings MultiTouch Gaming to the Mac is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Why would anyone want an external graphics card for their MacBook? If you are a serious gamer, no MacBook offers the same power you can get from the latest greatest PCI Express desktop graphics card. Also, today’s powerful graphics cards quickly become next year’s budget card when compared to the newest cards shipped. Upgrading this year’s best MacBook graphics card is impossible when NVIDIA or ATI push out newer mobile graphics chips.

Second, for those who just bought a MacBook Air, the processor might be enough for doing mid-level video editing, however the integrated graphics processor will be a bottleneck. Adding an external graphics card could provide enough power to make the computer useful for editing complex video projects.

Mac Mini buyers might like the lower cost of the Mini but find the graphics chip constraining. Adding this accessory solves that problem without having to buy an expensive Mac Pro. Finally, if PC makers ever jump on the Thunderbolt bandwagon, this solution will give users an upgrade path.

This solution won’t travel well so plan to use it at home or in the office. The case looks like a very large external 3.5″ hard drive enclosure or optical drive enclosure. It adds a USB hub for connecting a keyboard, mouse or other devices making it more than just a graphics add-on. Village Instruments claims it works best with Windows 7, but Macs are the only Thunderbolt enabled notebook computers at this time. It does work with OS X, but the company doesn’t specify what limitations there are, if any, when used on a Mac.

There are three models depending on the power and size of your PCI Express graphics card:

• ViDock 3 – useful for cards that need up to 75 watts of power and up to 240mm long
• ViDock 4 – up to 150 watts and 315mm long
• ViDock 4 Plus – up to 225 watts and 315mm long

You will have to assemble the do-it-yourself kit so you supply the card. A high-end PCI-Express graphics card will cost $300-$400 or more while you can purchase less powerful cards for a more modest price. The docks themselves are $199 for the ViDock 3, $239 for the 4 and $279 for the 4 Plus at Village Instruments. Add $15, $20 or $25 respectively for shipping to anywhere in the world.

Should you bother? If you have a recent computer with a Thunderbolt port and integrated graphics, this solution might add some power enabling you to do some hard core gaming. Video editors will likely already have a powerful enough system, but if you don’t, this is one way to upgrade without replacing your computer that you just bought this year. People with very specialized needs who have to have dedicated graphics while at home or the office, but don’t need it on the go, will be able to use one of these docks.

Source: Tested

Thunderbolt Brings External Graphics to New MacBooks is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

The Unofficial Apple Blog’s rumor mill has it that these won’t just be larger Air models, but MacBook Pros. Which means that they are the future of Apple notebooks, period.

Right now, if you’re in the market for an ultraportable laptop, you have several choices… as long as those choices include machines with 13.3-inch displays or smaller. Most 14-inch and a few 15-inch notebooks can make the grade as thin and light, but their portability can’t be termed “ultra”. A 13-inch screen is an acceptable compromise for mobility, as it’s a good size for most tasks and won’t have you squinting with a 1366 x 768 res.

But the audience for the 15 and 17-inch MacBook Pros include people who need a bigger screen for the work they do. I used to be a web designer, and having a large screen made multitasking, image editing, and layout tweaking much easier. I remember when I bought my first 17-inch notebook I bragged to a friend that it was only 7 pounds.

I needed (and still sometimes need) the flexibility of a laptop in case I had to visit a client or work outside of my home. I’m sure plenty of other MacBook Pro users feel the same. If a big screen was the only consideration, they’d buy a desktop. Still, the Pro line is definitely not “ultra” in its portability.

That’s why the idea of thin 15 and 17-inch models is so appealing. If Apple can deliver machines that have the power and screen size of the Pro line (true power, none of that integrated graphics nonsense) and the slimness of an Air, that sounds like a hit to me.

Of course, there are some cons to this. The big one being price. If we’re talking SSDs, that’s a huge chunk of money right there. Professional users aren’t going to be happy with 64GB; 128GB may not do for some. And as with the Air, you’re going to pay for that super slimness and the engineering that went into it.

I’d also worry about potential lack of ports. An optical drive most can do without these days, but Apple already has an unnerving habit of skimping out on ports for the Pro line. Memory card reader on the 17 incher? You don’t need that! What would anyone do with more than two USB ports? Look, Thunderbolt! If the line is going super thin, I’d expect fewer places to plug things in.

On balance, I think right now the concept is a win. Especially because of the ripples it will create in the laptop market. It took PC manufacturers several years to match the MacBook Air – they’ll have to work faster to compete with a super slim MacBook Pro. Once consumers get a taste of a 15-inch laptop light enough to carry everywhere, do you think they’re going to look at the HPs and Dells and Toshibas at Best Buy and accept that 1.5-inches is slim and 5 pounds is light?

One thing PC manufacturers may have in their favor is that they offer a wider variety. The more budget-priced 15-inch laptops will continue to be “bulky” while high-end models slim down even more. Apple may even be doing them (and us) a favor. If the price of more expensive components like SSDs comes down thanks to the MacBook Pro, there could be enough benefit to spread around.

For the moment, I’m cautiously excited. I’m definitely in the camp that feels these new slim Pros will be a good thing. Of course, the rumor could turn out to be false and my dreams of a lighter laptop world dashed to pieces. Perhaps if I write to Santa now, he’ll work with Steve to get this thing done in time to put a new MacBook under my tree.

If The MacBook Pro Line Goes Air-esque And Thin, Will It Be Good Or Bad For Laptops? is a post by K. T. Bradford from Notebooks.com.