Apple USB Ethernet Adapter brings RJ-45 to your MacBook Air

Haven't spent enough on that recently pre-ordered MacBook Air just yet? Cupertino's got just the thing: Apple's USB Ethernet Adapter. As the title implies, this USB dongle enables your mostly wireless MBA to become a bit more wired by adding an RJ-45 that supports 10/100BASE-T. 'Course, for $29, we'd recommend just scraping up a used WiFi router, but to each his / her own.

[Via TUAW]

[bethel03 @ Jan 15th 2008 3:24PM]

Now just come out with a $200 usb battery and you'll be set.

[DWells55 @ Jan 15th 2008 3:24PM]

I think the MacBook Air is pretty cool and all and I understand the lack of Ethernet is for the sake of saving size, but I really think that given the MBA's price and how common wired connections are that this thing should be included in the box for free.

[macmike47 @ Jan 15th 2008 4:17PM]

I disagree. I imagine anyone who's loaded enough and hi-tech enough to buy a MBA is going to have WLAN already.

[randompass @ Jan 15th 2008 4:21PM]

@macmike47
except people who buy ultraportables tend to take them other places than just their wifi laden homes, and as many people have pointed out there are many dorms or offices that are wired only

[Raheem @ Jan 15th 2008 3:25PM]

Ridiculous.

[CapnVan @ Jan 15th 2008 4:45PM]

It is ridiculous. At that price, they should be including the optical drive and various dongles in the box.

And yet, 4M iPhones sold in 200 days? Despite all the criticisms and limitations?

It seems that right now, Apple can do no wrong. That's not fanboy-ism, it's just the sales figures.

[Wes Joyce @ Jan 15th 2008 3:27PM]

or enter the 21st century and get wireless hahahaha...its all around pepole

[IndiaTech @ Jan 15th 2008 3:40PM]

It's 21st century. Get Firefox. It Spell Checks for you.

[Wes Joyce @ Jan 15th 2008 3:45PM]

yeah i know...i have it...im just too excited about all this news hahahaha

[nickfawwaz3 @ Jan 15th 2008 10:35PM]

wow

[TJ Johnson @ Jan 15th 2008 3:28PM]

Agreed on the used router point. I could see why some may want this IF it was gigabit ethernet but it isn't so blah.

[Homeboy @ Jan 15th 2008 3:33PM]

"MacBook Air comes with a way-more-than-generous 2GB of RAM built in” ample memory for working with your favorite applications." More than generous?? Who are they kidding 2GB was standard back in2007 and now you can easily get your hands on a $749 laptop with 2GBRAM. It's all pure marketing none-sense.

I'm afraid Apple is deteriorating focusing more on marketing rather than the core values of a specific product. The Macbook air is disappointment and although it's very thin it isn't nearly as portable as Sony and Asus 12 inch laptops which are real ultra portable laptops. This is just a sliced macbook with a jacked up price.

[TMM @ Jan 16th 2008 2:58PM]

But for OS 10.5 it's way more than generous. At least for the target group.
Nobody's doing Final Cut on these.

And the price is fair. Just look how expensive and not-so-amazin Vaios are ...
I'd rather have a MacBook Air. Better of for less money.

[andy @ Jan 15th 2008 3:37PM]

The USB dongle is pretty much going to be needed at some point. Most hotels do not have wifi in each room and if you've every had to log into a secured wifi router where you do not have the wireless passkey than you're going to need the dongle.

[Andrew @ Jan 15th 2008 4:06PM]

This is like reverse fail to the 360's USB wireless adapter. It is still however, fail.

[ginjaninja @ Jan 15th 2008 9:54PM]

or like having to buy an adaptor to have a wired connection for the Wii?
IMHO, thats still fail

[Andrew @ Jan 16th 2008 5:47AM]

Yeah, I mean, really how large is 1) an RJ45 socket (tip - less than 0.76"), and 2) the network interface circuitry to go with it.

I can appreciate jobsy trying to move the world forward into an unwired world, but honestly, I'd rather stay with wires when I'm at home, or at a number of locations.

[rndmnme @ Jan 15th 2008 3:50PM]

solemmegetthistraight...

MacBook Air: $1800.00
SuperDrive: $100.00
Ethernet Adapter: $30.00
Non-User replaceable battery: $XXX.00
Non_User replaceable RAM: $XXX.00

That's just absurd.

[Grant @ Jan 15th 2008 4:09PM]

Yeah so how could I get this to work on my Xbox 360, MS is not getting 100 out of me for their little thing.

[Grant @ Jan 15th 2008 4:11PM]

Ok so air means the laptop and not that this device is wifi. Check

[Carbonize @ Jan 15th 2008 4:22PM]

Apple obviously doesn't have any major new "revolutionary" (is anything the do actually revolutionary?) devices planned for this year so has decided the only way they will make money is charging ridiculous amounts for things like dongles for the MacBook Air or for stupid additional apps for the iPhone (and allegedly for the iPod Touch but some disagree).

You can imagine the meeting:
"Right guys the marketing magic for the iPhone and iPod is starting to wear off. People are realising we've shafted them with second rate products that lack basic features so what can we do to seperate them from their hard earned money this year?"

[Kizorblade @ Jan 15th 2008 4:36PM]

Really? I hear that the SDK for the iPhone/iPod touch will allow developers to put some nice applications into our hands.

And what basic features are my iPhone/iPod missing?

[Kizorblade @ Jan 15th 2008 4:38PM]

Really? I hear that the SDK for the iPhone/iPod touch will allow developers to put some nice applications into our hands.

And what basic features are my iPhone/iPod missing?

[Kizorblade @ Jan 15th 2008 4:39PM]

Bah! Double post. My bad =(

[Carbonize @ Jan 15th 2008 4:41PM]

The iPhone is missing basic features (that even £30 phone have) such as MMS and the ability to record video. They've only just added the ability to send a single SMS to multiple recipients. I assume it supports long message sending where if a message is to long it is sent over multiple messages?

Personally I see nothing in the iPhone that is not available in other, cheaper phones. Except the auto orientating (sorry don't know the correct term for it.)

[js @ Jan 15th 2008 5:14PM]

@Kizorblade

The SDK is released because of increasing pressure of users who want custom apps... and the only way to do this at the moment is to jailbreak the iPhone (which stem from a TIFF exploit).

[Chris @ Jan 15th 2008 5:17PM]

@Kizorblade Opening it up so that people can do what they want without hacking is not an innovation.

[Chris @ Jan 15th 2008 5:21PM]

@Kizorblade Opening it up so that people can do what they want without hacking is not an innovation.

[John @ Jan 15th 2008 11:08PM]

FYI New update allows to send SMS messages to multiple recipients

[Carbonize @ Jan 15th 2008 11:12PM]

Really? I never knew that. I mean it's not like I said "They've only just added the ability to send a single SMS to multiple recipients." in my previous post or anything.

[TMM @ Jan 16th 2008 3:03PM]

Look ... I can't stand the MMS bs anymore!

MMS is just Email: that's right EMAIL!

If your provider doesn't support sending an Email to a mobile and vice versa, too bad for you, pal.

LEt me give you an example: write mms to [e-mail] and there you are, your MMS just arrived in an email inbox.

Do you see HOW REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT it is for the iPhone to support MMS?

Lousy rip-off, anyway.

[Carbonize @ Jan 16th 2008 3:20PM]

Sounds like another iPhone loser trying to justify their purchase and convincing nobody.

[fadi @ Jan 15th 2008 5:14PM]

i waited 1 month for the new macbook. it sure looks awesome but so much overpriced. i should have got the macbook on christmas!!!

[Oliver @ Jan 16th 2008 8:07AM]

In my opinion MB Air is a concept laptop, and should stay a concept laptop. I can't see what the fuss is all about. I'm surprised that Apple included the monitor with it, and you do not have to buy it as an accessory

I have a 2 year old Fujitsu Siemens P7120, will fit in a smaller envelope because it is smaller than the MBA with 10.5" screen, but slightly thicker and I say it is sexier than the MBA.

It comes with all the goodies, wireless bluetooth, 3 USB, Firewire, TV out, DVI out, modem, ethernet, SD reader, PCMCIA, fingerprint reader, 2 speakers, mic, AND a DVDRW built in which can be replaced by an extra 2nd battery for an amazingly long life! Now this is an ancient 2 year old junk. Also came with a 3-year warranty.

It cost me a fraction of what apple are asking for this new toy.

[pooptypeuptypants @ Jan 16th 2008 10:13AM]

ok, are we done yet? i don't think there is much worth talking about here - unless anyone wants to discuss what a joke Apple products are becoming. sh&t, i gotta go...time to spend $20 to update my iPod touch.

[qwert @ Jan 16th 2008 12:25PM]

so i can use the air wired also. i just need the adaptor for it.

now i just need a apple usb-fw800 adaptor to plug into my second usb port, to have fast access to my external hd.

aw, snaps, there is no second usb port.

oh, and usb is slower than firewire.

qwert