Targus kicks out a slew of Mac-focused accessories

Targus is making a big deal about how it's launching its first-ever line of Mac accessories, but we're not seeing much here that's particularly platform-dependent -- just a lot of gray and white plastic. The $70 Bluetooth Laser Mouse, $50 Wireless Mouse, and $80 Bluetooth Presenter all feature an interesting touch-sensitive scroll nub that switches to cursor control on the presenter and offers four-way scrolling on the mice. There's also a $50 USB file-transfer cable that offers direct file transfers between PCs and Macs, a $30 four-port compact USB hub with wraparound cable, MacBook and MacBook Pro privacy screens that range from $50 to $80, and a $50 dual-fan cooling pad with a slight ergonomic tilt. All this should be available now -- PC owners, you'll just have to find something else to do with your useless, useless money.

[Eric @ Sep 30th 2008 1:18PM]

$80 for a Bluetooth mouse? Even Apple's is cheaper...

I've been looking for a Bluetooth mouse for a while, but I don't want to spend more than $50 - and everything in that price range is a notebook mouse. I just want a full-size mouse... super-size, even, like some of Microsoft's.

[Kevlar @ Sep 30th 2008 1:58PM]

Glad to know I'm not the only one who was looking for a full-size bluetooth mouse.
I gave up a little while ago, unfortunately, and settled on the Logitech v470, and I'm actually extremely happy with it.
I've gotten used to using it to the point where I almost prefer it to my regular, corded, desktop mouse, and the battery life is excellent.

Hm. It also seems to be on sale on Amazon right now...

[happy_penguin @ Sep 30th 2008 2:01PM]

If it's better than that shitty bluetooth mighty mouse it's worth it.

[Testies, Testies, 1, 2... 3? @ Sep 30th 2008 3:37PM]

Just ordered! (well, pre-order)

My Mac Pro is my HTPC

I have dual Elgato HDTV tuners, 5.5TB of storage and the bluetooth presenter is absolutely what I've been looking for!!!!

If anyone asks, "PCSurvey0208" does NOT give you a discount when ordering! ;-)

[Evan @ Sep 30th 2008 1:24PM]

How does a cooling pad work on a Mac? Apple puts all the vents along the hinge edge.

[chrissmith338 @ Sep 30th 2008 1:46PM]

The cooling pad should draw heat away from the case and surrounding air, which will in turn cool the internal components.

Ever notice how the bottom of MAC notebooks get quite hot? A cooling pad will help remedy that no matter where the vents are.

[Josh @ Sep 30th 2008 1:47PM]

The base will still get pretty hot so it sinks some of the heat from there and will cool down the chassis i expect (which in turn will drop the core temperature, etc). On the inside it's basically the same as a normal laptop, just organised as per Apple.

The vast majority of notebook coolers sit underneath the laptop. Why would vent location make a difference? You don't want to cover them up - and most laptops have side vents which are just as inconvenient ;)

[Ray @ Sep 30th 2008 1:24PM]

That picture of a dalmatian that goes by in the flash ad to the right looks like It the Clown in my peripheral vision.

[Lowest Ranked @ Sep 30th 2008 1:44PM]

Thank you for that, Ray.

[John @ Oct 1st 2008 9:50PM]

Zippy would be pleased with your surreal comment as well.

[sinai @ Sep 30th 2008 1:35PM]

mac privacy screens, for the pretentious douchebag who wants to say "LOOK AT ME! I HAVE A MAC! but i'm far too important to let you see what i am doing"

[Zak @ Sep 30th 2008 2:03PM]

So Mac users who have privacy screens are pretentious douches, but PC users who have privacy screens aren't? I'd like to see the study you got that data from, haha.

[ZaxCG2 @ Sep 30th 2008 2:15PM]

True. Because I'm a PC... and I sell fish.

[sinai @ Sep 30th 2008 4:09PM]

its the same, except you can subtract the "HEY I HAVE A MAC" portion, obviously.

btw, have you ever been to a starbucks?

[noyp @ Sep 30th 2008 8:26PM]

You like the word pretentious don't you?

sinai @ Sep 23rd 2008 2:45PM

don't you mean D2000s are a waste on pretentious "audiophile" twats like dBs?

To be honest, I've never heard anyone say that word before.

On topic, the mice (mouses?) look like turtle shells to me.

[ZaxCG2 @ Sep 30th 2008 2:15PM]

meh.

[Dead_Rebel @ Sep 30th 2008 2:39PM]

-- just a lot of gray and white plastic.

Which makes them different than the products they're designed for...... how?

[ethana2 @ Sep 30th 2008 2:41PM]

...My mom won't think you're gay just because you have a white mouse?

[ethana2 @ Sep 30th 2008 2:40PM]

"PC owners, you'll just have to find something else to do with your useless, useless money."

I assume by 'PC owners' you mean 'PC and Dell owners', since my dell is less of an ordinary 'PC' than your mac.
Point taken though-- all that money I saved by /not/ buying an apple machine? I may just have to use it on, say, cable broadband. Assuming, that, number for number, I paid half as much as one would for an apple osx pc, I'm left with $870. Assuming also that my broadband costs $43.5 per month, I'm good for the next 20 months.
...my speeds aren't exactly japanese, but far from 'useless' (torrents work great).
Naturally, Qwest would be another matter entirely.

[Decoy @ Sep 30th 2008 2:52PM]

"PC owners, you'll just have to find something else to do with your useless, useless money."

God, if only there were third party peripherals available for PC.

[Tamer Brad @ Sep 30th 2008 3:32PM]

hey thanks nobody cares

[dvsbstrd @ Sep 30th 2008 6:28PM]

So, did you beat Ubanto yet?

I'm on the bash stage. It's intense.

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Sep 30th 2008 7:12PM]

Apparently we are in the company of the world's most 'special' Dell owner.

Don't even front your HP, this dude's got a DELL and he wants y'all to know how cool he is.

[usedHONDA @ Sep 30th 2008 5:02PM]

Holy crap.... those mice... you can right-click with them!

;)

[Cole @ Sep 30th 2008 5:19PM]

Do you think that these peripherals might actually be closer in design aesthetic to the new macbooks/macbook pros (rumored for mid october). Maybe aluminum sides and plastics lids/bottoms (at least for the macbook). Reports haven't said anything about the use of both materials, but who knows... We certainly don't, but just because the designs haven't been leaked to the public doesn't mean that Apple didn't give a heads up to big peripheral/accessory manufacturers. These seem like the perfect items to push at the Apple store when you walk in to buy your new computer in a couple weeks.

[jercb123 @ Nov 12th 2008 5:57PM]

im from the future it looks ok

[tealfixie @ Sep 30th 2008 10:49PM]

I'm thinking about getting the cooling pad, the price is pretty fair. Just curious though, does anyone have any alternate recommendations? I had an iLap when I had my 12" pb but now for the MBP i need something bigger. I thought the aluminum plate method was nice and simple to act as a heat sink but I think i'm gonna have to get some fan action on my mbp since it does get quite hot.