Shopping for a 2nd generation ThunderBolt 2 docking station? All the major dock peripheral manufacturers have updated their newest ThunderBolt docks to 20Gbps ThunderBolt 2 chipsets and added other refinements.

Best ThunderBolt 2 Dock - From OWC

Multi-Port Support + USB Charging

Some of the Apple ThunderBolt 2 docks have seen port changes and enclosure redesigns as they've been revised. Depending on whether the new docks are from Belkin, Matrox, ElGato, OWC or others - you may or may no longer have FireWire 800 or eSATA connectors. Higher power USB 3.0 ports may be offered to better support charging high-demand USB devices like Apple iPad tablets. Others have shifted from DVI to HDMI as the supported video out as vendors strive to match their docking hardware with the kinds of I/O interfaces most currently in demand.

With the introduction of the 12-Inch MacBook with Retina Display, Apple is delivering the first Macintosh system with the next-generation of USB connector. The USB 'Type-C' interface provides the new non-directional, reversible plug for hassle-free device connectivity. The Type-C jack also replaces MagSafe as the charging port as well.

It's important to note though that Apple's implementation is just the 1st revision of the USB 3.1 standard. Rev 1 means any new devices connected to it will still operate at USB 3.0's 5Gbps speed. It won't be until full USB 3.1 SuperSpeed+ (Plus) chipsets are used in future Macs that the data transfer rates will bump up to SS+ 10Gbps speeds - and on a par with 1st generation Apple ThunderBolt devices.

In a way, that's okay. Very few Apple computer peripherals need or can even come close to maxing out a 5Gbps USB connection anyway. Really, only multi-drive RAID storage arrays and 4K video displays need that kind of bandwidth. (And in particular - PCIe based solid-state drive arrays.) As such, expect the industry-wide rollout of SuperSpeed+ to 10Gbps to be a slow one. It remains to be seen if, how and when Apple implements it across their MacBook and desktop line in the year ahead.

Shopping for a Mac OSX and iOS Airprint compatible laser printer on the cheap? Brother has long delivered great value in affordable monochrome laser printers. With the Apple-friendly HL-L2340DW compact laser printer, duplex printing and wireless networking can be had for well under $100 USD -- and it's an absolute bargain on every level for cheap, reliable printouts. It's what consumers want, and that puts it high on Amazon's Top-100 Best-Seller list for good reason.

Mac And IOS Brother Laser

Airprint Compatible B&WPrinter

Plunk one of these in the middle of your home or business - and ANY Apple, Windows or Android device will easily print to it wirelessly. Sure it only prints black and white. For the rarer times where you actually NEED color. you can always have a secondary ink-sucking color inkjet photo printer when needed.

Epson recently joined the ranks of computer peripheral companies offering a lightweight and compact WiFi travel printer for Mac OSX and Apple IOS. The Epson WF-100 is now the smallest and most portable mobile printing solution for Apple users on the go.

Portable Epson Printer WF-100

WiFi Mobile Direct Printing + USB

This 3.5 pound printer offers an LCD display control panel, USB and WiFi connectivity, and a Lithium Ion battery that's rechargeable via AC adapter (included) or from your MacBook's USB port when needed. Easily print from an Apple iPad, iPhone, tablets, smartphones as well as PC or Mac laptops.

For a listing of all the Apple compatible mobile printing solutions available: Visit http://www.maclaptopprinters.com to see what's available from HP, Canon and Epson.

If you're wondering how many Mac computers Apple sells yearly or quarterly, I can tell you the numbers look good. In spite of a massive trend towards handheld iPhones and iPads, the Macintosh desktop and Apple MacBook laptop lines remain strong sellers. After selling 4+ million systems quarter after quarter, Apple's taken it to the next level.

In the past quarter - which spans the holiday shopping season - Apple sold a record-breaking 5.4 million Mac systems. That's great for both MacGizmoGuy's like me - and consumers like you. The market trend towards dominance in cell-phones and computing tablets has been somewhat detrimental to the shrinking share of the pie for conventional desktop computer peripherals and Mac accessories. Although there's some cross-over, many gadget and gizmo manufacturers are focusing ever-more R&D dollars towards mobile computing products geared for handhelds.

With Apple on trajectory to likely sell 20+ million Macs, 5 or more million each quarter. 4+ million of those will be MacBooks. That helps insure a reasonably healthy market for conventional computing peripherals designed especially for Mac.