Apple Time Capsule Network

Well for those of you that have been hitting on 'here' because of your Belkin Network USB hub problems and Mac OSX 10.5.7.... the picture (below) shows how you can resolve this once and for all (btw this will also work with an Apple Extreme Router as well)

So sorry to say but the answer is buy the 'Apple Time Capsule'

Right before you get excited the Belkin Hub is just the normal port duplicator - NOT the infamous 'Belkin Network USB Hub' - eg: the black one.
So don't get confused.
You don't need to use a Belkin Hub you can use any USB2 Hub the only good thing about this one is that it has no wall wart.

The storage I've got attached is not important really but just to show you that it works and is accessible.
(btw it is running via USB2 - though the hub/and drives support firewire that is inactive due to the Time Capsule only accessing drives through the USB interface).

The picture below shows the Time Capsule Backup drive (TC internal drive) mounted, and the attached 1TB Lacie Drive and x2 D2 drives.

I'm well aware that the Time Capsule is a tad more expensive than the Belkin Network USB Hub - £60 versus £229.....which is quite alot more pennies!!


Right how does it all work in real life?
Well once you've gotten past setting up via Airport utility - name of network/do you wish to join your current wireless network or set up a new one (which if your running a mixed wireless card network eg: G and N) is a good idea to let the TC create a solely N network so it can transmit at higher speeds to those computers that have N cards in them.

The whole TC experience is pretty good ...been running it now for over a month, and it's been stable and reliable.
Your first backup to the TC should be done 'wired' (via ethernet cable) - I initiated back up of 160GB from my macbook pro (eg: everything) and it took 30hrs over ethernet.
After you've done that laborious task, you then can then switch back to over the wireless network back ups they are incremental so take as long as the data you've changed from previous back up, on the whole pretty swift for wireless attached storage.

The attached storage over the 'network' acts exactly like the storage is hardwired to your machine apart from the obvious speed difference - I was previously using FW800 so a slightly faster data rate than USB2 over an 'N' network!
However it has fulfilled my expectations of being able to access my storage remotely move files back and forth , and also exceeded what I believed it could do by being able to stream 'video' over the network.

Do I think that the TC is worth it's price?
Well at £229 worth every penny (considering it has a 500GB internal HD), and I have access to nearly a months worth of backup data so far.

More importantly everything on my Macbook is now backed up everyday automatically - that is pretty cool.

Connecting Macbook + Macbook Pro (late 2008) Unibody to HD TV (HDMI)

So many posts in forums about this 'question' I thought I'd try and add a little simplicity to the 'problem'

First of all you need to understand that The Mini Display port on your Macbook/Macbook Pro only transmits Video not audio. So hence a separate audio connection is required - via the headphone socket - and hence needs to be inputted into either your TV - if it can accept a separate audio to video signal or into a separate audio device - Like a 5.1 system or speaker system.

The cables required to achieve the video output are as follows:

Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter

£20 from Apple Store either online or Retail store.

Then also from Apple Store either online or Retail store :

Belkin HDMI to DVI Cable - 6ft
£14.63

So in total £34.63 will get your video signal to your HD TV.
As for the Audio a standard 3.5mm phones jack to whatever connection is on your TV/Audio system is all that remains to be bought and connected.

If you want to spend a little more you could always get the Apple Remote (£15.00) so you can run Frontrow via your armchair/Sofa

Obviously if your looking at running your Macbook from the sofa in terms of surfing checking your email etc you could invest in a Bluetooth Mighty Mouse and Bluetooth Apple Keyboard and run the Macbook remotely - also this would enable you to run the Macbook in 'Clamshell' mode - eg: closed.

Well hope this helps let me know if you've any questions.