Charge A MacBook and iPad With TwelveSouth's PlugBug

TwelveSouth's PlugBug fixes one of those problems you didn't know you had, in a very clever way. It's a $34.99 attachment that adds a USB charging port to the standard MagSafe power adapter for an Apple notebook. This way, users can charge an iPhone or iPad -- or any other USB device -- and a MacBook simultaneously, using the same wall outlet.

If one isn't using the MagSafe connector, it also works as a standalone USB charger providing up to 10 watts of power -- enough to refuel an iPad at top speed.

The PlugBug is $34.99 and available via the TwelveSouth online store.

Top Rated Comments

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Ricky Smith

105 months ago

Maybe I'm missing something, but I've got a solution that saves you $35 plug the iPad into the USB port on the laptop you're charging.

Rating: 27 Votes

Dragonforce

105 months ago

I read ButtPlug at first -_-

Rating: 21 Votes

BreuerEditor

105 months ago

I love how at :30 he says "If you want to carry less crap"...I haven't heard a company explain a product like that LOL

Rating: 19 Votes

jowie

105 months ago

Nice design but I think they missed a trick here (being from the UK)... Why didn't they have the same interchangeable connector on the end of the PlugBug, so it worked fully internationally? Pull the UK plug off the end, attach the PlugBug and then attach the UK plug from the Apple charger onto the PlugBug... That would've been awesome.

As it is, I can only use the PlugBug if I'm travelling in the US... I love how they make this a 'feature'... :D

Rating: 17 Votes

SirChadwick

105 months ago

Great idea to piggyback on top of Apple's products. However, if you are not afraid of 120VAC outlet wiring, a USB wall plug is cool space saver.

Rating: 9 Votes

ArtOfWarfare

105 months ago

Am I the only one who thinks $35 is a kind of high price for such a product? Wouldn't $20 be more reasonable?

And that maybe they should have more than just one USB port?

Rating: 8 Votes

BrentD

105 months ago

Great idea to piggyback on top of Apple's products. However, if you are not afraid of 120VAC outlet wiring, a USB wall plug is cool space saver.

Or...you can still be portable and 1/3 the price of this "BugPlug" with one of these:
http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Mini-Surge-Protector-Charger/dp/B0015DYMVO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1320172209&sr=8-2

Rating: 6 Votes

batchtaster

105 months ago

Or plug their iPad wall charger into that other socket right there above.

Except that it won't plug in there, because of the shape. If they were side-by-side, maybe, but one above the other won't work.

Which brings me to my pet peeve: manufacturers who make their power adapters too big to fit side-by-side in wall sockets or on a powerboard. Some of them seem to do it with vicious intent, adding "wings" to the sides of their plugs, to cause as much inconvenience as possible.

Rating: 5 Votes

guzhogi

105 months ago

Maybe I'm missing something, but I've got a solution that saves you $35 plug the iPad into the USB port on the laptop you're charging.

Don't the wall outlets provide more power than the regular USB ports on laptops? Not sure if that's true. If it is, your iDevice would charge faster on the wall outlet than the port in your laptop.

Rating: 5 Votes

expertmonk

105 months ago

My thoughts were initially aligned with those who are saying "plug it in to your computer's usb". But I get the point that it takes a lot longer to charge. That being said, I still do not see this device being worth it - at least in my case. I hardly ever charge my iPad during the day - I keep my charger by my night stand and charge it at night as needed. ALSO, when I have my macbook out and about long enough to require plugging in, in many cases I need to use the longer cord to get to an outlet - this device doesn't seem to work in that case. I see how this might be useful for some people - but I really wouldn't call it "clever".

Rating: 4 Votes

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