Twelve South BackPack

Ultrathin Keyboard

Logitech brings it to the Air

Ian’s drive is on the shelf, out of sight, but not out of mind

If you sit at my desk and take a look at my Mac set-up, you won’t see the portable hard drive I use for scheduled back-ups. That’s because it sits on a Twelve South BackPack, an incredibly innovative piece of kit that’s a real trump card for anyone with an iMac or an Apple display.

BackPack is, in a nutshell, a robust steel shelf that fits neatly and discreetly on the iMac or Apple monitor’s stand. I use mine to keep my back-up drive out of the way, but there are plenty of other things you can do with this very versatile peripheral. Fit the vertical support pegs that sit in the shelf’s holes and BackPack can prop up a vertically mounted Time Capsule, Airport Extreme or even a MacBook Air (just the thing if you use your notebook in closed clamshell mode while connected to your Thunderbolt Display). Alternatively, mount your BackPack on the front of the stand and use it to store your iPhone while it’s charging, or to keep your USB SuperDrive where you can get at it.

BackPack is perfectly designed to match your Apple gear. It’s safe and secure when in place; it won’t slide down over time and it can hold up to 3.5 pounds. Silicone pads on the fixings and coatings on the support pegs mean it won’t scratch your stand or peripherals either. Back in MF265 we gave it five out of five, and we remain just as keen on it today. Read all about it at twelvesouth.com.