MacBook Pro docking station

Possible option

Hi Z,

I am new here to so hope to be of some help. I know of a couple of docking stations around at the moment and have owned a couple from different manufacturers.

The latest one I know of is the Byte-dock. Which I think is coming later this year.

The other I have used are hengedocks and bookendz.

Hope this helps

Sky

Docking your macbook

Z,

I have checked out most of these apart from the Byte-dock as it is not out yet. Here is my 2 cents to try and help yo out.

Henge - Got this for my 13" MacBook Pro Looks good and priced good but do not be fooled by the price. Once you get it and then pay for the video output converter and the other cables you need for audio output etc it came to about $200 inc delivery.

Bookendz - Well expensive at circa $300. However it is made pretty solid but the price for me just killed it. Plus it's foot print on my desk was far to big.

Having looked at the Byte-dock website seems like they are on to something closer to a docking station as we know it but cannot say until it comes out.

Cheers

ShredderTop

Stay clear of hengedock

Z,

I have a 13" Macbook Pro also. I got a hengedock and found the following:

Setup was a nightmare and took me about 2 hours

Cost on the website is not what you pay it. It ended up costing me about $200 by the time I took into account the time I spent building it.

The screws are a nightmare. I think they have changed this now though.

Then to top it off the plastic snapped after about 3 months in the bottom where the macbook sits.

IMO I would stay away from them. I have gone back to just plugging stuff in but I did notice from Sky's post the Byte-dock I might have a look at that.

Done

Gman

I've been using this setup for a couple of years now. Three seconds to disconnect and less than ten to connect. Also takes up hardly any desk space.

I use the bookarc by Twelve South. It takes very little space on my desk.

My experience with the Henge dock does not match the others posted here. I bought the first generation model for a 2010 13" Macbook Pro, which I understand has been improved upon since. It only took about 30 minutes to setup, and has worked flawlessly ever since (almost a year). I love the space-saving vertical profile, and it's very easy to insert and remove the laptop.

The only extra you really need to buy with the Henge dock is another MagSafe power adapter, unless you don't need the one that came with your laptop for travel purposes. If you need other cables to attach your peripherals, you would have needed them even if you don't use a Henge dock, so I wouldn't say that this cost is additive to the Henge dock.

I took a quick look at the Byte-dock website. The design is similar to the Henge Dock (vertical), but the port connectors are built-in (saves setup time, and may be a bit sturdier). However, I hate the black color, the chunky look, and mostly, the fact that the ports come out both ends of the dock, with the USB and audio ports on one end and everything else on the other. This means that no matter how you position the dock, there will be visible cables running across your desk or table. Doesn't make for a clean looking installation. With the Henge Dock, all of the cables are completely hidden.

Also, they say it will cost 150 brittish pounds, or $250 in USD. No thanks.

Interesting that Apple isn't weighing in on this front. Seems ripe for revenue to me.

Most of the solutions I have seen look ... well, let's just say I haven't seen anything that is really impressive.

tamvly said:

Interesting that Apple isn't weighing in on this front. Seems ripe for revenue to me.

Click to expand...

They have; the 27" ACD has power, USB, built-in audio (via USB), a camera, and a 3-port USB hub. Basically you hook up those three bundled cables (mini displayport, USB and Mag-Safe) and you are done.

getz76 said:

They have; the 27" ACD has power, USB, built-in audio (via USB), a camera, and a 3-port USB hub. Basically you hook up those three bundled cables (mini displayport, USB and Mag-Safe) and you are done.

Click to expand...

Well, you got me there. Seems elegant enough for most folks.

tamvly said:

Interesting that Apple isn't weighing in on this front. Seems ripe for revenue to me.

Click to expand...

Steve would rather give up revenue than chuck a docking port on the bottom .

I think we may see some decent solutions pop up with thunderbolt. It has the technical capability.

Docking stations are a pain and take up way too much room.

mstand by rain design!

gman6514 said:

Z,

I have a 13" Macbook Pro also. I got a hengedock and found the following:

Setup was a nightmare and took me about 2 hours

Cost on the website is not what you pay it. It ended up costing me about $200 by the time I took into account the time I spent building it.

The screws are a nightmare. I think they have changed this now though.

Then to top it off the plastic snapped after about 3 months in the bottom where the macbook sits.

IMO I would stay away from them. I have gone back to just plugging stuff in but I did notice from Sky's post the Byte-dock I might have a look at that.

Done

Gman

Click to expand...

Just a quick update from my last comment on this post. Since I posted it I have actually been able to see a Byte-dock in the flesh and found the device to be pretty good. Allbeit a little outside the Apple design the device functions really well during the 20 mins or so I have to play around with it. So much so I have stuck my name down for a pre order.

With ports front and back it suits my setup perfectly as if I want to plug in my usb key I can easily. Something I could not do with the Hengedock (without a hub). Audio on the front make is perfect for setting up my external sound card on there as well. Just a little update in case anyone was interested.

Cheers

G

get the bookarc , i made a vid on it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epCDUgf_0vU

anyways, the only 2 things ur gonna be plugging in and out is the charger and the thunderbolt port for the display. not that hard

i wanna get a dock station too but worry about close the macbook will increase the heat

I am waiting for the new ACD. Hopefully it will act as a dock connecting all devices via thunderbolt. That would be an elegant solution.

For now I have a bookarc dock. I hate the dance you have to do to power on/off the laptop, very annoying. Also, my machine (MBP 17" 2011) runs hotter in clamshell mode, even with the exhaust port orientated upwards. I think I will make space to run it open and lose the bookarc to be honest.

New Dock for MacBook Pro

You should try the brand new KwikDock.. manages all your cables and there's an integrated iPhone , iPad, iPod dock and you can use your MacBook Pro open or closed . AND ITS PORTABLE http://www.kwikdock.com

Heavertron said:

I am waiting for the new ACD. Hopefully it will act as a dock connecting all devices via thunderbolt. That would be an elegant solution.

For now I have a bookarc dock. I hate the dance you have to do to power on/off the laptop, very annoying. Also, my machine (MBP 17" 2011) runs hotter in clamshell mode, even with the exhaust port orientated upwards. I think I will make space to run it open and lose the bookarc to be honest.

Click to expand...

The ATD + BookArc does everything we need.

Works even better if you get a Hifiman HM101 USB DAC and plug that in to the back of the ATD, and then plug your speaker system into that. Sounds WAY better and the laptop will remember to switch the soundcard everytime you plug the ATD in via Thunderbolt.

Still have to do the dance to power on and off, but who does that these days anyway?