Actually, this dock only has ONE Thunderbolt port as well.
People seem to be missing the fact that the other TB port is used to make the initial connection.
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CalDigit Thunderbolt Station Adds to Growing Ranks of Thunderbolt Docks
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Actually, this dock only has ONE Thunderbolt port as well.
People seem to be missing the fact that the other TB port is used to make the initial connection.
Solving a massive problem for me as well, with a 2011 iMac with just a 265 SSD and bootcamp.
But, how soon is soon?
That's exactly my question. I have a MacBook Pro with a 500 GB HDD but it's not proving to be enough. I'm eyeing upgrading to a 1 TB drive but if I could just put my BootCamp drive externally, I might be good with the 500 GB drive. I could potentially even go to a 256 SSD instead and reap the huge speed increases.
Yeah, but last time I checked, ONE plus ONE equals TWO ones. People were complaining because the Matrox dock really does only have ONE Thunderbolt port, and thus it's a chain ender.
That's what I was hoping...now I'll let someone else be the guinea pig when they actually try it with physical hardware.
This is starting to look more realistic... but why only 2 USB ports, and while your at it, where is the eSata port?
Either make a basic Thunderbolt to USB hub, or one with all the ports I'll need?
Either make a basic Thunderbolt to USB hub, or one with all the ports I'll need?
What you are missing is that those types of Docks are only good for a particular design. You know what that means? You end up like me with 3 docks sitting around your house from old laptops you no longer use. I have one for my old Lenovo T61, then my Lenovo M410 and now my HP 8460p. Everytime I upgrade, I have to buy a new dock. Using these docks, I can use them with my current 2011 Macbook Air, and then when I buy the 2013 rMBP I'll still be able to use it. Completely different laptops with completely different chassis, but guess what? I CAN STILL USE THE SAME DOCK.
bleh HDMI wont go down well if its anything like the shoddy one on the rMBP. Would have preferred an extra mini displayport for monitors only. The henge dock due out later this year still looks like the best option for rMBP owners.
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It wouldnt be too difficult to come up with one for the mac laptop line though given the design/shape tends to stay the same for a good few revisions. The upright henge ones did this pretty well, hopefully they (or someone else) can eventually figure out a way of doing that with a horizontal dock.
In an ideal world there would be a 'docking standard' with a single thunderbolt port and a locking mechanism on the back to 'slot' into.
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It wouldnt be too difficult to come up with one for the mac laptop line though given the design/shape tends to stay the same for a good few revisions. The upright henge ones did this pretty well, hopefully they (or someone else) can eventually figure out a way of doing that with a horizontal dock.
In an ideal world there would be a 'docking standard' with a single thunderbolt port and a locking mechanism on the back to 'slot' into.
But you would still be locked into one chassis. You couldn't switch between Macbook Air and Macbook Pro like I am doing this summer could you?
Probably not unfortunately.
(Before I start, I dont pretend to have a clue about what I'm talking about here so take it with a pinch of salt
) Theoretically, it would be possible to have a docking station adjustable in both the width (i.e to accommodate wider/narrower laptops) and depth (if that would even be needed. The biggest problem would be the thickness of the actual dock, where it attaches to the laptop as the Air is a lot thinner. If someone could work that part out, it (again theoretically) should be doable.
Taking the concept of the henge one, you could modify it to 'spring load' then provide the option to swap ports around (A bit like their vertical dock does) for different models, and maybe make each port height adjustable. It'd likely still take a genius to get this working across all models tho, but as long as you can get power + thunderbolt, thats all you'd really need access to.
That's the point. A lot of TB only have a single port which means no more daisy chaining. With this having two it can be part of the daisy chain which means a lot of potential TB devices.
Also with TB the monitor has to be the last item in the chain. If any other devices are an end chain device that means no option to use a second monitor. With this device having two TB ports I can continue to daisy chain and use HDMI for a second monitor. I no longer have to unhook TB devices based on if I want to use my video device or a second monitor.
As far as I am aware there is no such thing as a TB device with three ports. Kind of silly since you can daisy chain devices. The only use would be if you had more than one device with a single port like the FW800 adapter and another device that terminates the chain. Honestly with the addition of USB3 as well I may not even use TB for storage anymore since it is a total waste of money compared to USB3. I already have a Seagate TB drive dock however so I may just keep using it.
Actually, e-SATA and FW800 ports would be nice. I love the style of this, but I wish it included these other two ports.
This and the Sonnettech dock/hub look both appeal to me. I just wonder about the thermals for the Sonnettech, since it can house a hard drive and an optical drive in it.
I thought of this too, and your solution works well unless someone also needs e-SATA. Then, well ..., but I still like it.
Good question.
Yep.
Let's hope they plan on making a lot of them.
Sounds reasonable - but I'd want to see it confirmed in practice that merely having the HDMI port doesn't eat the available video signal. I'm wondering why Belkin dropped the HDMI port from their vapourhub and why Matrox dock has HDMI or DVI but no Thunderbolt out.
That's what I was hoping...now I'll let someone else be the guinea pig when they actually try it with physical hardware.
Wise. I'd be delighted to be wrong.
I agree "dock" is not the best word for it, but I'm not sure the 'laptop docking station' is the best solution (I have used one in the past with a laptop PC). This sort of dock:
1. Works with any post-2011 MacBook (and maybe some PCs)
2. Works with Mac Mini or iMac (the Caldigit one might not make sense with an iMac or Mini, unless you really want extra ports, but the Sonnet one, with internal HD, optical drive, eSATA does).
3. Works with any desktop layout - At the desk, I usually work on an external keyboard & display, with my MacBook on an elevator stand - others use a vertical stand and keep the Macbook closed.
4. Moves most of the cables away from the desktop - you can tuck one of these at the back of the desk where the sun don't shine.
5. This and the similar Matrox 'dock' are highly portable (remember, these add some ports that your laptop doesn't have at all, so you might want to take them with you) - even the Sonnet is less bulky than 'your' style of dock.
Look at the CalDigit website - the dock has 2xUSB3 on the back and one on the front (its possible that it uses another USB port internally for the sound).
There's a minimum 'entry fee' for building a Thunderbolt device so it makes sense to throw in more than just USB3 ports.
The Sonnet hub looks like it has 'the works'.
You're right, I should of clarrified further. I want three displays plus a spare TB port for more useful things.
From the first post- I thought you were referring to a TB display. I was thinking there is still no way for you to get both your display and video device if they both are terminators.
Yes that does make sense that you can use the HDMI for your monitor!
But to me, TB works just like FW. Its meant to be daisy-chained, but like you were saying, what happens when i have several devices that don't have TB-thru on them?
I know they make FW hubs that will turn one port into 3-4.. So why don't they do this with TB?
Not owning a mac with thunderbolt, I haven't been closely following the whole thunderbolt dock thing. I've recently decided to buy a rMBP in the near/mid future so have been looking into it a bit.
Am I right in thinking that currently the only real way to get any sort of value out of thunderbolt is through a Thunderbolt Display?! Or is it conceivable that given a large amount of funds you could potentially buy a few bits of hardware to offer similar functionality to these prospective docks?
I find it amazing that over 2 years after thunderbolt was introduced you still can't make the most of it!
Am I right in thinking that currently the only real way to get any sort of value out of thunderbolt is through a Thunderbolt Display?! Or is it conceivable that given a large amount of funds you could potentially buy a few bits of hardware to offer similar functionality to these prospective docks?
I find it amazing that over 2 years after thunderbolt was introduced you still can't make the most of it!
Cry me a river. The fact you're complaining about $199 tells me you don't value your FW resources all that much. Buy two of these hubs, run :
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD464ZM/A/apple-thunderbolt-to-firewire-adaptor?fnode=51
Off of one and use the other hub for dedicated new solutions.
I stand corrected. I misinterpreted the copy of "USB 3 (1 front) as that is the only usb3.
Ok, I've gotten my terminology wrong - yes, meant DisplayPort, not DisplayLink (oops).
That said.. If CalDigit uses a GPU/PCIe to run the HDMI port then this means we can still connect a DisplayPort monitor/adaptor into the TB chain and run another monitor.
As for DisplayLink/USB3 - would rather the GPU option than using a USB3 solution to drive the external monitor
I've felt the same way just up until I saw this dock and realized that you'll still have the FIREWIRE 800 port on your Macbook (PRO) or what ever machine you have that still uses FW 800. Like you, everything that's inside my laptop bag is Firewire 800 and I'm not just going to get rid of them all for TB/USB3.
As long as I still have the port located on my Macbook Pro, this Hub will do but I'll just wait until the price comes down before I grab one.
I get it. And that's fine for you. And possibly many others. I would prefer a more customized look and experience for my laptop. Even if it means that I would have to re-purchase a dock should I buy another laptop in a few years.
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Don't see why Apple would need to license the MagSafe for a usable dock. Their is no licensing required to pin out the power connections, and the magnetic portion of the connection would not be needed for a dock.
I understand that there are solutions out there that some are finding acceptable. My point was about my own wants and desires. I would prefer a more aesthetically pleasing, streamlined approach. And if I was going to go with the plug in two connections scenario I would just as soon have the Apple Thunderbolt display.
A little googling for your edification...
http://appleinsider.com/articles/10...rmac_accessory_maker_over_magsafe_ipod_cables
http://www.electronista.com/articles/10/07/09/apple.targets.three.for.copying.magsafe.design/
http://www.macnn.com/articles/09/11/25/knockoffs.selling.for.almost.half.of.apples.price/
So basically, the magsafe connector was patented by Apple and creating any clone of it without licensing (which I am not sure Apple has licensed it to anyone) results in a lawsuit.
Hell I'd get one if it was only 3xusb3 and a esata port. Thats the only things I miss in my iMac 2011...
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Not HDMI-in just HDMI port in a portable aluminum case....
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Not HDMI-in just HDMI port in a portable aluminum case....
MMM..too beauty to be true...next.
ps.
I will find peace with the U.HDTV 4k i talk'd in another post here,
its the first i know under the 1500$/€..^^
i hope for a low input lag
https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=17111558#post17111558
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