Belkin Shows Off Upcoming Thunderbolt Express Dock

MacRumors · Sep 13, 2011, 02:45 PM

Ever since Apple introduced its new Apple Thunderbolt Display, which should begin shipping in the very near future, users have been hoping for a product that offers the same docking station capabilities without the integrated monitor and $999 price tag.

Belkin may soon have an answer for those users, as DailyTech notes that the company is using this week's Intel Developer Forum to show off a new docking station offering essentially the exact same connectivity as found on the back of Apple's new display.

Quote:

The Belkin Thunderbolt Express Dock features three USB ports, a Thunderbolt port for daisy chaining, a Firewire port, and a GbE port. This is basically the same port setup that's found on the new 27" Apple Thunderbolt Display.

For Apple users looking for expanded port offerings via the Thunderbolt port and don't want to pay $999 for the functionality, the Belkin Thunderbolt Express Dock will come in handy.

Unfortunately, there is no word yet on pricing or a launch date for the docking station, so users will have to wait for Belkin to release more details.

Article Link: Belkin Shows Off Upcoming Thunderbolt Express Dock

OceanView · Sep 13, 2011, 02:49 PM

Looks great!
I wonder if you could rest an MBP or MBA on the device.
Looks like you could

rickdollar · Sep 13, 2011, 02:49 PM

Is it big and ugly enough? Sheesh.

Frobozz · Sep 13, 2011, 02:51 PM

I have a need for this. Apple decided to pack their external ports too close together on the MB Pro. I'd love to get one cable and port to handle all the persistently plugged in peripherals I'd have: my displayport LED monitor, my Wacom Tablet, my FW800 external RAID, and a thumb drive.

BurningJah · Sep 13, 2011, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OceanView

Looks great!
I wonder if you could rest an MBP or MBA on the device.
Looks like you could

I don't think so! to steep and no holding point for an MBP or MBA

brainzilla · Sep 13, 2011, 02:52 PM

Will it have USB3?
Also: Will it be avaliable in block-form instead of taco-form?

troop231 · Sep 13, 2011, 02:53 PM

Looks great! I wonder if they'll make the USB ports USB 3.0?

Henriok · Sep 13, 2011, 02:53 PM

How many of these can you daisy chain? You can have up to 6 TB units in a chain, iirc, but that doesn't found all the ports that each node enables?

basesloaded190 · Sep 13, 2011, 02:53 PM

This has been the one and only thing I have been looking forward to with TB. I can't wait until they release this! Just a question of pricing now.

LimeiBook86 · Sep 13, 2011, 02:54 PM

I'd be far more interested in this if it had an SATA or eSATA port on the dock.

Still it is nice to see adapters finally start to come out. Let's hope it's not too pricey!

ConnYoungy · Sep 13, 2011, 02:54 PM

Bit annoying to have the power lead on the front though, poking out all the time where you can see it/ where it gets in the way

C00rDiNaT0r · Sep 13, 2011, 02:55 PM

Looks like this can let the MBA get gigabit ethernet without losing the USB port!

wikus · Sep 13, 2011, 02:55 PM

Would the thunderbolt port on the Belkin hub still allow me to connect my external LCD monitor to it??

Analog Kid · Sep 13, 2011, 02:55 PM

Putting the DC in jack right in the middle of all the other connectors was an interesting choice... Seems it would have been a little more functional to put the power jack where that cable wouldn't interfere...

basesloaded190 · Sep 13, 2011, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wikus

Would the thunderbolt port on the Belkin hub still allow me to connect my external LCD monitor to it??

Yes it should via an adapter

Mattsasa · Sep 13, 2011, 02:56 PM

are those usb 3.0 or usb 2.0 ports?

troop231 · Sep 13, 2011, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mattsasa

are those usb 3.0 or usb 2.0 ports?

My question also!

KPOM · Sep 13, 2011, 02:59 PM

If they can keep the price to $100 then this will sell well. I was excited about the Sonnet ExpressCard 34 device, but not as much when the $150 price tag was announced. Remember, these things require a $50 cable to connect. $100+50 would justify Ethernet, FireWire, and a USB hub. $150+50 is still doable, but more than that would turn away a lot of people.

50548 · Sep 13, 2011, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troop231

Looks great! I wonder if they'll make the USB ports USB 3.0?

If it doesn't, there is no point in buying it.

Ashyukun · Sep 13, 2011, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LimeiBook86

I'd be far more interested in this if it had an SATA or eSATA port on the dock.

An eSATA port would be REALLY nice, or at least an TB to eSATA adapter of some sort.

mtbgtr · Sep 13, 2011, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mattsasa

are those usb 3.0 or usb 2.0 ports?

3-USB2 ports just like the new display. USB 3 ports are blue, not white. SO for me this is a BIG FAIL by Belkin unless its just not physically possible to go TB -> USB3.

If that's the case then TB itself is a big fail for users looking to hook cheap storage to TB.

It took years for Firewire drives to come down in price and they are still hard to find, sound familiar?

basesloaded190 · Sep 13, 2011, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mattsasa

are those usb 3.0 or usb 2.0 ports?

Aren't most usb 3.0 connectors blue?

wikus · Sep 13, 2011, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by basesloaded190

Yes it should via an adapter

An adapter being a regular miniDisplay port to HDMI cable, correct? (I use an Asus PA246Q monitor).

----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by basesloaded190

Aren't most usb 3.0 connectors blue?

Most, if not all. Regardless, the bottleneck will be USB 2.0 on the laptop itself, it wouldnt make a difference to have USB 3.0 on the hub.

basesloaded190 · Sep 13, 2011, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wikus

An adapter being a regular miniDisplay port to HDMI cable, correct? (I use an Asus PA246Q monitor).

----------

Most, if not all. Regardless, the bottleneck will be USB 2.0 on the laptop itself, it wouldnt make a difference to have USB 3.0 on the hub.

1. Yup
2. Not if it's going through the TB port

ConnYoungy · Sep 13, 2011, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wikus

Regardless, the bottleneck will be USB 2.0 on the laptop itself, it wouldnt make a difference to have USB 3.0 on the hub.

Are you forgetting the thunderbolt speeds that will be able to cope?

Sep 13, 2011, 02:49 PM	#3
rickdollar macrumors 6502 Join Date: Mar 2007	Is it big and ugly enough? Sheesh.
	-12

Sep 13, 2011, 02:51 PM	#4
Frobozz macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: South Orange, NJ	I have a need for this. Apple decided to pack their external ports too close together on the MB Pro. I'd love to get one cable and port to handle all the persistently plugged in peripherals I'd have: my displayport LED monitor, my Wacom Tablet, my FW800 external RAID, and a thumb drive. __________________ 2011 MacBook Pro 15" HiRes Matte, 2.2GHz, 1GB, 512 SSD, 8GB / iPad 3G 32 / New iPad 64 / iPhone 5 64 Win7/64: Core i7 960@3.6GHz, 2 x AMD 6970, 512 SSD, 6GB "My first Mac was an Amiga." -- Me
	9

Sep 13, 2011, 02:53 PM	#7
troop231 macrumors 601 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: NSLog(@"Earth");	Looks great! I wonder if they'll make the USB ports USB 3.0? __________________ My iOS apps: MyTradeshow , Outdoor Rules & Regulations iPhone 5 2013 15" rMBP 2.6
	8

Sep 13, 2011, 02:53 PM	#9
basesloaded190 macrumors 68030 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Wisconsin	This has been the one and only thing I have been looking forward to with TB. I can't wait until they release this! Just a question of pricing now. __________________ 2011 MacBook Pro 15 HR Anti-Glare, Etymotic ER-4p, iPhone 4 32GB Twitter
	3

Sep 13, 2011, 02:54 PM	#10
LimeiBook86 macrumors 604 Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hanging around in NJ with his cutie. :)	I'd be far more interested in this if it had an SATA or eSATA port on the dock. Still it is nice to see adapters finally start to come out. Let's hope it's not too pricey! __________________ My 'How to Draw Fun Animals' iBook is now on iTunes "Just you try and stop me..." My Site Thrift Fails Tech Blog
	16

Sep 13, 2011, 02:49 PM	#2
OceanView macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2005	Looks great! I wonder if you could rest an MBP or MBA on the device. Looks like you could
	4

Sep 13, 2011, 02:52 PM	#6
brainzilla macrumors member Join Date: Oct 2007	Will it have USB3? Also: Will it be avaliable in block-form instead of taco-form?
	20

Sep 13, 2011, 02:53 PM	#8
Henriok macrumors regular Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Gothenburg, Sweden	How many of these can you daisy chain? You can have up to 6 TB units in a chain, iirc, but that doesn't found all the ports that each node enables?
	0

Sep 13, 2011, 02:54 PM	#11
ConnYoungy macrumors regular Join Date: Aug 2010	Bit annoying to have the power lead on the front though, poking out all the time where you can see it/ where it gets in the way
	8

Sep 13, 2011, 02:55 PM	#12
C00rDiNaT0r macrumors regular Join Date: Jan 2006	Looks like this can let the MBA get gigabit ethernet without losing the USB port!
	3

Sep 13, 2011, 02:55 PM	#13
wikus Banned Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Planet earth.	Would the thunderbolt port on the Belkin hub still allow me to connect my external LCD monitor to it??
	0

Sep 13, 2011, 02:55 PM	#14
Analog Kid macrumors 68020 Join Date: Mar 2003	Putting the DC in jack right in the middle of all the other connectors was an interesting choice... Seems it would have been a little more functional to put the power jack where that cable wouldn't interfere... __________________ Only trolls use the word "fanboy".
	5

Sep 13, 2011, 02:56 PM	#16
Mattsasa macrumors 65816 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Minnesota	big question are those usb 3.0 or usb 2.0 ports?
	0

Sep 13, 2011, 02:59 PM	#18
KPOM macrumors G3 Join Date: Oct 2010	If they can keep the price to $100 then this will sell well. I was excited about the Sonnet ExpressCard 34 device, but not as much when the $150 price tag was announced. Remember, these things require a $50 cable to connect. $100+50 would justify Ethernet, FireWire, and a USB hub. $150+50 is still doable, but more than that would turn away a lot of people.
	2

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