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Bad reviews on MacBook A/V Adapter?

WickedPorter

WickedPorter

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Sep 28, 2012
290
233
Hi all,

I'm wondering what all the fuss is with this adapter. Have others had any issues with it? Is mine doomed to failure or something? Or perhaps Apple has released driver fixes for it with newer releases of OS X?

I'm currently using it as a "dock". This is my personal MacBook, but I use it at work with this configuration as a secondary development/test machine. Using this adapter, one cable to plug in gives me the following config:
  • HDMI --> Dell 24" 1080p monitor running @ native resolution, with the MacBook screen running as my secondary display.
  • USB-A --> Belkin USB 3.0 three port hub with built in ethernet. Using the Ethernet and one USB port for my wireless transceiver for a Microsoft wireless keyboard/mouse.
  • USB-C Power is plugged in to the standard 29W USB-C power brick.
No problems so far. Running a Windows 10 VM on top of OS X in Parallels and this is turning out to be a pretty powerful work / development machine with this config!
 
WickedPorter said:
Hi all,

I'm wondering what all the fuss is with this adapter. Have others had any issues with it? Is mine doomed to failure or something? Or perhaps Apple has released driver fixes for it with newer releases of OS X?

I'm currently using it as a "dock". This is my personal MacBook, but I use it at work with this configuration as a secondary development/test machine. Using this adapter, one cable to plug in gives me the following config:
  • HDMI --> Dell 24" 1080p monitor running @ native resolution, with the MacBook screen running as my secondary display.
  • USB-A --> Belkin USB 3.0 three port hub with built in ethernet. Using the Ethernet and one USB port for my wireless transceiver for a Microsoft wireless keyboard/mouse.
  • USB-C Power is plugged in to the standard 29W USB-C power brick.
No problems so far. Running a Windows 10 VM on top of OS X in Parallels and this is turning out to be a pretty powerful work / development machine with this config!
Click to expand...
Not sure what "fuss" you are referring to? Can you point to an article?
 
WickedPorter said:
Hi all,

I'm wondering what all the fuss is with this adapter. Have others had any issues with it? Is mine doomed to failure or something? Or perhaps Apple has released driver fixes for it with newer releases of OS X?

I'm currently using it as a "dock". This is my personal MacBook, but I use it at work with this configuration as a secondary development/test machine. Using this adapter, one cable to plug in gives me the following config:
  • HDMI --> Dell 24" 1080p monitor running @ native resolution, with the MacBook screen running as my secondary display.
  • USB-A --> Belkin USB 3.0 three port hub with built in ethernet. Using the Ethernet and one USB port for my wireless transceiver for a Microsoft wireless keyboard/mouse.
  • USB-C Power is plugged in to the standard 29W USB-C power brick.
No problems so far. Running a Windows 10 VM on top of OS X in Parallels and this is turning out to be a pretty powerful work / development machine with this config!
Click to expand...

The "fuss" over this adapter has nothing to do with its performance or quality, it has to do with its price. Some feel that Apple shouldn't have removed these ports to begin with, others think it should have been packed in for free.

Those who understand the RMB fully are grateful that the ports are outboarded to this convenient docking station instead of adding thickness and weight and reducing portability. I have both the HDMI and VGA adapters, they both work flawlessly on the 5% of the time I actually need to use them.

BJ
 
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WickedPorter said:
Whoops, sorry for not being more specific on that! I am referring to the product reviews on the online Apple Store. Lots of people with failures, it seems.

http://www.apple.com/shop/product/MJ1K2AM/A/usb-c-digital-av-multiport-adapter
Click to expand...

If you read the 'bad' reviews, it sounds a lot like this forum on a Friday night. Almost all the negative reviews aren't about quality, they are about price ($80 is too much apparently), charging (can't charge an iPhone unless the adapter is plugged into the MacBook), HDMI (copy protection won't play illegal videos), and anger (Apple is bad because they removed ports from the notebook).

Not "failures" of quality. Failures of imagination.

BJ
 
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boltjames said:
If you read the 'bad' reviews, it sounds a lot like this forum on a Friday night. Almost all the negative reviews aren't about quality, they are about price ($80 is too much apparently), charging (can't charge an iPhone unless the adapter is plugged into the MacBook), HDMI (copy protection won't play illegal videos), and anger (Apple is bad because they removed ports from the notebook).

Not "failures" of quality. Failures of imagination.

BJ
Click to expand...

Now that I'm diving in to them more, I'm seeing that. I tend to breeze right by the "it's too expensive for what it does" threads. I'm getting my money's worth. I did notice the iPhone charging issue, I don't really see this as an applicable problem for this device; it's primary purpose is not to charge an iPhone.

I'm mostly concerned with the "poor quality" issues, there are several accounts where the device simply stopped working, overheating, inconsistently working, reboots required to get working, etc. That being said, if the irrelevant reviews were removed (i.e. device doesn't work the way I think it should) the ratings would probably be noticeably higher.

Oh well... to assign some purpose to this thread, I offer this conclusion: It works fine if you use it for what it's intended to be used for. If it breaks, get it replaced under warranty. :)
 
WickedPorter said:
Now that I'm diving in to them more, I'm seeing that. I tend to breeze right by the "it's too expensive for what it does" threads. I'm getting my money's worth. I did notice the iPhone charging issue, I don't really see this as an applicable problem for this device; it's primary purpose is not to charge an iPhone.

I'm mostly concerned with the "poor quality" issues, there are several accounts where the device simply stopped working, overheating, inconsistently working, reboots required to get working, etc. That being said, if the irrelevant reviews were removed (i.e. device doesn't work the way I think it should) the ratings would probably be noticeably higher.

Oh well... to assign some purpose to this thread, I offer this conclusion: It works fine if you use it for what it's intended to be used for. If it breaks, get it replaced under warranty. :)
Click to expand...

I think there is one other gripe, you can't daisy chain them
 
SteveJUAE said:
I think there is one other gripe, you can't daisy chain them
Click to expand...

I am. No problems here...

2016-01-08%2015.30.51.jpg
 
I read the same reviews and had the same concerns. Some had those made up issues which were easy to ignore, but others experienced failures which I did not ignore. I don't know if they fixed anything, but I bought one anyway, figured if it failed, Apple always takes care of me. So far day 5 no issues. Right now I have my HDMI monitor, and a USB charging a device and the USB-c plugged into it to charge.....no problems.
 
DougFNJ said:
I read the same reviews and had the same concerns. Some had those made up issues which were easy to ignore, but others experienced failures which I did not ignore. I don't know if they fixed anything, but I bought one anyway, figured if it failed, Apple always takes care of me. So far day 5 no issues. Right now I have my HDMI monitor, and a USB charging a device and the USB-c plugged into it to charge.....no problems.
Click to expand...

Yep. In the end I ignored the reviews, figuring that I could just take it back if I found it unworkable. That's the great thing about Apple -- they stand behind their products and that extra "Apple tax" is a fair price to pay (in my opinion) for quality devices, support, and service. I was pleasantly surprised (as I mentioned at the beginning of this thread) to find that the reviews described an experience with the computer that was a lot different than mine.
 
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palpatine said:
Yep. In the end I ignored the reviews, figuring that I could just take it back if I found it unworkable. That's the great thing about Apple -- they stand behind their products and that extra "Apple tax" is a fair price to pay (in my opinion) for quality devices, support, and service. I was pleasantly surprised (as I mentioned at the beginning of this thread) to find that the reviews described an experience with the computer that was a lot different than mine.
Click to expand...

Agreed and we have had no problems (wife has the single usb adapter) I would not say my example was particularly standard set up, just a one off really.
 
SteveJUAE said:
Try putting the triple VGA adapter into the triple HDMI (Via USB-C) to get 2 USB ports :)

I tried this when I wanted to swap some files from one external HD to another
Click to expand...

Cal digit has a bus-powered USB-C hub that can do this for you. It's way better than the apple adapters in that it has more ports and is made of metal, so it can take a beating.
 
Nearly a year later and the Apple adapter is the only one that does usb, charging, and hdmi output, and still the reviews are negative. LOL.
 
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So nobody here is having issues? I am worried about reviews talking about how sustained file transfers not working well. More interested in the plain USB C to USB A adapter as I don’t currently see a need for the HDMI Out.
 
SethBoy said:
So nobody here is having issues? I am worried about reviews talking about how sustained file transfers not working well. More interested in the plain USB C to USB A adapter as I don’t currently see a need for the HDMI Out.
Click to expand...
I transferred 350gb over wifi to a usb drive without an issue. Transfer rates were consistent throughout.
 
never had an issue with mine in a year of ownership. Like others said, the bad reviews are mostly geared towards price.
 
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