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Belkin Shows Off Upcoming Thunderbolt Express Dock
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You don't know what you're talking about.
SATA is the connector standard used on drives themselves... 'USB3 drives' are actually SATA drives in a box with USB3->SATA circuitry.
Why go Thunderbolt->USB3->SATA?
SATA is here to stay.
This is pretty much what I have been waiting for. I kind of wish the design was a little different though...It looks like it should be a laptop stand, but it isn't, so the strange V-shape looks weird and doesn't really serve any purpose.
Also if it was just a box and had usb ports on the front that would be nice for flash drives and such.
But as the first non-screen Thunderbolt dock I can accept these compromises. As long as that is Gigabit ethernet and not 10/100...
I really hope it is $99 or less, but I have a feeling it won't be.
Also if it was just a box and had usb ports on the front that would be nice for flash drives and such.
But as the first non-screen Thunderbolt dock I can accept these compromises. As long as that is Gigabit ethernet and not 10/100...
I really hope it is $99 or less, but I have a feeling it won't be.
The current design seems awkward. I wonder if the pictures just show a prototype. A stand would be the ideal implementation, no need to take up extra space.
Don't know why this comment is rated down, I'm in complete agreement. Talk about a huge footprint and just butt-ugly.
Great, it's a ThunderBolt hub, that's awesome. Why make it such an eye sore? Yes, it's styled after the Mac monitors but it's not a ***** monitor. And my Mac monitor's foot is super thin.
Cool, but my god, what a USELESS physical design! Can't stack it, can't put it under your monitor, etc.
this is great news, opens up the purchase of a non Apple TB Display and getting a display that accepts more than just DisplayPort.
It's very possibly that this particular version of the TB hub is supposed to be designed as a companion for the popular laptop stands many MBP owners already have, like the Rain Design mStand.
This Belkin device looks like it would fit wonderfully in that little unused space for your stand, and the cables would pass right out of the back cord hole, making for a clean dock of sorts.
This Belkin device looks like it would fit wonderfully in that little unused space for your stand, and the cables would pass right out of the back cord hole, making for a clean dock of sorts.
This is the stand I was/am planning on buying.
Belkin should just make the whole dock in this shape and design and sell it as an all in one solution
I would think that Belkin would have a line built around the concept, and that this particular model (if I'm right about it's intended design and application) would be aimed at those that already own (or plan to by) the stand, or style of stand I pointed out.
I would think that a traditional desktop hub box would be among the whole line of devices.
Of course I could be wrong, this is all speculation at this point.
I would think that a traditional desktop hub box would be among the whole line of devices.
Of course I could be wrong, this is all speculation at this point.
That is the state of technology today. Intel, Western Digital Seagate are all pushing to eliminate SATA from the drives themselves. Intel wants to eliminate one more connector type from mother boards, Seagate/WD don't want to be burdened any longer with bridges for external drives. Within a few years most commercial drives will be shipping as USB3 drives both internal and external.
I didn't even think about a hub station from thunderbolt being able to support USB3.0, simple solution for those current thunderbolt macs!
Lol taco form.
Source?
I've not heard anything of the sort. SATA is a much more efficient and lower latency standard than USB, and supports peer level transfers. It also supports extended data on hard drives like SMART.
Unlikely.
As quoted in other articles, a display has to be at the end of the daisy chain.
But I would prefer a hub with multiple thunderbolt ports, so I don't have to put monitors on a daisy chain and have dedicated port for them.
Once you start looking at the protocols USB 3.0 is much closer to both SAS and SATA then it is to USB 2.0. That is why USB 3.0 requires new interconnects, they completely through out the interface and protocol.
As far as a source, I work in the hard drive industry. They are putting us all through USB 3.0 training.
I like the idea ... even if it isn't the prettiest thing in the world, you can find somewhere to tuck it.
But please ... add audio!
But please ... add audio!
Except to get 3 USB ports, Firewire, and Gigabit Ethernet, with everything permanently plugged in at someone's desk, and connected to a MacBook by plugging in a single cable.
Want
Want! This would be a killer device for me. I recently switched from MBP to the new Air, and while I wouldn't trade the Air in for anything, I have several FW800 devices that are now going through USB hub. USB2 blows next to FW800. This thing would allow me to go back to FW for my externals and still plug my cinema display into its display port as well. Perfect.... now about when and where and how much I can buy it!!!!
Want! This would be a killer device for me. I recently switched from MBP to the new Air, and while I wouldn't trade the Air in for anything, I have several FW800 devices that are now going through USB hub. USB2 blows next to FW800. This thing would allow me to go back to FW for my externals and still plug my cinema display into its display port as well. Perfect.... now about when and where and how much I can buy it!!!!
For the price they will charge, they should have it.
I'd pay 200$ for the below
3 USB 3.0
3 USB 2.0
1 fw
2 mini display port
1 dvi
1 hdmi
2 eSATA
Audio jack
Toshlink
Card reader
If they could add a MagSafe wire I'd pay 300$