Belkin lists one TB port as Upstream and one as downstream with daisy chain capability.
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Docks are not cheap
http://h30094.www3.hp.com/product.asp?sku=10216229&mfg_part=NZ222AA&pagemode=ca
$289
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Belkin Upgrades Thunderbolt Express Dock with USB 3.0 and eSATA, Bumps Price to $399.99
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Belkin lists one TB port as Upstream and one as downstream with daisy chain capability.
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Docks are not cheap
http://h30094.www3.hp.com/product.asp?sku=10216229&mfg_part=NZ222AA&pagemode=ca
$289
Crazy
As if Mac/Apple stuff wasn't expensive enough already...
I'd buy it for $99. I'd *think* about it at $199. Anything more than that I would have to reconsider why i'm buying an over priced Macbook to begin with.
As if Mac/Apple stuff wasn't expensive enough already...
I'd buy it for $99. I'd *think* about it at $199. Anything more than that I would have to reconsider why i'm buying an over priced Macbook to begin with.
This product is from Belkin. I don't know why you are bringing Apple and Macbooks in this discussion.
hmmm
Different products for different needs. If I had a brand new setup (new computer and peripherals), I would probably go with the Belkin product.
But I have older peripherals, including Firewire drives, a DVI monitor, and many standard USB devices. The Matorx product fits my needs (except for Firewire) much better than the Belkin product, and it's significantly less expensive.
Different products for different needs. If I had a brand new setup (new computer and peripherals), I would probably go with the Belkin product.
But I have older peripherals, including Firewire drives, a DVI monitor, and many standard USB devices. The Matorx product fits my needs (except for Firewire) much better than the Belkin product, and it's significantly less expensive.
The fact that they increased the price by $100 for adding USB 3.0 and eSATA shows how much they are inflating the price of this dock. That's the problem with technologically advanced goods that are being sold to limited markets, there are no economies of scale to offset the development costs.
I think Apple should jump in to kickstart TB device adoption. Maybe offer a TB-equipped Time Capsule. If Apple could keep the price of Time Capsule the same as it is now but offer it with TB, the company could exponentially increase both Time Capsule and TB device sales.
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I think Apple should jump in to kickstart TB device adoption. Maybe offer a TB-equipped Time Capsule. If Apple could keep the price of Time Capsule the same as it is now but offer it with TB, the company could exponentially increase both Time Capsule and TB device sales.
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Wait 'til next week, when the MacBook will no longer be overpriced for what it is.
The market will take care of itself.
Intel has Cactus Ridge TB parts coming (I don't know if this is Cactus Ridge) which will be cheaper to make peripherals but in the short term Thunderbolt will be expensive. It'll never get as cheap as USB because the controllers are complex.
You're right on all counts there; but I still think it'll be his pick of the week at some point in the near future once it's released. So, I bet I'll keep my $10.
As I recall, according to the Alex monetary system, this hub would only be one Alex. . .or maybe 2/3 of one Alex.Anyway, back on topic, I see the tremendous value of this technology -- not just for the Alex Lindsay's of the world, but for many, many people. Steve billed Thunderbolt as amazing, and it is. What Steve did not say was that this was amazing new technology for professionals who were willing to drop several hundred dollars for peripherals. That's where my frustration comes from.
Unfortunately, almost a year and a half since its release, Thunderbolt is starting to feel, to me, like the LaserDisc players from many years ago. People who had them lauded them as the "next big thing" with amazing picture quality; but they never really hit the mainstream. Then, several years later, a newer technology came around that offered even better technology at a lower price; and LaserDisc players are seen today as nothing more than a passing fad that was enjoyed mostly by those with plenty of money to burn.
I like that idea. Also have Apple make some simpler, affordable accessories (with daisy chaining) like a thunderbolt to USB 3, thunderbolt to eSATA, thunderbolt to sound card, basically allow the end user to pick which parts of these hubs they need, and reduct the price at the same time.
It would be a great route for those who already have 2011 thunderbolt models, just plug in what we want to upgrade, and save the cost on what we don't.
Of course, for this model to work we can't have $50 cables, that is the first thing apple/intel needs to drive the price down on.
i like it
This has a high price point, but I'm willing to pay for this only because I DJ. As a DJ you almost always have a mess of cords. I can tuck this item into my coffin case and plug my external drive, my mixer and my CDJs directly into this. When i run video as well i can plug in my APC40 and my video output into this as well. All those items are then connected to my Macbook pro via a single cable, while the mess of cords is organized and tucked into the coffin case. No plugging and unplugging everything before and after the show. I love it!
This has a high price point, but I'm willing to pay for this only because I DJ. As a DJ you almost always have a mess of cords. I can tuck this item into my coffin case and plug my external drive, my mixer and my CDJs directly into this. When i run video as well i can plug in my APC40 and my video output into this as well. All those items are then connected to my Macbook pro via a single cable, while the mess of cords is organized and tucked into the coffin case. No plugging and unplugging everything before and after the show. I love it!
I like the idea of Apple making hubs as you have described, but given Apple's obsession with reducing clutter, I was thinking more along the lines of integration with existing products and enhancing their utility. Of course, if Apple took an interest in making TB hubs/docks, it would be a much more efficient way to drive down prices through economies of scale, but unfortunately, I don't think it's likely to happen.
I agree, and the adoption of it will take as long as it takes. Well, and then there will be something else, newer, faster, better, more expensive...
I don't think Apple is drunk, or stupid. I think they are thinking of something that could, eventually, kill USB, and provide, so far, an ultimate in flexibility and expansion options. If Apple killed USB, FireWire in its two flavors, and forced people to use Thunderbolt or nothing, I'd get in the car and go there and ask them what they hell they are smoking.
I think that Ethernet is pretty much here to stay. Coming up with something different would be like getting people to breath water instead of air. And USB will always be around too, at least for my lifetime. FireWire, I'm not convinced. High pricing of Thunderbolt devices could kink its adoption, however with its capabilities, it could end up, for a while, like Fibre Channel is now: for the 'big boys'. It will come down, it will get to be as ubiquitous as USB is now. It will take time to get the prices down and for the licensees to figure out who they want to sell to.
On an aside, historically, Apple has gone with interesting choices for interfaces and expansion. I remember the Nubus slots in the Mac II's. Someone still uses that bus technology I believe. Nope, it's pretty much dead. Being 32-bit only though...
LOL
A typical dock price runs $200-$300 for all the ThinkPad laptops we use at our company. $400 is ridiculous without a cable but $100 is asking a bit much compared to the market.
I've got a better idea, Belkin! You wanna make some money? DROP the fancy stuff!
Ditch the extra thunderbolt port, the SATA thing, the ethernet, headphones... drop ALL the ports AND the extra port for the electricity and just make this: A simple, USB hub that connects to a Mac via thunderbolt... say, 4 USB 2.0 ports as an example, or one or more of them could be USB 3.0, but just make sure the whole thing together with a thunderbolt cord costs LESS THAN $100!
You can send the royalties for this brilliant, company-saving idea to me by in cash. You're welcome.
Ditch the extra thunderbolt port, the SATA thing, the ethernet, headphones... drop ALL the ports AND the extra port for the electricity and just make this: A simple, USB hub that connects to a Mac via thunderbolt... say, 4 USB 2.0 ports as an example, or one or more of them could be USB 3.0, but just make sure the whole thing together with a thunderbolt cord costs LESS THAN $100!
You can send the royalties for this brilliant, company-saving idea to me by in cash. You're welcome.
We know. It's $25 for the controller chip. There are no licensing costs per device sold or anything like that.
But what killed laserdiscs wasn't that as much as having to get up and flip the disc over to continue watching the video. Yes, the picture was great (for its time), but the inconveniences and size made dropping it a no brainer. I still have my player and a number of discs but haven't bothered plugging it in...
Exactly...who is going to spend $400 on this hub thing? 0.
Well, maybe some super diehard employees that have $400 to blow in their department's budget.
This extremely expensive device is yet another nail in the coffin for TB.
My Laserdisc player, plays both sides (though most didn't).
What killed Laserdiscs was the pricing. $99 or even more for a movie!
When dvds came out at only $20. Goodbye Laserdisc.