Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Brydge Announces New Vertical Docks for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air

I had something similar (Henge dock) and had nothing but problems running my MacBook Pro with the cover closed. The biggest was it would never wake up. I eventually started to run NoSleep to prevent it from going to sleep. And even after that, it was really flaky with the displays. Any time you did updates or had to reboot, I had to remove from the dock else it would never come back up.
 
I hope they've improved the fit and mechanics. The original one was SO difficult to get my 15 inch computer in and out of. Defeated the purpose. It also scratched the ports after just 4 uses.

Honestly just get a Caldigit TS3+, the TwelveSouth Book Arc, and a thunderbolt 3 cable... Far more practical.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ceevee and jettredmont
Apple Macintosh 128K said:
Laptops have been designed to run while closed for years and years. I've never experienced such damage from doing so.
Click to expand...

that's not totally true, MAcbooks Pro can easily get over 105º celsius since always, working hard with the laptop in that way is going to create kernel_task go crazy, I've own many models, and I can tell this for sure.

More over, even with the lid opened, MBP 2012 15" couldn't stand all ports connected, as display port sensor would fire kernel task (just google it and you will see, now just close the lid to see what happens)

Macbooks are aluminium, energy goes goes from one point to another as heat, even your finger in the chassis counts.

Mail and widgets? you are save

Hardcore use? no way…
 
joeypore said:
Honestly just get a Caldigit TS3+, the TwelveSouth Book Arc, and a thunderbolt 3 cable... Far more practical.
Click to expand...

This and so much cheaper, too. I have a Moft laptop stand attached to the bottom of my MBP that I'll never remove, it's so great, so I use a Macally Vertical Laptop Stand that is adjustable for thickness. It doesn't block the air vents and is super stable. This stand is an excellent alternative to the Book Arc if your MBP is modified in any way (like with a case or a Moft in my case).
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: jettredmont
I burned up two motherboards in each of two different MBP's several years ago while running them closed and driving a 30" ACD. I'd be leery of the heat build up.
[automerge]1594841520[/automerge]
Apple Macintosh 128K said:
Laptops have been designed to run while closed for years and years. I've never experienced such damage from doing so.
Click to expand...

I burned up two motherboards in each of two different MBP's several years ago while running them closed and driving a 30" ACD. Eventually got a processor temp app that showed they ran hotter with a closed lid. No surprise there. I'd be leery of the heat build up over long periods.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: jettredmont
Shwangheim said:
Have they done anything about the 16" macbook pro's microphone not functioning when in clamshell mode? If not, that could make using this product a little awkward if you ever needed to join a call or anything that requires a microphone.
Click to expand...
A microphone has to be as close to your mouth as possible to work well. Less than an inch preferably, but if the best you can do is a pair of earbuds that will sound a million times better than the built in mic.

Even worse than the distance problem - the built in mic is closer to your speakers than your mouth. Forcing the software to cut out the prominent speaker audio and keep your soft voice which, when it works at all, sounds awful.
 
dscottj431 said:
Lots of typical MR forum hate from people who either don't own the product, are cheap, or particular.

I've used this design and the previous one for years with no issues whatsoever. This version is more reliable since the ports are fixed instead of attached via set screws. If you "missed" a dock with the previous version it'd push the connectors down and then things wouldn't connect right until you reset them.

I have seen no issues with screen damage due to heat, and I've used these docks for seven years. They do not block any vents, and the air goes sideways-then-up, instead of up through the chassis as it would if you were using the cheaper / simpler metal docks with the back end on the bottom. Point-by-point:
  • Using this with an MBP 16 and a problematic internal microphone: Use a headset.
  • Reduces ports: Nope. Duplicates the two it uses. Does not reduce. -1.
  • Executive jewelry: It's for a Mac. Duh.
  • Scratches the ports: If you're wanting to maximize your resale value by keeping it absolutely pristine, yup, this isn't for you. I like the convenience better than the resale value, and my ports work fine with slight scratches that are only visible when I'm really looking for them.
  • A simpler laptop stand works just as well: True, to a point. With other designs you have to manually connect/disconnect cables each time you use it. That introduces wear & scratches too. Is this dock worth the premium? It's for a Mac. Duh.
  • A built-in fan would definitely be new, but I don't see any indication of that on their website. It has vents, not fans.
I like them because they look cool, work well, and provide clean, easy connects and disconnects from my peripherals.

Mac people complaining about overpriced peripherals makes me smile.
Click to expand...
Just to clarify, can you charge the MacBook AND connect a display to it? Say, if you connect and ProDisplay XDR will it output video signal and charge it back as when connected directly? (That would be great).
[automerge]1594850535[/automerge]
abhibeckert said:
A microphone has to be as close to your mouth as possible to work well. Less than an inch preferably, but if the best you can do is a pair of earbuds that will sound a million times better than the built in mic.

Even worse than the distance problem - the built in mic is closer to your speakers than your mouth. Forcing the software to cut out the prominent speaker audio and keep your soft voice which, when it works at all, sounds awful.
Click to expand...
For what is worth, the mic does work miraculously well when taking all that into account, I have had to use a 2014 MacBook Pro builtin mic when headphones weren't available and it went extremely well. Same with iMacs 2019.

Now, everybody says that the AirPods Pro sound great and nobody had complained on my meetings, that’s a bit of black magic thing, they are not even placed in front of the mouth and there’s full face in between it all.

Granted, nothing will ever beat a proper mic arm with soft dampening foam and all that.
 
Last edited:
Btaylor_prod said:
I wonder if there’s any long term screen damage from heat when running a MBP closed. 🤔
Click to expand...

Long term screen damage from using screen LESS than would have been otherwise with an open laptop? Yeah that makes ton of sense.
 
Looks nice! Though I prefer to have mine horizontal at a 35 degree angle so i can use the screen at eye level next to my 1080p monitor and iPad connected via XDisplay. I've got a 2012 13 inch and this is the only way I know of to get 3 monitors outside of spending many hundreds on Thunderbolt displays.
 
pointj said:
Surprised how many commenters are unfamiliar with the vertical docks (previously Henge, acquired by Brydge a few months ago). The vertical docks have been on the market for many years, and owners seem to swear by them.

Just actually received my Brydge vertical stand for my 13" MBP yesterday. Now wondering what was revised (I might give them a call in a bit).

I had a Henge dock for my 15" MBP for years and loved it. It made using my MBP as a desktop machine while at the office a much better of an experience. While I've utilized stands (such as the BookArc) in the past, not having to unplug cables just felt like a better solution.

While pricey, the cost can easily be justified by the convenience factor (for me).

As far as the heat comment: I've been using Apple notebooks in clamshell mode for two decades, no issues yet.
Click to expand...

Nice, even with strenuous tasks?
 
pointj said:
Surprised how many commenters are unfamiliar with the vertical docks (previously Henge, acquired by Brydge a few months ago). The vertical docks have been on the market for many years, and owners seem to swear by them.

Just actually received my Brydge vertical stand for my 13" MBP yesterday. Now wondering what was revised (I might give them a call in a bit).

I had a Henge dock for my 15" MBP for years and loved it. It made using my MBP as a desktop machine while at the office a much better of an experience. While I've utilized stands (such as the BookArc) in the past, not having to unplug cables just felt like a better solution.

While pricey, the cost can easily be justified by the convenience factor (for me).

As far as the heat comment: I've been using Apple notebooks in clamshell mode for two decades, no issues yet.
Click to expand...

This is exactly the kind of useful comment I like to read, thank you.
 
amartinez1660 said:
Just to clarify, can you charge the MacBook AND connect a display to it? Say, if you connect and ProDisplay XDR will it output video signal and charge it back as when connected directly? (That would be great).
[automerge]1594850535[/automerge]
Click to expand...

I've never used a peripheral that could also do charge duties, so I can't be sure it'll do that. However, IMO anything that a device does when directly connected to a MacBook will work the same when connected through the dock. I haven't disassembled mine to check, but the cutaway published on their website suggests this is a purely electrical connection. If so I don't see how the behavior could change.
 
Breaking Good said:
My employer issued Windows laptops run closed in a docking station 90% of the time over the past ten years. I've never noticed any issues with the screens.

I've had Dell's and HP's. The oldest was five years old when it was finally replaced.
Click to expand...
Same. Our Lenovo work laptops are all closed and docked at work and the screen seems fine.
 
Since it was bought by brydge, I was expecting new releases, i really like clean look and practical propose of not need manual cable connect every dock time. But I have a question. If macbook is in sleep mode, when docks, it automatically wake up Mac OS without need open lid? Just dock and monitor powers on with Mac OS ready to use.. Any addition setup needed?
 
I’ve used my a MacBook Pro in clamshell mode for about a year, but I have to crack the lid and touch a key to wake it up every time it goes to sleep. It won’t recognize the external keyboard or mouse to wake. No amount of fiddling with the settings has helped. While a stand like this one seems an elegant space-saving solution, I don’t see how it would work if one has to pop open the laptop a few times each day to wake it up.
 
ctyrider said:
Long term screen damage from using screen LESS than would have been otherwise with an open laptop? Yeah that makes ton of sense.
Click to expand...

I had two MBP's that suffered some screen discoloration after being run closed 95% of their life. It was at hinge side where it was much hotter. I think it's possibly an issue with running them closed.
 
I had one of these and loved it.
The only problem is they take a while to manufacture after a new computer comes out. So this new batch had come out just in time for the design change coming later this year.

I wish Apple let them in so they could get them out faster.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back