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CES 2017: 'OWC DEC' Adds More Storage and Ports to the 2016 MacBook Pro
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I'm genuinely baffled by the design of that. Exactly what sort of user is that aimed at? What possible use-case would it make sense?
They already make some really nice and powerful docks, plus there's loads of large capacity ultra-portable hard drives, so are all the bases not covered already?
#confused
They already make some really nice and powerful docks, plus there's loads of large capacity ultra-portable hard drives, so are all the bases not covered already?
#confused
How could they've been developing this for 3 years? Have a prototype sitting in the back of a cupboard waiting and hoping Apple would one day develop a super-thin, portless and non-upgradable laptop? They should've made one for the 12-inch MacBook first.
Well, not when actually moving, but surely if you're going somewhere to work for the day or a few days, its no hassle to stick a few extra cables in your bag? I've been doing that for pretty much my entire life regardless of what machine I've taken with me.
Like others, I genuinely thought this was a post from The Poke or an April Fool from OWC.
Yes, but many people need to use their laptops when they are actually moving, that was my point.
I've been in that position myself and I think I'd rather still reach for a cable/dongle/small HDD, plug it in and remove when done to be honest, but I get that everybody's use case is different.
Keep the thickness and add a Blu-Ray drive for all those occasions when super fast (or dumb slow) broadband isn't available!! Then it would be a true replacement for my most excellent 2012 MBP!!!!
Hopefully they have different versions.
[doublepost=1483534549][/doublepost]
?
Lol, I'd rather have a small compact box with a few ports on that connects by USB-C than attached that monstrosity. If it wanted a 2012 MacBook I would buy one.
Seems OWC missed a big opportunity . Seems to be plenty of room for them to have put another Emoji Bar on the front .
...but very few notebooks have relied on docking stations or dongles for basic connectivity. Even the super-thin Sony 505 that I had years ago - and which had no pretensions to being "pro" - had one USB port that didn't require the docking station.
It would be nice if Apple did offer a separate dock. There are a couple of third-party USB-C docks but I don't think any of the TB3 docks are actually shipping yet. A couple of USB-C ports on the LG TB3 display does not a dock make.
This particular solution? Maybe not.
Some solution to the problem that Apple has created by removing all established ports from the new MBPs? Anybody who ever gets handed a USB stick, needs more built-in storage than they can afford (or is even available) at Apple's BTO prices, needs to connect to MiniDisplayPort, or HDMI, or VGA, wants to use an external keyboard or mouse...
Apple have dropped ports before, but never on this scale, never all in one go except, maybe, with the original iMac... but then they were replacing proprietary interfaces (ADB) and problematic standards (Remember SCSI? Premium-priced drives, chunky cables, fiddly little dials to set device numbers, terminator packs...) with much-needed standards (USB, FireWire).
Sorry, but they've just jumped the gun in going all USB-C for the sake of thinness (and messed up the battery life in the process). A MacBook Pro with 2xTB3/USBC, 2xUSB3, HDMI and Magsafe (and optional USB-C charging if you wanted a dock) would have been far better.
Currently, I've got a 2011 MBP with 512GB SSD + 720GB HD of internal storage, economically expandable to 3-4TB (1TB SSD + 2TB HD, or 2TB Hybrid + 2TB HD) should I need it - and if you cart a lot of video material around for demonstrations & don't want to gamble on getting fast internet everywhere you go, that's useful.
Speaking of that... I get this same email almost every day from Amazon...
There must be a big market for Zip drives!
Why? The people that want their bricks have the option and those of us who don't also have said option.
I use Thunderbolt docks/monitors for my ports. I neither need nor want something like this.
Because these kind of solutions are what some people have to use to regain features they once had. Thunderbolt docks are better solutions if you are working at a desk. But some people want a laptop so they can they can have a portable computer without having to worry about taking dongles.
I agree with you. I said I like that it gave choice. I was replying to the fact that someone was saying this is what Apple should have done in the first place.
It gives people bricks if they want them. If the laptop was a brick, there would be no choice which is why I disagreed with the assertion.
I think that they would be better off extending the dimensions of the sides. The device could plug into the side ports, which then lead to small hubs attached to the side, that split into a variety of ports. To secure the hub, there is a small but strong aluminum bridge going across the side with a shallow screw to secure it. Here is a two-minute drawing of the basic design. (I'm new to Photoshop)
Attachments
I absolutely love this concept and would probably buy a 2016+ MacBook Pro if this becomes an option.
Only problem I see is the battery life. Apple put an undersized battery in the new MacBooks because there is less hardware in the machine to drive. Apple did not take into account that people might actually use dongles to drive Ethernet, SD readers, USB hard drives, or a dock that actually makes the machine useful in a pro environment.
If this attachment from OWC runs on it's own battery power it will be a home run.
Only problem I see is the battery life. Apple put an undersized battery in the new MacBooks because there is less hardware in the machine to drive. Apple did not take into account that people might actually use dongles to drive Ethernet, SD readers, USB hard drives, or a dock that actually makes the machine useful in a pro environment.
If this attachment from OWC runs on it's own battery power it will be a home run.
It's been said before in this thread but what we really need is discrete graphics card for the 13" and better ones for the 15". This is the only thing that is missing from my 13" for my needs.
I would like to play more games on my Mac when I'm mobile. Not interested in PC and not interested in desktops. I'll take a thicker attachment if it can accommodate that. The external setups available now are so large.
I would like to play more games on my Mac when I'm mobile. Not interested in PC and not interested in desktops. I'll take a thicker attachment if it can accommodate that. The external setups available now are so large.