CES 2021: OWC Introduces Thunderbolt 4 Dock, New Storage Drives, and More

[blackcrayon]

Dongles, hubs, and the likes would be a thing of the past if apple just puts the ports back into their Macs. Plenty of space given how small the M1 based logic boards so it shouldn't be a brainer.....but maybe apple doesn't want to lose on that cash train on accessory sales huh?

I don't think Apple ever provided 6 thunderbolt ports on anything, though. This (and the other product with just the Thunderbolt hub function) do that. It's probably only possible now due to Thunderbolt 3, but still. That part of it is useful for any Mac no matter how many ports apple provides - because many Thunderbolt 3 devices 1) do not have a daisy chain port and 2) do not use the full 40 Gbps, leaving available bandwidth unused...

And as was said, it adds "dock" functionality to laptops so you don't have to plug and unplug multiple devices when moving from place to place. One cable with everything including power.

 

[mdgm]

It would have been nice to have a TB2 port on the FX. As it does not and it’s a bus powered drive connecting it to a TB1/2 port would require the use of a TB3 dock.

 

[mopppish]

The new travel dock looks great. I just pre-ordered one. It replaces 3 separate dongles I’ve been using and does it all (including full power pass through) on one port. I wish this had been available when I originally bought my Touch Bar Mac!

 

[FNH15]

not very long ago, we didn’t need to use docks with laptops. Is this progress?

Ever heard of the PowerBook Duo? Docks have been around for almost as long as laptops themselves. This is also not just a “Mac” thing - I have a dock for my BMW diagnostic computer circa 2005 (which is just a re-branded Dell D610).

What’s the advantage of Thunderbolt 3 vs. 4? My understanding is that the bandwidth is the same, no?

 

[ajfahey]

To be honest I even prefer removing that USB 2 port for cleaner look, or moving one of USB 3 ports from back to front. Don't know what they are thinking putting USB 2 port at the most accessible location.

I don’t get why there are any USB Type A ports at all. I‘m beyond ready for an exclusively USB Type C conector world when it comes to docks. If I have a Type A device I have more than enough Type C to Type A, B, lightning or whatever to tide me over until the rest of the peripheral world catches up and is exclusively Type C USB and Thunderbolt. I am also confused as to why there isn’t an Ethernet 10G interface on this.

 

[Ethosik]

I vastly prefer bus powered hubs, which USB-C Travel Dock E is. I replaced all my USB-A cable with USB-C cable (e.g., micro-B to USB-C), so I have little need for USB-A ports. I wish someone would make a hub with several USB-C ports.

Bus powered hubs are usually very limited in power. Sometimes they don't like two external hard drives connected.

 

[Ethosik]

not very long ago, we didn’t need to use docks with laptops. Is this progress?

Maybe you didn't, but I always have. Not many laptops had the big DVI connector. When laptops came with only HDMI, I needed to get adapters to work with our VGA projectors. We also did not have any HDMI monitors only DVI and VGA, so adapters there too. If I wanted to use my laptop in clamshell mode, typical laptops only included two USB-A ports, so keyboard, mouse and external hard drives would be too much, so a hub was required.

 

[AMP12345]

I'm just happy to see OWC's industrial design has greatly improved. I was nervous when they acquired Akitio that neither brand would maintain Akitio's former quality and aesthetic. Glad I'm being proven wrong.

 

[mdgm]

I don’t get why there are any USB Type A ports at all. I‘m beyond ready for an exclusively USB Type C conector world when it comes to docks. If I have a Type A device I have more than enough Type C to Type A, B, lightning or whatever to tide me over until the rest of the peripheral world catches up and is exclusively Type C USB and Thunderbolt.

A major group of those who use docks are those who want to keep using peripherals that can't be connected directly to a new device. FW800 was on some earlier TB3 docks. USB Type A is much more common than FW800 ever was. Most people probably still have some USB Type A devices whether that's old wired keyboards, USB keys, USB drives etc.

I am also confused as to why there isn’t an Ethernet 10G interface on this.

They are probably saving that for a new Pro dock (assuming they do one). 10G NICs tend to run pretty hot so a Pro dock may need a fan which would mean the noise wouldn't be suitable for some.

 

[Brad Smith]

I'm just happy to see OWC's industrial design has greatly improved. I was nervous when they acquired Akitio that neither brand would maintain Akitio's former quality and aesthetic. Glad I'm being proven wrong.

Agree that it looks nice, but I don’t understand the need for a giant lit up logo on a dock. I’d rather not have that on my desk.

 

[123]

Maybe you don’t understand how powerful 4 usb-c ports are

4 ports? Like where? The new macbooks have only 2 ports, even the so called "pro".

 

[ToomeyND]

I vastly prefer bus powered hubs, which USB-C Travel Dock E is. I replaced all my USB-A cable with USB-C cable (e.g., micro-B to USB-C), so I have little need for USB-A ports. I wish someone would make a hub with several USB-C ports.

Completely agreed. As the transition is happening, I'm getting more usb-c cables in general. Really wish I could plug them all into one hub.

 

[ToomeyND]

It's interesting that they don't have any displayport or HDMI outputs for external displays. So you have to have a Thunderbolt / USB-C connection monitor, or use a special cable / adapter. I personally would have preferred at least 1 DP port given my monitor only has DP / HDMI connections, but understand having the extra thunderbolt port provides more optionality.

In an effort to avoid adapters, I bought a usb-c to DisplayPort cable. Really happy with it. I know this doesn't address your concern, and an HDMI spot on the hub would be nice, but knowing every time that your usb-c cable will plug in without flipping over twice is a very good feeling.

 

[NMBob]

Yes

It didn't say it on OWC and these days you just never know.

 

[nutmac]

Bus powered hubs are usually very limited in power. Sometimes they don't like two external hard drives connected.

I am willing to live with that limitation. Considering USB-C passthrough can supply lots of power AND hubs such as these have 2 or more USB-A ports, I think 4 USB-C ports in a hub isn't asking for much.

I think lack of good USB-C chipset is the reason for lack of USB-C hub. I once read that Intel was about to release such chipset, but I guess Intel is running behind.

 

[JosephAW]

We’re slowly returning back to the PowerBook Duo design. We just need the motorized self ejecting dock.

It’s a shame that Apple didn’t use a special PCI port connector on the MBP from day one where we could just swap out a new PCI card and have access to the latest thunderbolt technology, I’m still driving with thunderbolt 1 on my 2012 MBP.
Of course I have all the other ports too.

 

[joevt]

The TB4 dock is impressive, with top notch ports EXCEPT on the front, the USB port is 2.0? Seriously? Why not 10GB USB, like the back ones?

The USB 2.0 port probably comes from an extra port of a 4 port USB 2.0 hub that's used for the USB audio.
Maybe someone who gets the dock can post the ioreg output to show what chips are used for all the devices (PCI, USB, Thunderbolt).

 

[SparkyCanada]

Agree that it looks nice, but I don’t understand the need for a giant lit up logo on a dock. I’d rather not have that on my desk.

Agree... I wonder if that light can be configured off...?

SparkyCanada

 

[rawweb]

The USB 2.0 port probably comes from an extra port of a 4 port USB 2.0 hub that's used for the USB audio.
Maybe someone who gets the dock can post the ioreg output to show what chips are used for all the devices (PCI, USB, Thunderbolt).

Not sure how to do it, but if you send me a step by step, I'll do it. As I posted earlier in this thread, the ethernet port is causing me quite a bit of trouble.

 

[joevt]

Not sure how to do it, but if you send me a step by step, I'll do it. As I posted earlier in this thread, the ethernet port is causing me quite a bit of trouble.

Just a couple commands:

This one command outputs the information that you see in the System Information.app (About this Mac -> System Report...). The information included is: PCI, Displays, Thunderbolt, USB, and Ethernet.
system_profiler SPPCIDataType SPDisplaysDataType SPThunderboltDataType SPUSBDataType SPEthernetDataType > system_profiler.txt

This command shows the hierarchy of devices connected to the Thunderbolt ports on an Intel Mac that has Alpine Ridge or Titan Ridge such as your 16 inch MacBook Pro:
ioreg -filrw0 -k "TBTPCI_LC" > ioreg_Thunderbolt.txt

The above may only work for Thunderbolt 3 Macs. For Thunderbolt 2 Macs, this should work:
ioreg -filrw0 -k "PCI-Thunderbolt" > ioreg_Thunderbolt.txt

If you have an M1 Mac then this command should be used:
{ ioreg -filrw0 -k "thunderbolt-drom"; ioreg -filrw0 -k "atc-apcie-oe-fabric-tunables" } > ioreg_Thunderbolt.txt

I'm not sure what to do with Ice Lake Macs (10th gen CPU). I would need the entire ioreg to find out how to extract just the Thunderbolt bits.
ioreg -filw0 > ioreg_All.txt

 

[junior]

Docks are great. Being able to go to my desk and plug in a SINGLE cable to get charging, 2 additional monitors, an external drive, real keyboard, wired network, better speakers, and a mouse is a whole lot better than having to plug in a bunch of different cables.

If you don't use any of that stuff, then it shouldn't matter if docks exist. Just don't use one.

But for those of us that have a lot of external stuff (but still need the flexibility to go mobile with the computer at times) they're awesome.

Are we asking for too much if we ask for both?
I hate having to carry around my dock or SD card reader or worse, forgetting to take a dock with me on a business trip and being ethernet/HDMI-less when the need arises.
I'd be ecstatic if my 16 inch MacBook had a couple of USB-C ports for expansion but also came with SD-Card reader, ethernet, HDMI, plus a USB-A port. Life would be soooo much easier for me when on the road. At home or office docks are great of course.

 

[Captain Trips]

I think lack of good USB-C chipset is the reason for lack of USB-C hub. I once read that Intel was about to release such chipset, but I guess Intel is running behind.

Intel? Running behind? No way!

 

[manu chao]

not very long ago, we didn’t need to use docks with laptops. Is this progress?

Not very long ago, we couldn’t use docks with laptops (beyond pure USB A docks).

 

[manu chao]

I hate having to carry around my dock or SD card reader or worse, forgetting to take a dock with me on a business trip and being ethernet/HDMI-less when the need arises.

We just have to wait until all peripherals (including monitors and wired networks) come with USB-C cables/plugs. Plenty of high-end monitors already use USB-C/TB3+ has a primary connection method. Why would anybody buy a monitor that cannot be connected via USB-C/TB3+ (and thus also serves as a hub to add at least additional USB ports and provide charging via USB-C/TB3+)?

 

[manu chao]

I don't think Apple ever provided 6 thunderbolt ports on anything, though. This (and the other product with just the Thunderbolt hub function) do that. It's probably only possible now due to Thunderbolt 3, but still. That part of it is useful for any Mac no matter how many ports apple provides - because many Thunderbolt 3 devices 1) do not have a daisy chain port and 2) do not use the full 40 Gbps, leaving available bandwidth unused...

The trashcan Mac Pro had six TB 2 ports.