Dongle options for a ‘17 15” MBP

[OverSpun]

i spent too much time with the giant stuck thread for this and searching wasn’t helping much more.

I am upgrading from a 6 year old MBP and I used a 24” 1080p display on HDMI. I also use a 2tb hd in an OWC enclosure with FireWire 800 and I used that with my old laptop for time machine. I used the SD card on my old laptop for my camera and I will need to figure out the best option for my needs.

I think this Hornettek enclosure could handle my enclosure issue with new MBPs without FireWire anymore:
http://www.hornettek.com/hdd-enclos...-dual-connection-hdd-enclosure-ht-323apc.html

From research, I find these 3 options on Amazon’s:

Satechi dongle:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XRVX3XM/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=I18413LGDS2NAB&colid=2UBZU96U88S5O&psc=1

Verbatim:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075ZTQ895/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=I2VTBJ4IA5059E&colid=2UBZU96U88S5O&psc=1

CharjenPro:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0746381W6/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=IB378LE7ZKHUK&colid=2UBZU96U88S5O&psc=1

Hyperdrive:
https://www.amazon.com/HyperDrive-A...=1512886337&sr=8-1&keywords=Hyperdrive+dongle

Thoughts on these and any other suggestions to look into?

Thanks in advance

 

[mvtm]

I researched all of those hubs. I bought the CharjenPro, have yet to unpack it and use it but i believe that one is the best out of all the options you published.

I saw a YouTube video comparing them all and it was the fastest. What i like about the Charjen is that unlike the Satechi etc. It allows SD cards higher than 64GB and UHS-2. This is important for me as i have high end microSD card and needed a hub that could read them. As far as i know is the only one that works with huge/newer protocol SD cards.

 

[OverSpun]

I researched all of those hubs. I bought the CharjenPro, have yet to unpack it and use it but i believe that one is the best out of all the options you published.

I saw a YouTube video comparing them all and it was the fastest. What i like about the Charjen is that unlike the Satechi etc. It allows SD cards higher than 64GB and UHS-2. This is important for me as i have high end microSD card and needed a hub that could read them. As far as i know is the only one that works with huge/newer protocol SD cards.

Thank you for your post. I have already purchased the Hornettek enclosure and I am planning on ordering the dongle and a spare hdmi tonight.

 

[mvtm]

Thank you for your post. I have already purchased the Hornettek enclosure and I am planning on ordering the dongle and a spare hdmi tonight.

It is also the smallest, bear in mind it doesn't have the HDMI port unlike some options on the list. I don't need the HDMI but rather a better SD card experience, so i went with this one. I also like that it is small, it is the cheapest of the options. Overall i thought it was the best.

 

[OverSpun]

It is also the smallest, bear in mind it doesn't have the HDMI port unlike some options on the list. I don't need the HDMI but rather a better SD card experience, so i went with this one. I also like that it is small, it is the cheapest of the options. Overall i thought it was the best.

The charjenpro does have an hdmi port on the side towards the back of the laptop for my 24” display. I ordered it last night. I’ll take a picture when it and the laptop arrives.

Thanks

 

[mvtm]

The charjenpro does have an hdmi port on the side towards the back of the laptop for my 24” display. I ordered it last night. I’ll take a picture when it and the laptop arrives.

Thanks

Thanks! That’s great to know. I wasn’t sure about the hdmi port. I think i saw in others was just located on a single side the hdmi port only. So when i flipped an image i might have not paid attention.

What i did read on the amazon reviews was that it was surprisinly compatible with the UHS 2 and larger cards also. Which was the important feature for me. Also, i did watch this youtube video:

I have the package in my vacation home, so when ill be back ill unbox it! Thanks a lot for the clearup!

 

[OverSpun]

Thanks! That’s great to know. I wasn’t sure about the hdmi port. I think i saw in others was just located on a single side the hdmi port only. So when i flipped an image i might have not paid attention.

What i did read on the amazon reviews was that it was surprisinly compatible with the UHS 2 and larger cards also. Which was the important feature for me. Also, i did watch this youtube video:

I have the package in my vacation home, so when ill be back ill unbox it! Thanks a lot for the clearup!

I also needed the SD card port for my camera. That was useful with my last laptop.

 

[Fishrrman]

I'd be kind of wary of those types of dongles that try to "attach right next to" the MacBook's body.

I'm thinking that over time, this could put stress on the internal USB-c ports, and wear them out prematurely...

 

[OverSpun]

I'd be kind of wary of those types of dongles that try to "attach right next to" the MacBook's body.

I'm thinking that over time, this could put stress on the internal USB-c ports, and wear them out prematurely...

I am not too worried about that. I mainly need it for the hdmi port, randomly use the usb 3 port for my storage stick, and an SD card.

I had a mini displayport to DVI -> dvi -> hdmi cable hanging from my laptop off a stand for years and the DisplayPort never failed. However, the logic board failed due to being a late ‘11 MBP. Many people had that issue and Apple recalled them years back and I had my logic board replaced 3x. I’m just tired with the unreliable machine and I will not pay for a replacement for the 4th failed logic board.

I was originally researching on docks and dongles since these new laptops came out last year and OWC’s Dock seemed to be good but I decided that they are not that great in the end. They need a power brick, it charges the laptop but not 87 like the factory charger that comes with the computer. That dock could affect a prematurely worn out battery and that would be a hassle because batteries can’t be replaced by user and Apple has to do it. I prefer using apple’s chargers.

Unfortunately, it does not seem that there aren’t any perfect options for what I need until everything else evolves to usb-c cables when we don’t need dongles anymore.

 

[Fishrrman]

"Unfortunately, it does not seem that there aren’t any perfect options for what I need until everything else evolves to usb-c cables when we don’t need dongles anymore."

My prediction is this isn't going to happen for a long time, if ever.
There are billions of "legacy USB-a" devices out there.
I would reckon that the lion's share of USB devices that are being sold RIGHT NOW are USB-a devices, as well.

In "the general world of computers" (i.e., not just in the Apple ecosystem), USB-c will become as widely-accepted as was SCSI, Firewire, and Thunderbolt before it...

 

[OverSpun]

"Unfortunately, it does not seem that there aren’t any perfect options for what I need until everything else evolves to usb-c cables when we don’t need dongles anymore."

My prediction is this isn't going to happen for a long time, if ever.
There are billions of "legacy USB-a" devices out there.
I would reckon that the lion's share of USB devices that are being sold RIGHT NOW are USB-a devices, as well.

In "the general world of computers" (i.e., not just in the Apple ecosystem), USB-c will become as widely-accepted as was SCSI, Firewire, and Thunderbolt before it...

I must succinctly concur with you.

However, I am planning on building a NAS setup to get rid of my wired backup that started with FireWire more than 10 years back. At least the NAS is one less thing plugged in.

 

[OverSpun]

The Charjenpro has been working fine so far but I ran into this small hub from OWC.

I have my laptop on a little stand and I could place this little hub below the laptop without using the entire left side of the laptop.

If anyone has used OWC's hub?

It has the following ports and it seems to cut my needs if I return the charjenpro to amazon.

• 2 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 (Standard-A) Ports
• USB-C Auxiliary Power Port (up to 60W)
• SD Card Reader (UHS-II)
• HDMI 2.0 Port
• Supports 4K display resolution – up to 4096 x 2160 at 30Hz
• Fully compatible with all Thunderbolt 3 equipped Macs & PCs

https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/owc...9.1094397969.1514510721-1487946054.1477688388