Yeah, all three of those Thunderbolt docks look really identical to each other. All the port layouts are the same and just the cases are different. Oh here is the review you were talking about: http://fortysomethinggeek.blogspot.com/2013/11/caldigit-thunderbolt-station-docking.html
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Elgato Becomes Latest Company to Launch Thunderbolt Docking Station
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Yeah, all three of those Thunderbolt docks look really identical to each other. All the port layouts are the same and just the cases are different. Oh here is the review you were talking about: http://fortysomethinggeek.blogspot.com/2013/11/caldigit-thunderbolt-station-docking.html
Got burned by this company years ago for not supporting a tv product I spent a lot of money on. Got the run around on a warranty, and made it next to impossible to get serviced less than a year old.
Never will buy from them again. Me anyway, they may have improved a bit.
Never will buy from them again. Me anyway, they may have improved a bit.
From the website:
Technical Specifications
Ports
2x Thunderbolt (10 Gb/s, bi-directional Input/Output)
1x HDMI 1.4 Output (up to 2560x1600 pixels resolution, HDCP compliant)
1x RJ45 10/100/1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet
3x USB 3.0 (5 Gb/s, support for bus-powered devices, UASP & USB 2.0 compatible)
1x 3.5mm Audio Output (analog stereo, via built-in DAC)
1x 3.5mm Microphone Input (mono, via built-in DAC)
1x Power Input (DC 12V 5A)
i would like to see a thunderbolt device i can actually see myself using,
i wont use one for storage, because network SANS are better, and not tied to a single system.
i wont use one for display, because my iMac has a display built in, and my PCs with thunderbolt ports use HDMI, because that's what the monitors have on them, and im not buying an apple cinema display "just to have thunderbolt"
everything else i use, printers, mice, keyboards etc all run fine on USB 1.1, let alone 2 or 3.,
I have a perfectly good built in soundcard on my devices, i dont need an extra audio in or out (again i use a USB headset for skype and the like)
I also have perfectly good built in hardware for networking, and if i didn't, id use a USB network adapter, cost/performance
Ultimately i see Thunderbolt as an expensive, non-consumer, proprietary port that apple seems to like (much like firewire was when it started) that will be buried under the cheapness and price/performance of USB.
Now don't get me wrong, if you NEED performance, and money is no object, and you don't have access to E-Sata, sure an external thunderbolt drive array makes sense... but otherwise, why would you spend any money on thunderbolt stuff other than apple is forcing you too by restricting access and crippling support for other standards on its systems ?
i wont use one for storage, because network SANS are better, and not tied to a single system.
i wont use one for display, because my iMac has a display built in, and my PCs with thunderbolt ports use HDMI, because that's what the monitors have on them, and im not buying an apple cinema display "just to have thunderbolt"
everything else i use, printers, mice, keyboards etc all run fine on USB 1.1, let alone 2 or 3.,
I have a perfectly good built in soundcard on my devices, i dont need an extra audio in or out (again i use a USB headset for skype and the like)
I also have perfectly good built in hardware for networking, and if i didn't, id use a USB network adapter, cost/performance
Ultimately i see Thunderbolt as an expensive, non-consumer, proprietary port that apple seems to like (much like firewire was when it started) that will be buried under the cheapness and price/performance of USB.
Now don't get me wrong, if you NEED performance, and money is no object, and you don't have access to E-Sata, sure an external thunderbolt drive array makes sense... but otherwise, why would you spend any money on thunderbolt stuff other than apple is forcing you too by restricting access and crippling support for other standards on its systems ?
All of this stuff looks so neat and useful but the simple fact is that unless they get the price down, it's not going to catch on.
$250 is too much to spend on something like this.
$250 is too much to spend on something like this.
You might like this concept I did a couple years ago:
(Click for bigger version)
Specs are of course outdated but the concept may still be done.
HDMI = DVI with sound > VGA, so something is wrong. Since HDMI is also the most unreliable cable I have ever seen, I'm not surprised. DVI or DisplayPort are the best to use.
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A lot of people probably want that. It looks awesome, just a bit ahead of its time. We'll see
Also, do you work for Apple's website team? Those are some nice concept images.
Companies should pay a price for vaporware
Sonnet's offering is a joke, over a year since the announcement and still no product. We as consumers should stop even considering purchasing a product from a company that plays these games. What wimps we have become in our lust for some new fantasy gadgets. Just my opinion, we are all free to act as we wish.
Sonnet's offering is a joke, over a year since the announcement and still no product. We as consumers should stop even considering purchasing a product from a company that plays these games. What wimps we have become in our lust for some new fantasy gadgets. Just my opinion, we are all free to act as we wish.
There needs to be one made for desktop users. Two eSATA ports, two firewire and 14 USB3 ports. Between Apple skimping on USB ports (4 ports on an iMac, what's the deal with that?) and these docks adding a measly two or three more, I'll still have to buy a USB hub. I don't need HDMI/Ethernet/Audio ports.
I'm sure someone would make one to your personal requirements if you paid them tens of thousands of dollars.
Meanwhile, companies trying to make a mass-market product will design devices with broad appeal - and the big appeal of these is as 'docks' for laptops, in which case most people do want ethernet and audio. You can always get a Firewire port by adding an Apple TB-to-Firewire adapter, esp. if there is a HDMI port to drive your display.
However, a device with 14 USB3 ports probably has 3-4 'real' USB ports and a hub - otherwise it would need multiple PCIe-to-USB3 controllers, so don't expect to get USB3 speeds on all of those ports simultaneously, or without hub-related problems.
Also, don't expect to run 2x eSATA, 2xFirewire, 14xUSB3 and a display at full tilt over a single Thunderbolt link.
I do wish they'd use mini DisplayPort rather than HDMI, though - most users probably already have all the MiniDP-to-whatever adapters they need.
Lame. Looks like the matrox and the caldigit.
The most interesting dock I've seen (though pricey) is the Sonet Echo
I am a huge fan of Sonet products because you do get a lot of product for the money.
The most interesting dock I've seen (though pricey) is the Sonet Echo
I am a huge fan of Sonet products because you do get a lot of product for the money.
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