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

Hands-On: OWC's 'DEC' Adds an SD Card Slot, Ethernet, and USB Type-A Ports to the MacBook Pro

usarioclave said:
This is such an interesting idea. With this ridiculous thing I might finally replace my MBP late 2011...although I really hate the new keyboard.
Click to expand...
Hey, maybe OWC will soon release a keyboard add-on. You just put in on top of your regular keyboard and it provides a real keyboard with actual travel. It could also add the missing physical esc-button and provide a protection for your palms so you don't accidentally trigger the gigantic new trackpad. Then you'll finally have the functionality of your old Macbook back!

Or it would finally convince even the most ignorant fanatics that maybe Apple majorly messed up and forgot about a lot of reasonable interests of a lot of people. I mean seriously, desperate measures like this one are an obvious symptom for this.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 123, Mikey44, harveyburger54 and 4 others
depending on price, i'd rather have this attached at all times than losing dongles or having to pack them up/unpack them, etc. apple really f-d the design on the new one removing any legacy attachment abilities in favor of thin-ness and a new video of Ive describing how revolutionary it is. i present a lot for work and use my camera constantly so the SD slot being removed was a deal breaker in the new machines and removing the hassle of the dongles is a bonus. price point would be nice.

still upset on top of the "apple tax" is now a 3rd party product to make the computer real-world usable without dongles.
 
  • Like
Reactions: thats all folks, Mikey44 and curtvaughan
Okay, it's a (not so elegant) prototype, but has potential.

With all the flat available space, maybe the other things they "consider" are a MUST to be in there to make it worthwhile. Maybe even a space for a CD drive is possible. At that point I would not screw it to the bottom (as a user)so I could leave it behind if I didn't need it at the moment, rather than unscrew things all the time.

BTW: Finally had a chance to try out this 2016 MBP disappointment of a product and all of the negatives were immediately apparent. The TB is in a bad spot, as one has to reach over the keyboard and clam shell type users can't use it at all.
What is pictured in the TB is way too small for my eyes and if that actually would force/entice users to use that row of keys more often, I can't see the advantage as it would be faster with keyboard commands.

Maybe some usefulness could be achieved, if the TB gets mirrored like the dock on screen and the actions one needs can be selected. In any case it seems to me, that right now whatever that bar is supposed to do better, I can do faster with my track pad.
To be fair, the display is very very good and sharp.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Azmodan79 and Val-kyrie
Nice thinking, but I don't need a larger hard drive. If it was a graphics card capable of VR I might give it a thought, even though what I really want is a lower price on MBP. Please get rid of the Touch Bar on the 15".

Students get 10% off on MBP. Please make that rebate for everyone. It's not like Apple will loose money and without people buying their laptops they will undermine the Apple eco system, i.e app developer will switch to Ubuntu and Android development
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Val-kyrie
I think it's a good idea, and OWC has the experience to make it great.

I wonder if OWC will consider creating a version with an internal battery, and increase the mobility of the dock and make it the only necessity besides the laptop during travels. Also, it may be an additional incentive for new MacBook Pro owners who have been experiencing less than stellar battery life on their devices (I have one myself, but haven't really taken it around to fully experience the battery life).
 
  • Like
Reactions: thats all folks and Mikey44
LOL OH MY LAWD - this is garbage!

One plug into a raid or a hub and the problem is solved. Is doubling the thickness of a laptop really the solution? If you've got a problem with it then don't use a LAPTOP ... use a desktop. *cue all the bitter people who think the desktops are unusable* ... then use something else.
 
So crazy that a third party has to make an attachment to make the new MBP useable for a certain demographic. I dig the idea but the short USBc cable attachment is not very elegant.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Val-kyrie
Have fun when pricing comes out and it's +$500 for the dock and another $1000 for the SSD option.
[doublepost=1483639034][/doublepost]
le_steve said:
All that clunk for just 3 usb ports, Sd Reader, Ethernet port and an Storage ?

Couldn't they add at least extra battery, microSD, and HDMI with all that surface Area ?

Also there is no way this thing is gonna cost less than $199.00 maybe even $999.00 for the 4TB storage version (If its SSD)
Click to expand...

If just the dock is less than $500 I'll be surprised. OWC is awesome, but their stuff is costly as it's low volume.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mikey44
One of Apple's resolutions for 2017 should be to go back and figure out what PROFESSIONALS want out of their products and LISTEN to customers and deliver innovations and solutions that meet, and better to exceed, their expectations rather then imposing compromises on expensive products and attaching Pro to their name.

Apple no longer has the ability to design a product that customers want before they know they want it the way Steve Jobs used to do so if Apple wants to see sales figures improve they are going to start having to pay attention to customers and their complaints and adapt to improve their products, QUICKLY, rather then naively and arrogantly introducing a product every few years that customers don't want and Apple thinking they are courageous and magical.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Thunderhawks, otternonsense, shaunp and 6 others
TurboPGT! said:
Nope.

I mean it literally looks awful, and awkward. What a terrible idea.
Click to expand...

I disagree (obviously). Apple already has the Macbook for those that want thin/light/stripped. I think this product is a great idea that has a lot of potential, especially if it does end up with a battery option.

This thinness obsession has gone overboard IMO.
 
  • Like
Reactions: thats all folks and Mikey44
And the best thing: you can add as many of these as you like just incase it is still to thin for you!
 
  • Like
Reactions: joecomo
Now if the price of this and the MBP combined were comparable to the cost of the 2015 model and they could do something about the atrocity of a keyboard in the 2016 model, then they'd have something almost as good as the 2015 model. Throw in extra battery and SSD bays and this might give the 2016 the edge. The magnitude of Apple's screw up here is stunning.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mikey44 and idunn
ME Nick said:
Line Dock looks way better than this offering:
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/line-dock-thinnest-and-smartest-laptop-power-bank-battery--2#/

And you don't have to screw it in to your computer...
Click to expand...

I think you're missing the point. The fact that it screws on is actually one of the best things about it. It makes a self-contained unit like the MBP should have been originally and not some bulky external box.

For most people, turning a few screws is a simpler thing than plugging cables every time we use the device.
 
  • Like
Reactions: thats all folks, Gasu E. and Mikey44
MacRumors said:
Pricing is not yet available, but OWC expects it to be priced lower than the BTO 2TB storage upgrade available from Apple.
Click to expand...


Certainly a step in the right direction.

While OWC is at it they might want to address the CPU, GPU, RAM and keyboard—not to mention adding back Aperture and otherwise returning MacOS to OSX standards. Could be a tall order.
 
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