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Kickstarter Project - Hub+ for Retina Macbook

tutux said:
+1 battery useless but charger needed!
My dream ( i give it away for free :) ) is:
Charger sized like apple's charger with on it:
2 * usb 3
Mini display port which can accept the vga dongle i already have
Hdmi
Ethernet
1* usb c to go to the macbook (29w charging)

79$ with a 2m usb c cable and i'm with you (two times one for office plus one to take in the bag)
No need for metal case just a nice plastic as apple uses for chargers.
Click to expand...


:cool::cool::cool::cool::apple:
 
Alekto said:
I don't see that 80 bucks is prohibitively expensive? Am I missing something?
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Yeah, its too high for what you get and due to useless features. Change case, save $25. Drop battery save $5. Shorten cable….there's $5. Build the USBC to USBA extra adapter in and save some more.

Just to be fair…Apples adapters are way too expensive and insulting considering Apple owner loyalty. Apple is all about sticking it to customers in this way.
 
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ZipZap said:
Yeah, its too high for what you get and due to useless features. Change case, save $25. Drop battery save $5. Shorten cable….there's $5. Build the USBC to USBA extra adapter in and save some more.

Just to be fair…Apples adapters are way too expensive and insulting considering Apple owner loyalty. Apple is all about sticking it to customers in this way.
Click to expand...

$79 would have been more than a reasonable price, if the dock included USB3 ports. Look at Thunderbolt hubs - they are typically priced at $300 bucks.

If $79 is too expensive for you and don't want a high-quality hub - I am sure there will be some low-quality plasticky Chinese junk available in due time.
 
BTW, seeing a lot of Adwords ads for the Hub+ saying "order now" on them here on MacRumors.com.

I thought we were talking about a product that hasn't closed its funding round on KickStarter yet?
 

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ctyrider said:
$79 would have been more than a reasonable price, if the dock included USB3 ports. Look at Thunderbolt hubs - they are typically priced at $300 bucks.

If $79 is too expensive for you and don't want a high-quality hub - I am sure there will be some low-quality plasticky Chinese junk available in due time.
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High Quality? Says who exactly? Nonda?

It might be but its also old tech and their design seems to me to maximize profit at the expense of functionality.

There are going to be plenty of these out soon enough. I have used many China made devices that worked just fine. Oh, and this one I think is made in China?

I have a 1 to 4 USB hub I paid $12. Why is USBC so much more?

I also have a high quality USB 3 hub, paid $27.

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MyopicPaideia said:
BTW, seeing a lot of Adwords ads for the Hub+ saying "order now" on them here on MacRumors.com.

I thought we were talking about a product that hasn't closed its funding round on KickStarter yet?
Click to expand...

Click it and it takes you to Kickstarter.
 
ZipZap said:
High Quality? Says who exactly? Nonda?

It might be but its also old tech and their design seems to me to maximize profit at the expense of functionality.

There are going to be plenty of these out soon enough. I have used many China made devices that worked just fine. Oh, and this one I think is made in China?

I have a 1 to 4 USB hub I paid $12. Why is USBC so much more?

I also have a high quality USB 3 hub, paid $27.

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Click it and it takes you to Kickstarter.
Click to expand...

They charge for this price using higher quality metal case have a reason, their target audience are those looking for better looking stuff who is willing to pay for more money.

Obviously, you are looking for cheap alternative that technically works is good enough. As someone said, there will be some cheap hub or dock will be available on Ebay coming from China design. I guess this is what you should looking after to.

I mean....if you are willing to pay " 1 to 4 USB hub that cost $12.", go for it. I am looking for something more than technically works.
 
sdugoten said:
They charge for this price using higher quality metal case have a reason, their target audience are those looking for better looking stuff who is willing to pay for more money.

Obviously, you are looking for cheap alternative that technically works is good enough. As someone said, there will be some cheap hub or dock will be available on Ebay coming from China design. I guess this is what you should looking after to.

I mean....if you are willing to pay " 1 to 4 USB hub that cost $12.", go for it. I am looking for something more than technically works.
Click to expand...

I am looking for a less expensive solution. Not Cheaper.

And to the person earlier above….you cannot justify the price by saying "Look how expensive Thunderbolt docks are". That is an apples to oranges comparison due to licensing costs.
 
Looks like the product I have been waiting for. The only thing I would like would be usb 3.0 support.

I have backed it, but confess that I am a little wary still.
 
No usb 3.0 is a dealbreaker for me. Usb 2 is just too slow for my needs.

If the battery is inbuilt, does that mean that everytime this hub is being used, it will be used to charge the macbook? Or does the macbook charge it?
 
Does this thread keep having things posted and then having them disappear? On a number of occasions someone from the company that makes this appears and makes comments then they disappear.

Or was I dreaming this?
 
noobinator said:
Does this thread keep having things posted and then having them disappear? On a number of occasions someone from the company that makes this appears and makes comments then they disappear.

Or was I dreaming this?
Click to expand...

You're not dreaming. Wondering if a moderator can come and explain this? As far as I know, posts can't be deleted completely, even by the original poster, just edited - it take admin privileges to actually delete posts as if they were never there.
 
noobinator said:
Does this thread keep having things posted and then having them disappear? On a number of occasions someone from the company that makes this appears and makes comments then they disappear.

Or was I dreaming this?
Click to expand...

MyopicPaideia said:
You're not dreaming. Wondering if a moderator can come and explain this? As far as I know, posts can't be deleted completely, even by the original poster, just edited - it take admin privileges to actually delete posts as if they were never there.
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[Mod Note]

A few posts containing rule violations were removed. Some innocent posts were also removed as part of moderation cleanup.

If you have specific questions about moderation, please use the contact us process. If you have general questions about moderation, you can post in the Site and Forum Feedback section of the forum. That way we don't clutter up this thread with off topic discussion of moderation. Thanks :)
 
headcase said:
Thanks for that. I just wish it included an Ethernet port for those needing it.
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Well, I've ordered this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/261870590062 as an experiment.

Apparently it too has USB 3.0 support on its USB-A ports and Ethernet adapter. It also has an LED charging light on the USB-C bit. $20. If it works as intended, brilliant. If not it was an inexpensive experiment.

Using this one adapter will result in two things:
  • Allow me to charge and maintain the exact same numbers of ports as my 11" MBA has.
  • Allow me to carry around the exact same number of adapters (two) in my bag as I currently do with my 11" MBA.
I just wonder why all these KickStarter projects seem to have to cram in everything and recreate sliced bread. Just make something simple and minimalist with great functionality instead. And it doesn't have to cost $80 either.
 
MyopicPaideia said:
BTW, seeing a lot of Adwords ads for the Hub+ saying "order now" on them here on MacRumors.com.

I thought we were talking about a product that hasn't closed its funding round on KickStarter yet?
Click to expand...

That really bugs me too... i "ordered" mine but i have a calendar reminder for the 15th so i can revisit my decision if there is any negative news before the project closes.

On paper it looks pretty amazing...
 
MyopicPaideia said:
Well, I've ordered this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/261870590062 as an experiment.

Apparently it too has USB 3.0 support on its USB-A ports and Ethernet adapter. It also has an LED charging light on the USB-C bit. $20. If it works as intended, brilliant. If not it was an inexpensive experiment.

Using this one adapter will result in two things:
  • Allow me to charge and maintain the exact same numbers of ports as my 11" MBA has.
  • Allow me to carry around the exact same number of adapters (two) in my bag as I currently do with my 11" MBA.
I just wonder why all these KickStarter projects seem to have to cram in everything and recreate sliced bread. Just make something simple and minimalist with great functionality instead. And it doesn't have to cost $80 either.
Click to expand...

You do realize you won't be able to charge your MacBook with this, right?
 
ZipZap said:
Yeah, its too high for what you get and due to useless features. Change case, save $25. Drop battery save $5. Shorten cable….there's $5. Build the USBC to USBA extra adapter in and save some more.
Click to expand...




ZipZap said:
I am looking for a less expensive solution. Not Cheaper.
Click to expand...


I guess the number explain itself. Their target audience (which seems to be a lot) will actually pay more for what they believe the solution works. A lot of people buying this instead of cheap china stuff is because not only it technically sound, but also it looks better than other alternatives. In short, you are not one of their target audience. There will be a lot of inexpensive plastic ugly looking stuff will be on ebay soon which will fit your need.


XfPm401.jpg
 
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ctyrider said:
You do realize you won't be able to charge your MacBook with this, right?
Click to expand...

We'll see when I get it.

Like I said, it is an inexpensive experiment - according to its technical specifications, you should be able to plug into one of the USB ports from a wall charger and charge the MB. That's why it has an LED charging indicator.

But as you say, no name Chinese distributor, so it can only be seen as a punt - so we'll see!

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bounou said:
That really bugs me too... i "ordered" mine but i have a calendar reminder for the 15th so i can revisit my decision if there is any negative news before the project closes.

On paper it looks pretty amazing...
Click to expand...

Agreed that it looks a decent bit of engineering. The only thing I see for me personally is that it is a bit bulky, even though they have done well keeping the size to what it is with an included battery.

But that's just the thing. Something with this much functionality seems like it will be most useful playing the role of a stationary desktop hub, not as something you will be taking with you all over the place all the time, it seems like overkill. At that point, the battery pack part becomes less useful, and it is the only compelling reason for having it with you at all times.
 
MyopicPaideia said:
We'll see when I get it.

Like I said, it is an inexpensive experiment - according to its technical specifications, you should be able to plug into one of the USB ports from a wall charger and charge the MB. That's why it has an LED charging indicator.

But as you say, no name Chinese distributor, so it can only be seen as a punt - so we'll see!

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Click to expand...
Hi

Can you open a thread for this one? Very curious to see if it works like it should.

Thx!
 
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