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Macbook pro dock

A

ashthebash91

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 20, 2019
4
0
Hi,
This is my first post so apologies if I am missing some information or haven't found it successfully.

I wanted to talk about the docks, I have just bought a macbook pro (with touch bar) refurbished and noticed it has just 2 USB C ports. I know you can get devices that plug into there and provide USB 3.0, HDMI, ethernet etc. and wondered if you had any recommendations re. which to get? I only got it yesterday, it is 13inch with Touch Bar if that helps.

I'm aware Apple do have one on their website advertised for £100+ and I can see several on Amazon for approx £30 and wondered if anyone had any alternative/cheaper recommendations.

On this note, any advice for an external HDD that has plenty of memory, is portable and not too pricey but fast?

Many Thanks for your time,
 
Is there a chance that one external monitor alone provides enough USB connectivity for you at the desk? Especially if it's USB 3.0 connectivity. Many options there. For instance ThinkVision P24q provides power to charge a 13" Macbook at 45W. If so, you get a desktop monitor, a charger and USB connectivity all in one and for cheap. Search for USB-C monitors that also provide power and ports.

For external storage, Samsung T5 SSD is great, connects via USB-C at 500 megabytes/second. 500 MB cost me less than €100. You can get 4 TB USB drives for that price though, if a spinning disk is fast enough (80 MB/s). Depends on what you'd use it for. Spinning disks are good for archiving, SSDs are better for working with live files.

If you simply need an occasional HDMI on the road, buy a cheap dongle instead.

You might get better answers, if you told what the dock would be used for, e.g. what devices you intend to connect. An optimal dock for one use case can be poor for another. Don't buy just any dock with "some ports", because it might still miss the one you'll need in a year. A dedicated power brick is great for some use cases and terrible for others. What do you want to use it for?
 
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The relatively cheap smallish adapters seem to work reasonably well. Those that offer a couple of USB sockets, SD card, network cable, HDMI, etc. £30ish from Amazon et al. Mine's badged "Minix".

Haven't found one that can charge an MBP, particularly the 15/16 inch ones. Also don't trust the cheapo thunderbolt ports for connecting to a Cinema display. Forking out £50 for the Apple USB-C to Thunderbolt is most reliable, if expensive.

It is quite irking that the Microsoft Surface laptops have stolen Apple's look and quality, and they offer relatively cheap docking stations -- with magnetic connections -- whereas us, with the real MacBook Pros have those poxy dongles.
 
So as the MacBook pro offers just the 2 ports (thunderbolt 3? - sorry not a tech person!!). I wanted something that has a variety of possibilities. I'd like the ability to connect via ethernet, HDMI, and a couple of USB 3.0/1 ports + maybe SD cards. Are you saying that if these docks have additional thunderbolt ports theyre not strong enough to charge the MBPs? I have a 13 inch one. Then I'll be able to connect possibly an external HD also.

So your Minix one works well?

Thanks all,
really helpful replies
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Just to clarify: The dock is for casual use, occasional presentations with re to HDMI, at work may need ethernet connection rather than WiFi. USB ports likely most commonly used.

I've heard mixed reviews re. the ability to use a dock and being able to use a monitor as an extension to your screen and not just as a duplicate but I don't think this bothers me now, but it could in years to come by which point I could buy a new dock I suppose if theyre cheap.
 
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That Minix adapter (metal, reasonably matches the space grey laptop) *seems* to work OK. I don't use the HDMI as I've a couple of Apple Cinema displays (which absolutely require the expensive Apple USB-C to Thunderbolt adapters).

Hmm, lets try using that and connecting to the 4k 65" OLED telly...
 
Almost any TB3 dock that is powered, will be able to charge a 13" Macbook. Its own charger is 60 watts, so even 45 watts will keep it mostly full. But, those will always come with a power brick, and your use case sounds pretty mobile, so unless you set up a permanent work corner, those aren't great options. And they cost pretty significant money.

It sounds like you should get one of those cheap dongle-type docs that has all the ports you think you need, and use the other port for power. Get it from somewhere that has a return option, so you can try if it works for you. For $100 you can get 2 or 3 of them over a period of 2 years. You should be able to land on a good one by then.

Caldigit Mini TB3 is what I use at the desk, and I could use it on the road too, but it's literally glued to the bottom side of the table with No More Nails ™ :)

Caldigit Mini comes with two HDMIs (in case you want to have two monitors in front of you in the future) an Ethernet port and USB 3 and 2 ports. It's small and lightweight. It will not produce power, you'll need the Mac power brick with you. This being so, it doesn't have a brick of its own, so it's extremely pocketable.

If you need the SD option, or know that you'll never use a dual monitor setup, or if you need more USB ports, then that's not the right choice. Another downside is cost, it's over $100. It's been very reliable.

I'd suggest you go to YouTube and find those videos, where people show off their desk/mobile setups. There's plenty of them, and once you find one, YouTube will have many links to others. These videos typically have affiliate links to find those products too. An hour of that, and you'll know better what people have already tried, and had success/failures with. You'll also get a vision, what kind of a work corner you might want to build towards over time.

After 15 years I've landed with a 3-monitor setup, they're floating on a single pole with 3 arms. Monitors provide enough USB ports. One TB3/USB-C monitor (direct) and two HDMI via Caldigit. All wires hidden underneath the table and behind the monitors, some through the table. Macbook takes two wires, and then I'm docked with a dozen devices and a crazy amount of screen estate. But yeah, I too started with a Macbook and a dongle.
 
Well, this is an interesting experience.

Connected the "Minix" dock to the 16" MacBook Pro and a HDMI cable from that to the LG 65" OLED telly. For some reason it needs to use "underscan" to make the whole screen appear (the default image was a few lines too big, underscan reduces the screen size slightly). Just works fine!

For some reason the sound doesn't pass up the HDMI into the telly - watching a YouTube video.

Found it - select the right sound destination from the sound sources in the Mac menu bar.

Amazing to see the size of the monitor. Would probably benefit from calibrating it on the telly and the MBP, but the point's been made.

Brilliant!


So I've looked up when I bought the "Minix" adapter - from Amazon. December 2017. Unfortunately it was more than I thought: £55 (would be about about $55 that without tax). But it works!
 
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Jesus you've all been super amazing, I will try a cheaper version. If I order off of Amazon I can't imagine not being able to return it if it doesn't work? I'm currently on my MacBook Air (older) that I will give to a friend. Wanting to get stuff sorted on it first before I do anything extra.

Any recommendations for cases? I have an old AA battery apple mouse that I rarely use - but is it good? I could do with a basic case that is protective but can carry maybe a few bits of paper, mouse and power + dongle/hub.

Thanks so much for your help though, seriously. Not posted on here and super impressed.
 
That link to eBay isn't working for some reason :/.
I have googled Dbrand and not entirely clear what it is :D
 
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