OWC Debuts $279 Thunderbolt 3 Dock With 13 Ports

[netwalker]

I don't get this. Why do so many people hate docks? For me this is the best solution available. Come home, plug in just ONE cable and everything is connected to your Mac. At the moment every time I come home I have to plug in the charger, two thunderbolt cables, one USB cable and finally my headphones. Really annoying.

Exactly. It might be called a laptop, must must of the time it is simply a mobile desktop computer. In my case it moves between three different desks. A dock like this is a nice way to quickly have everything connected, organized and ready to use. I use a similar Thunderbolt 2 dock.

 

[jwpoof]

Those of us who actually use computers professionally have been paying $200-300 for docks for 20 years. And they are specific to one computer, or at best one range of computers from one manufacturer who inevitably changes the docking interface at the next update.

This is really NBD.

Exactly. I have the OWC thunderbolt 2 dock for use with my Mac Pro, which, as far as ports go, is a really frustrating machine to use without a dock in my experience.

If you're flipping out about the cost of this thing, you probably don't need it. If you need all of these ports in one package, then why are you surprised by the cost? This is what full docks go for. Actually, they're usually more expensive from other brands.

 

[netwalker]

100% honest non sarcastic question: who is using FW800?

Still have some old FW800 drives for extra backups using the Thunderbolt - FW800 adapter. Also still have a firewire audio interface (not used in years and I assume won't be able to get drivers for it any longer).

 

[ShadeDream]

Exactly. It might be called a laptop, must must of the time it is simply a mobile desktop computer. In my case it moves between three different desks. A dock like this is a nice way to quickly have everything connected, organized and ready to use. I use a similar Thunderbolt 2 dock.

Same boat... literally the only thing I wanted added to the new pro was USB-C/TB3 so I could dock it with a single cable instead of three (power, dock w/ display 1, and display 2). The biggest downsides to the new machine IMO is the keyboard (though I've since used it and it's much better than the Macbook so I think I can get used to it) and the lack of the SD card slot... neither of which were a big enough deal for me to care significantly. I've got an SD card reader in one of my Ultrasharps and I can transfer from my camera via USB, so not to worried about even bothering with a reader.

 

[cult hero]

The difference here is that it's also a business decision to force customers to buy their 'Apple approved' dongles. These new laptops are hundreds of dollars more expensive, but the consumer will also need to spend hundreds more on adapters and dongles. In the early days, this doesn't give the consumer a better experience, but a worse one.

So the customer can vote with his or her wallet accordingly. Forcing new technologies to be adopted causes problems. Okay. I was going to upgrade my laptop this cycle. However, there are too many inconveniences in doing so, so I'm not.

Hundreds of dollars in dongles is a bit of a stretch. Non-Apple display and USB adapters are already available. Apple's TB2 -> TB3 adapter is actually cheaper and speaker than the competition and bi-directional too so you can actually get TB3 devices as they're available and run them at half speed on current Macs. Barring an eGPU, half speed is fast enough for most TB devices.

I like where Apple is going with this but I don't love the state of things now. No biggie. And that's all it comes down to. Don't buy machines that don't meet your needs. I don't feel sorry for early adopters who buy things that don't meet their professional needs or budget.

 

[gugy]

I like OWC stuff but $279 for a hub is a joke.

 

[Sensamic]

Just think of the day they'll be able to integrate all these ports into a real computer! - Man what a future to look forward to.

Best. Comment. Of. The. Year.

Bravo.

 

[Agent47]

I don't get this. Why do so many people hate docks? For me this is the best solution available. Come home, plug in just ONE cable and everything is connected to your Mac. At the moment every time I come home I have to plug in the charger, two thunderbolt cables, one USB cable and finally my headphones. Really annoying.

For many of us who are on the road for extended periods, this is just one more device I have to take along and take up space in my already full suitcase. But during a given trip I might need Ethernet, SD reader, and a couple USB ports. Things that used to be built into laptops.

 

[n-evo]

100% honest non sarcastic question: who is using FW800?

I have two 2 TB LaCie D2 Quadra backup drives that connect over FireWire 800.

 

[melendezest]

I have most of these ports on my current MBP.

No dock or dongles required (for the most part).

Still, I love OWC for being right there with the gap mitigation tools for those that need them.

And for them making everything match the Macs, too. Attention to detail is wonderful.

 

[shareef777]

For many of us who are on the road for extended periods, this is just one more device I have to take along and take up space in my already full suitcase. But during a given trip I might need Ethernet, SD reader, and a couple USB ports. Things that used to be built into laptops.

I'm getting this for on the go connectivity: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00Y...i+ethernet&dpPl=1&dpID=41r1ngNIkeL&ref=plSrch

Still waiting for a dock that offers enough power for the 15".

 

[Agent47]

I'm getting this for on the go connectivity: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00Y...i+ethernet&dpPl=1&dpID=41r1ngNIkeL&ref=plSrch

Still waiting for a dock that offers enough power for the 15".

Thanks! I just ordered one.

 

[shareef777]

Thanks! I just ordered one.

Noticed you mentioned SD cards, might want to go with this model: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01F...olid=114T1Z3EUDAPS&coliid=I2ALUOWK7TDJ79&vs=1

I went with the other as I don't need SD.

 

[cerberusss]

I love the TB 2 version. I use it like so:

Love that setup! In your case, that dock has saved you loads of money, just due to the fact that basically anyone can use it, and thus it's a thing that's shared.

I never thought about the fact that a dock, once set up, is very user friendly to non-techies.
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the consumer will also need to spend hundreds more on adapters and dongles

Under what circumstances would one spend hundreds?

As far as I can see, you need to replace your monitor and your USB-A cables with USB-C variants. So how much does that cost?

In my case, I have to replace 1 cable for my monitor ($25 or so) and 2 cables to my USB-A hubs ($4 each). Done.

 

[carestudio]

seriously, all I need is OWC's USB-C dock or CalDigit's USB-C dock. I do not need a Thunderbolt 3 dock that costs me an arm and leg.

 

[FoxMcCloud]

I'd love it if they made a mini version of this.

Remove the FireWire, optical, headphone and mDP. Add 2x Display port. Done. £100 less too.

Pleaaaassseee. It's either not enough ports or far too many. Where's the middle ground?

 

[alexgowers]

I don't get this. Why do so many people hate docks? For me this is the best solution available. Come home, plug in just ONE cable and everything is connected to your Mac. At the moment every time I come home I have to plug in the charger, two thunderbolt cables, one USB cable and finally my headphones. Really annoying.

Yep I agree. I think docks work better, if you're on the go what are actually plugging in? Nothing it's all wireless. If you are doing "pro" work a dock makes that single wire dream come true, you can spend as much or as little as you need to get the ports you want too!

It's an older generation that still want to connect dvd drives and hdmi rather than transfer or stream the content direct to test etc. On the go I fail to see a need for extras. The only one I see on here is SD card slots! Now come on what is wrong with a USB cable or a tiny SD adapter or even God forbid camera to computer wifi instead.

 

[mellofello]

Every single workday, at least 2-3x per day I grab my work HP elite book off of my desk. Meaning I unplug 1 external HD, 1 keyboard/mouse dongle, 1 power cord, and one Display port connector. Then I go out in the field, come back and plug in 1 external HD, 1 keyboard/mouse dongle, 1 power cord, and one displayport connector. Again, and again.

This thing that everyone is complaining about is a dream for me. 1 connection, and I have everything I need, and one universal charger that can also charge my lg v20 simultaneously. This sounds like heaven.

 

[CreativeC]

Every single workday, at least 2-3x per day I grab my work HP elite book off of my desk. Meaning I unplug 1 external HD, 1 keyboard/mouse dongle, 1 power cord, and one Display port connector. Then I go out in the field, come back and plug in 1 external HD, 1 keyboard/mouse dongle, 1 power cord, and one displayport connector. Again, and again.

This thing that everyone is complaining about is a dream for me. 1 connection, and I have everything I need, and one universal charger that can also charge my lg v20 simultaneously. This sounds like heaven.

WTF are you talking about? On your desk you still need to plug those cables in the dock. When you leave, you still have to UNPLUG the cables from the dock, because your ****** laptop has only USB-C ports, so you still will need adaptors if you want to go into a meeting presenting, using USB Type-A flash drives to share stuff, etc.

 

[Thunderhawks]

I use it with an external hard drive and avid audio interfaces.

To update my first answer to the original post/question:

You are not alone!
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Phil Schiller is a firm believer in dongles and third party adapter accessories.
The next MacBook Pro will have more useful ports shoehorned into its chassis. And that would be magical, and 'cant innovate my arse'.

If we could force the braintrust at Apple to use MBPs at the office and home instead of their desktop machines, they would quickly figure out that dongles are not the solution and just maybe rethink that thinner is better business.

For now the biggest joke is that you can't connect the latest iPhone out of the box.

 

[ShadeDream]

WTF are you talking about? On your desk you still need to plug those cables in the dock. When you leave, you still have to UNPLUG the cables from the dock, because your ****** laptop has only USB-C ports, so you still will need adaptors if you want to go into a meeting presenting, using USB Type-A flash drives to share stuff, etc.

So carry a video adapter and a single USB adapter with you. Moving the dock would be plain stupid for that. Even with the previous retina MBPs, you had to carry display adapters around with you. Hell, even with the MBP machines before that you did too because you had DVI (or mini DVI) and the projector might be VGA or HDMI. It's like everyone here has never actually used a laptop before. This is basically par for the course across ALL brands unless your laptop happens to have the single port type that your projectors/displays all share which to be fair is finally starting to converge on HDMI, but is far from universal.

 

[Mac 128]

If we could force the braintrust at Apple to use MBPs at the office and home instead of their desktop machines, they would quickly figure out that dongles are not the solution and just maybe rethink that thinner is better business.

For now the biggest joke is that you can't connect the latest iPhone out of the box.

No, the biggest joke is that anybody still wants to plug their iPhone into their MacBook. I haven't plugged my iPhone into my Mac for years. And if I need to, it's a $10 cable from Amazon, or a $4 adapter that I can use on any USB-A plug I might come across.

 

[chfilm]

Yes seriously. Just buy a USB C -> Lightning cable. For me the joke is that lightning is still around actually and hasnt gotten replaced by USBC! So people will now buy lightning headphones, wich will become obsolete 2017 or 2018 the latest when lightning dies.

But another fun question - will this new dock be compatible with the new macbook, after the latest TB 3 incompatibility rumors?

 

[cult hero]

Can I hook-up two monitors to this dock? If so, how? Obviously the mini-display port is one of the ports to use for a 2 monitor solution. What is the other port? The 2nd USB-C port?

I don't have confirmation on this dock, but on the previous generation it had Thunderbolt and HDMI. You had to use either/or. You could do multiple monitors but one of them (or more, all but last on the chain) had to be Thunderbolt and those are still relatively uncommon.

The wording on this product announcement is equally vague as the previous one.

 

[Mac 128]

Yes seriously. Just buy a USB C -> Lightning cable. For me the joke is that lightning is still around actually and hasnt gotten replaced by USBC! So people will now buy lightning headphones, wich will become obsolete 2017 or 2018 the latest when lightning dies.

But another fun question - will this new dock be compatible with the new macbook, after the latest TB 3 incompatibility rumors?

Or one could say the joke is that some people think Apple should inconvenience a potential customer base of 200 million users of the iPhone 7s, in order to please less than 15 million potential MacBook customers, many of whom don't even use an iPhone.

Even if the iPhone had a USB-C port instead of Lightning, it would still make more sense to ship it with a USB-C plug on the other end of the charging cable, due to the nature of a smartphone, compared to a MacBook.