OWC Launches New USB-C Travel Dock Suitable for MacBooks

[MacRumors]

OWC has launched a new USB-C travel dock suitable for Apple's latest MacBook and MacBook Pro notebooks.

The dock connects to a Mac or PC with a single USB-C cable and provides access to the following five ports:
2× USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports
1× USB-C port for power
1× HDMI 2.0 port
1× SD card reader
The USB-C port provides up to 60W of pass-through charging, while the HDMI 2.0 port can drive a 4K display at 30Hz.

The compact-sized dock is available on MacSales.com in MacBook-like Gold, Rose Gold, Silver, and Space Gray for $49.99 in the United States.

It's also available on Amazon in select colors.

Article Link: OWC Launches New USB-C Travel Dock Suitable for MacBooks

 

[Appleaker]

Looks good, although they have been working on it for a while, I would have liked the Hyperdrive type design influence the product. There is still potential in that space.

 

[elfxmilhouse]

does anyone know if there is a dock that has a detachable USB-C cable? A lot of these docks have really short cables and I'd like to be able to put a longer one to hide the dock behind a monitor.

 

[applesith]

That's a good price for all those ports/capabilities. But I like the compactness and shape of my HooToo.

 

[roland.g]

I prefer the Satechi style that attaches to the side.

 

[bladerunner2000]

Great addition for the Donglebook Pro.

 

[Jimmy James]

Not bad. I find it strange that so many companies charge hundreds of dollars just for ports.

 

[tjleonard]

A nic port would make this great.

 

[dvhoosier]

I have an Aukey USB-C port dongle and it absolutely kills wifi reception of the MBP. Is it a bad product or inherent to a dongle lifestyle?

 

[applesith]

I have an Aukey USB-C port dongle and it absolutely kills wifi reception of the MBP. Is it a bad product or inherent to a dongle lifestyle?

Bad product.

It probably doesn't have the right casing like the first wave of LG's 4K monitors for Macs a couple years ago.

 

[GubbyMan]

"The HDMI 2.0 port can drive a 4K display at 30Hz."

Ugh. Seriously OWC?? It's either 1.4 driving 4K30 or 2.0 driving 4K60. In this case, it's definately an HDMI 1.4 as USB-C driving HDMI 2.0 needs to support display alternate mode.

 

[macs4nw]

Not bad. I find it strange that so many companies charge hundreds of dollars just for ports.

Those darn royalties, and the fact they know us suckers are willing to pay for the convenience. None of the many docks currently available seem to cover all the bases though, but at this price that's forgivable.

 

[MrGuder]

I have an Aukey USB-C port dongle and it absolutely kills wifi reception of the MBP. Is it a bad product or inherent to a dongle lifestyle?

I have a Aukey USB-C to USB A adapter and it works perfectly for my Logitech mouse. It sticks out a little bit but no interference, it came with 2 in a box for like $8.00

 

[JM-Prod]

I'm so glad Apple made their pro laptop a millimeter or two thinner, so that I can have this box as a companion.

 

[theluggage]

Ugh. Seriously OWC?? It's either 1.4 driving 4K30 or 2.0 driving 4K60.

Until USB-C hosts with DisplayPort 1.3/1.4 support come along, you can't get 4k@60Hz down a USB-C cable and have USB 3 data at the same time. So maybe it is technically HDMI 2.0 hardware-wise (i.e. a DisplayPort-to-HDMI 2.0 converter) but OWC have had to peg it at 4K@30Hz because at 60Hz all the other ports would have to be throttled back to USB 2 speed.

 

[Deemr]

I am wondering when we are going to see a device like this that adds the following features:
- Ability to charge the notebook (Why should include a second device to charge my notebook when traveling)
- Support for VGA and Ethernet (I know, but some meeting rooms require that kind of ancient technology)

Besides of this I really can recommend the device from Aukey that has HDMI, VGA, Ethernet and USB. This is the one and only dongle I had in my hand that works flawless. It also does not require a order to connect to HDMI. Connect display first to the dongle or connect the dongle first to the Mac, it just doesn’t matter.

Some dongles require that the display is connected first to the dongle which is bad in terms of usability or when the USB-C slips out of the port (that happens!) and then needs to be reconnected. This is something MR should test with any dongle.

 

[bobdobalina]

dongle lifestyle?

Lol. "Live the dongle lifestyle, with Apple." Could be their next marketing phase.

Apple. Dongle.

 

[341328]

So you buy a thin laptop that can’t be upgraded and then have to add a dumb box like this. Oh boy.

 

[SteveW928]

So, now I have to carry a smaller laptop around, along with a bunch of boxes and cables.

Until USB-C gets more mature (if ever), this sure seems like a big step backwards. If it weren't for wanting TB3 architecture, I'd immediately order a 2015 MBP. These new models seem to be balls of trouble, so now I wait until next year? And, wonder if Apple even cares enough anymore to fix the problems (or if that's even possible given the direction they've gone).

For the first time in like 30+ years, I don't have a clear path of what to buy in terms of the Apple platform.

 

[macpeach55]

So, now I have to carry a smaller laptop around, along with a bunch of boxes and cables.

Until USB-C gets more mature (if ever), this sure seems like a big step backwards. If it weren't for wanting TB3 architecture, I'd immediately order a 2015 MBP. These new models seem to be balls of trouble, so now I wait until next year? And, wonder if Apple even cares enough anymore to fix the problems (or if that's even possible given the direction they've gone).

For the first time in like 30+ years, I don't have a clear path of what to buy in terms of the Apple platform.

I honestly don't think things are going to get any better with the MBP line next year. I bought a 2015 15" MBP early this year to replace my 2008 MBP, & I find it the perfect balance between portability & ports!

Not to mention the price versus the newer MBP's. & that is another thing that I doubt will improve. A shame that you need TB3 otherwise I'd say get a 2015 now while they are still in reasonable supply!

 

[mbfanos]

I am wondering when we are going to see a device like this that adds the following features:
- Ability to charge the notebook (Why should include a second device to charge my notebook when traveling)
- Support for VGA and Ethernet (I know, but some meeting rooms require that kind of ancient technology)

Besides of this I really can recommend the device from Aukey that has HDMI, VGA, Ethernet and USB. This is the one and only dongle I had in my hand that works flawless. It also does not require a order to connect to HDMI. Connect display first to the dongle or connect the dongle first to the Mac, it just doesn’t matter.

Some dongles require that the display is connected first to the dongle which is bad in terms of usability or when the USB-C slips out of the port (that happens!) and then needs to be reconnected. This is something MR should test with any dongle.

I just checked this dongle on Amazon and it is only $65, so much cheaper than Charjenpro, Hyperdrive and other hubs. Thanks for recommending it.
If it works, then the whole bunch of Satechi, Charjenpro, Hyperdrive (Ultimate), and Apple AV dongles gonna be returned haha.

 

[SteveW928]

Not to mention the price versus the newer MBP's. & that is another thing that I doubt will improve. A shame that you need TB3 otherwise I'd say get a 2015 now while they are still in reasonable supply!

Yes, I am seriously debating how much of a *need* it is vs a want. I'll eventually want to add an eGPU and TB2 (vs TB3) is another performance hit on already tight bandwidth for that kind of purpose... and then there is external storage and Ethernet, etc. to be added.

So, I'm also debating whether to just go back to the desktop and (lesser) laptop combo.

 

[Bart Kela]

does anyone know if there is a dock that has a detachable USB-C cable? A lot of these docks have really short cables and I'd like to be able to put a longer one to hide the dock behind a monitor.

Just use a USB-C extension cable.

 

[mpainesyd]

I am wondering when we are going to see a device like this that adds the following features:
- Ability to charge the notebook (Why should include a second device to charge my notebook when traveling)
- Support for VGA and Ethernet (I know, but some meeting rooms require that kind of ancient technology)

Besides of this I really can recommend the device from Aukey that has HDMI, VGA, Ethernet and USB. This is the one and only dongle I had in my hand that works flawless. It also does not require a order to connect to HDMI. Connect display first to the dongle or connect the dongle first to the Mac, it just doesn’t matter.

Some dongles require that the display is connected first to the dongle which is bad in terms of usability or when the USB-C slips out of the port (that happens!) and then needs to be reconnected. This is something MR should test with any dongle.

Satechi has a USB-c dock that has ethernet, HDMI and pass-through charging. I take that with me to meetings with my Macbook. Apple, of course, has a VGA-usb-c adapter with pass-through charging.

There still doesn’t seem to be a dock that acts as a USB-c hub - where several USB-c cables can be plugged in and retain pass-through charging. I guess the necessary chip does not exist!

 

[SteveW928]

There still doesn’t seem to be a dock that acts as a USB-c hub - where several USB-c cables can be plugged in and retain pass-through charging. I guess the necessary chip does not exist!

No doubt... if the idea is to push USB-C adoption, it's going to be a fail so long as everyone goes USB-C -> multiple USB-A anyway. Apple needs to make one - and a good one - if no one else does. And, if the point wasn't to try and force USB-C adoption, then it was a terribly stupid move by Apple not to include at least one USB-A port on the MacBook Pros.