I would like a cheaper and smaller version of the Echo without any enclosure crap.
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OWC Opens Pre-Orders for New 12-Port Thunderbolt 2 Dock
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I would like a cheaper and smaller version of the Echo without any enclosure crap.
Very nice! I am quite happy with my CalDigit thunderbolt dock. However I would love a few more USB 3.0 ports (as I have a 2011 iMac w/ USB 2.0, the dock currently provides me with three 3.0 ports).
My only concern is USB device compatibility. The CalDigit dock can be a bit picky, especially with a USB 3.0 to SATA adapter I own. That SATA adapter only works on my iMac's USB 2.0 port, but doesn't work at all with the CalDigit dock. They claimed it was an Apple USB Driver issue, although who knows for sure.
Either way it's good to have more Thunderbolt dock options! Although I would prefer they have the audio in/out jacks on the front. But FireWire on the dock is a huge plus in my eye.
My only concern is USB device compatibility. The CalDigit dock can be a bit picky, especially with a USB 3.0 to SATA adapter I own. That SATA adapter only works on my iMac's USB 2.0 port, but doesn't work at all with the CalDigit dock. They claimed it was an Apple USB Driver issue, although who knows for sure.
Either way it's good to have more Thunderbolt dock options! Although I would prefer they have the audio in/out jacks on the front. But FireWire on the dock is a huge plus in my eye.
I use a USB to eSATA adapter, 2 of them. They have then in USB3 now. eBay and Amazon, etc.
Yes, my Belkin Dock has been replaced by Belkin twice now. I'm on #3 at this time. The power brick was replaced each time.
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Yes... must have missed that fine print. I did call OWC and they did confirm the authorization fee of $10. The charge will not post as it's just a pre-authorization procedure. OWC webmaster indicated they would make the pre-authorization fee text larger.
One other point with the Belkin Thunderbolt Express Dock (at least Version 1 or 2). The provided USB3 ports provide only 1/2 of the USB3 specified max data rates. Even so, this is better that USB2 data rates.
So I wonder if the new OWC Thunderbolt-2 Dock's USB3 support the 5 Gbps USB3 specification ? Anyone know this ? Thanks.
[EDIT]
The OWC web site at https://eshop.macsales.com/preorder/OWC-Thunderbolt2-Dock/ does state the 5 Gbps for the USB3 ports.... so hopefully this is correct.
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SICKBOY: Thanks for that ref. Unfortunately is seems to not support eSATA for Port Multipliers.... supports just a single eSATA drive.
I know I deeply despise my work-order work laptop (Dell something-something): It's big, it's heavy, it's ugly, and it's got no curves. But it does have this sweetly submissive blade docking thing on its underbelly. You know, push down on the dock, click, and wait for 2 minutes for everything to synch up. It's not pretty, but it is deemed acceptable.
Would a dock like the ones that Belkin and Other World Computing offer ever set me free from this non-nonsensical hell of working with a laptop that I will adamantly refuse to take with me on vacation? Perhaps not, but it's worth fighting for.
Would a dock like this ever take away the excruciating burdens of Corporate Security Bloatware? No chance, but hey, every dog needs to chase a bone, right?
If the Apple-IBM alliance ever gives me the chance to ditch my worktop corporate-order POS^h^hC, I would happily find some way to spend my own money to put a secure hard drive on my own personal laptop so that I would never have to carry a Corporate Laptop home at the end of a workday.
That's very useful... thanks. Now what I'd like is for someone who has one to actually check the port-multiplier feature. Some products do profess to support this feature but can exhibit issues when being used. OWC has an adapter similar to this one and they at least stated port-multiplier is not supported.
Reading the Reviews at this products web site I see this...
"I used this to add USB 3 capability to a Mac Mini. In this capacity, it works perfectly.It's a cheap way to get faster dives on you system. However, the eSATA half of the adapter has issues you need to know about. It works perfectly if you only have 1 drive plugged in, but if you are using any kind of enclosure that has more tha 1 drive in it, like one of those dual drive bays, you will have problems with it. This is because the adapter does not support eSATA port replicators and a multi drive bay basically acts as a port replicator. Other than this issue, it's a 5 star product."
and this...
"This product is high temp. Therefore it can not be used continuously."
- See more at: http://ww.kanex.com/thunderbolt-esata#sthash.m6PjKNSm.dpuf
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That has no Thunderbolt pass-through.
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Which would mean you lose TRIM, and they are probably not very fast.
Most of those type adapters typically are designed this way, and are intended to be the last thing in a TB daisy chain. So if additional TB devices are required you simply move the adapter to be the last thing connected. Mind you, the max TB devices to be daisy chained then reduces to 5.
I mentioned the Sonnet solution for TB-to-eSATA that fully supports Port Multiplier enclosures. If anyone needs this and wants to use the Sonnet solution be aware that the current Sonnet Tempo 2 Port Express34 Pro SATA Host Card https://secure1.sonnettech.com/product_info.php?products_id=387&osCsid=bf5b6e6b8182e30897cb7d8e9a54d7c5 will not work properly. Sonnet no longer makes the correct one and the proper ones are in short supply. I found the correct ExpressCard34 at MacGurus who has a supplier for the correct card designated as TSATAII-PRO-E34 - Sonnet Tempo 2 Port Express34 Pro SATA Host Card. If you are interested in obtaining the correct card goto http://www.macgurus.com/store/Category/Exp34-Cardbus_Index and http://www.macgurus.com/store/Item/Tempo-E34Pro
I use the MacGurus Sonnet solution with my MP6,1 12-core. I have 5 Thunderbolt-1 6TB LaCie 2big RAID-0 devices daisy chained with the last thing in the daisy chain being the Sonnet TEMPO Express 34 Pro SATA Card with two external eSATA ports to connect to two MacGurus 5-bay Burly Port Multiplier Enclosures. The setup works perfectly. Note the Adapter does get quite warm, but then it has a fair bit of electrical work to do inside of it.
During my last communication in Feb 2014 with MacGurus I was told they only had a supply of 20 of the TEMPO Express 34 Pro SATA Cards. The MacGurus supplier for this card may have more, but dunno.
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I might get this, but someone tell me if this is bad logic. I have a 2011 Mac mini, so it only has USB 2.0, which sucks.
- USB 2.0 drives are too slow
- Thunderbolt drives are still too expensive
- if I bought this, I could use USB 3.0 drives, which are fast enough for my needs (vs. Thunderbolt) and ALSO clean up the back of my Mini where I have too much stuff plugged in.
Does this make sense? Basically I'm thinking this would get me USB 3.0, plus a bunch of other stuff -- and I could use this with any other Mac I might eventually get.
- USB 2.0 drives are too slow
- Thunderbolt drives are still too expensive
- if I bought this, I could use USB 3.0 drives, which are fast enough for my needs (vs. Thunderbolt) and ALSO clean up the back of my Mini where I have too much stuff plugged in.
Does this make sense? Basically I'm thinking this would get me USB 3.0, plus a bunch of other stuff -- and I could use this with any other Mac I might eventually get.
Yes it does. I use the Belkin dock with my MBP8,3 (17-inch anti glare, late 2011) that has but one Thunderbolt-1 port. The same setup can be done using this OWC dock as well. You will get the USB3 speeds when using the OWC Dock's USB3 ports. I believe your 2011 Mac mini has a single Thunderbolt-1 port, right ?
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Only other thing to mention is that you will probably not be able to use the usb 3 ports as a boot drive (at least with my caltech and 2011 iMac i cannot.)
Still, it was worth it to me to get the catech dock to add usb 3, even without boot capability.
EDIT: My understanding is that if your mac already has usb 3, it can boot with the caltech dock. It is only the macs with usb 2 that cannot use attached dock drives to boot.
finally someone start making a real docking station for macs. Not perfect but a good step in the right direction. This will be loved in enterprise. I am surprised Apple has not made one.
I agree. The belkin grabbed my interest but the price didn't interest me.
Also, the additional USB ports of the OWC makes it more appealing.
I would still like to see a SD slot.
Right, one TB 1.0 port. Is that enough bandwidth to drive my monitor plus a couple of USB 3.0 drives? I would suck it up and buy a new Mini, but I've got this one all tricked out with a DIY fusion drive and everything. Plus dropping another $700 doesn't exactly appeal if I can avoid it...
You might want to chat with OWC to make certain they've tested and can confirm your TB display and driving several USB3 drives will work without issues. Talk to at least two OWC persons; maybe a Sales person and then followup to speak with a Tech person.
Post back what you find out.----------
You can obtain the Belkin older dock versions that don't have the HDMI for $199 and less. For example see http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Thunderbolt-Compatible-Technology-Separately/dp/B00BQHD4B8
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The price does not throw me off that much. That tends to be about the price of a lot of docking stations. I would love one for my job. The one thing I hate about when I have move my work mac around is plugging in and unplugging everything. Even using a USB hub it is still 4 items that i have to plug and unplug (monitor, hub, power, headphones)
Absolutely... using the Belkin dock or this new OWC dock means just two cables for my MBP8,3 (17-inch late 2011). One for power and the other a TB cable attached to the dock. If I need to quickly attach my iPad or iPhone or a USB thumb drive there's always a free port to be used on the MBP.