Really cool gadget! DeskBookPro expansion base!

[PracticalMac]

http://www.zemno.com/home.aspx
(did not see posted before)

Plug in FW800 and USB2 and get a fully duplicate set of ports, and more (full set of flash card readers!)!

Been waiting for this to happen for years!

I would rather put it under a monitor or other items then under my hot MBP, but it really would clean up my desk.

**PS: before a rant thread about eSATA being slower then FW800, keep in mind that:
1. You CAN connect eSTAT to a Mac now (one of only 2 or 3 devices on market that can)
2. The mechanical limitations of HDD (not SSD) are the bottle neck for eSATA/SATA. FW800 is almost as fast as eSATA.

 

[ReallyBigFeet]

Agreed, very cool. One thing I dislike about using my MBP at my desk is the octopus of cables I've got running into it. This would streamline that immensely.

**HOLY CRAP EDIT**

That sucker is priced at $600!!!!

http://www.zemno.com/cart/cart.aspx

 

[GGJstudios]

MacBook Pro Docking station???

 

[PracticalMac]

Agreed, very cool. One thing I dislike about using my MBP at my desk is the octopus of cables I've got running into it. This would streamline that immensely.

**HOLY CRAP EDIT**

That sucker is priced at $600!!!!

http://www.zemno.com/cart/cart.aspx

The Dock Station
http://www.bookendzdocks.com/Curren...Station_for_13_Unibody_Apple_Macbook_Pro.html
is $250, and that is more a simple port replicator.

Yes, $600 is steep, but if it saves you a lot of time and ware, then its worth every penny.

OH, the cost of a repairing a broken port may be a lot more then that base (abuse the base, not the MB)

MacBook Pro Docking station???

More a port replicator.
http://www.bookendzdocks.com/Curren...Station_for_13_Unibody_Apple_Macbook_Pro.html

And it looks awkward.

Oh, the tread is different forum, did not see...

 

[Eddyisgreat]

It's a nice idea and all but they put alot of electronics in it some of which we may not need, not for the cost.

However these guys seem to have a good design talents, so i'd expect them to be one of the first to implement an expansion base that incorporates LightPeak and DisplayPort daisy chaining.

 

[PracticalMac]

It's a nice idea and all but they put alot of electronics in it some of which we may not need, not for the cost.

However these guys seem to have a good design talents, so i'd expect them to be one of the first to implement an expansion base that incorporates LightPeak and DisplayPort daisy chaining.

I think the box is more a collection of off-the-shelf components. The card reader is probably the exact same thing you can get stand alone or in a bay, just put in this box.

LP and DP is a long way from happening, yet.

USB to DVI is not new, been around for a while:http://sewelldirect.com/USB-to-DVI-External-Video-Card-High-Resolution.asp
(not sure of quality, but works)

Connecting 2 cables versus 10+ is worth it IMHO. MPB only have 2 USB and 1 FW port, and want to minimize ware on those connectors, cause replacing the motherboard will be very expensive.