Review: OWC's 'USB-C Dock' Expands MacBook Connectivity Options With Ten Ports

[Millah]

Ives, if I have to buy and carry a separate device just to charge and use a USB flash drive, that's a major design failure.

Or, the MacBook is a different product with an entirely different target use case. Obviously, the vision behind the product didn't include needing to use a USB drive and charge at the same time. Apple DOES make a whole lineup of notebook computers, you know that right? The MacBook Pro is still there, still just as "functional," still with the same trade offs (size/weight). The MacBooks entire purpose for existence is extreme portability. It's purpose is not a portable desktop replacement. That's what the MacBook Pro is for.

At least Apple has a very clear and defined vision, and has the balls to actually design and manufacture to that envisioned goal. They envisioned a new generation of super thin/light laptops for extreme portability, and made actual DECISIONS on how to take it to there. More portable than the category-defining MBAir, more capable than an iPad. That meant hard decisions, on the things essential to achieving that goal, and things holding it back from getting there. Rather than most other companies that can't make ANY tough decisions, and leave everything plus the kitchen sink inside the machine, for fear of upsetting a single person.

If you don't realize by this point, that this is classic Apple, and EXACTLY how Apple has disrupted so many markets, then you really shouldn't be discussing Apple. The MacBook makes me happy and relieved to see that Apple still has balls.

 

[Glassed Silver]

Ives, if I have to buy and carry a separate device just to charge and use a USB flash drive, that's a major design failure.

You're computing it wrong.

Force your friends to adopt only Apple gear (you'll gladly do it after all the things Apple has done for you... you know "ask not what Apple can do for you, ask what you can do for Apple!"), join one WiFi network with you and only use AirDrop.
You see, no need for thumb drives ever again.

Glassed Silver:mac

 

[Nicky G]

It's all such a fuss though isn't it. All this just to have a laptop that's useful. I wish they would stop the clamour to build a computer thinner than an After Eight mint and just keep them functional.

My MacBook has proven to be extremely useful to me. 50/50 home/business use. It's my travel and home machine, now my 15" rMBP lives at the office.

 

[ForkHandles]

I don't get it!
Each to their own of course, but why would you buy a laptop with such limited connectivity if, in fact, what you needed was a laptop with many connectivity options.
I always assumed that the target market for this laptop were people who used the cloud/wifi for everything that they do, they dont have SD Cards, LAN connections and connected printers.

This product will sell to people who bought the laptop for it being sexy whilst having no clue why they needed the MacBook in the first place.

 

[beanbaguk]

Sad days for Apple. They have an obsession with removing connectors. Ethernet, USB, SD, 3.5mm jacks....you name it.

What's the purpose behind all this? A useless laptop?

I LOVE my MBP but only the other day I couldn't help my old man configure his network as the Wifi went down and I had no ethernet adapter to hand for my MBP. I ended up having to borrow my neighbours PC laptop to reset the wifi router and get things working again.

It's a huge annoyance and I don't understand Apple's obsession with this crap.

Ive has always been obsessed with simplicity but his latest work is becoming unusable. I would like to think Jobs reigned him in when needed but without that control, he seems to have an obsession with cutting important stuff out.

Wishful thinking, but maybe time for a fresh set of eyes at Apple?

 

[Michael Scrip]

I don't get it!
Each to their own of course, but why would you buy a laptop with such limited connectivity if, in fact, what you needed was a laptop with many connectivity options.
I always assumed that the target market for this laptop were people who used the cloud/wifi for everything that they do, they dont have SD Cards, LAN connections and connected printers.

This product will sell to people who bought the laptop for it being sexy whilst having no clue why they needed the MacBook in the first place.

They bought a Macbook because it's thin and light and great for travel.

But if you also spend a lot of time at a DESK... with a big monitor or two... and maybe an external hard drive... I don't see why you wouldn't have a docking station. You get the best of both worlds.

You can plug in one cord to go from a sleek portable computer to an office workstation. Makes sense to me.

And let's not forget that docking stations have existed for decades... but they're not simply to provide missing ports.

 

[BillyBobBongo]

Hmmm. Interesting. But I have no idea what you mean.

No MagSafe

Damn I love that thing.

 

[Fzang]

The positioning of the ports look completely arbitrary at best...

Also, Ethernet really needs a makeover, it's the biggest, ugliest port still in use everywhere.

 

[beanbaguk]

The positioning of the ports look completely arbitrary at best...

Also, Ethernet really needs a makeover, it's the biggest, ugliest port still in use everywhere.

I would suggest that's impossible.

For consumers it is a nuisance, however lets be frank. There is no chance corporations and even small businesses would accept a format change. It simply won't happen. The costs to enterprises would be astronomical!

That aside, the current Ethernet plug is very robust and easy to install. You would need a design that is backwards compatible and equally easy to crimp.

You work that one out and you'll make millions.

 

[zhenya]

Looks good. Can't believe it's taking so long to get these devices to the market, but glad to see it happening! My rMB is the best computer I've ever owned. Gorgeous screen. Gigantic trackpad. Tight keyboard with addictively satisfying 'click' to every keystroke. Great battery life. Nearly as portable as an iPad.

I've been 'docking' like this at my desk all along with the Apple adapter and a single usb/ethernet hub hidden away, so no motivation for me to spend the money on this, but it's great to see the options finally expanding.

 

[woody74]

As a Macbook user it is clear that the Macbook is not aimed at professional IT people or really anyone that would consider for instance plugging in an ethernet cord. It is clearly aimed at the travel market consumer market where you would always use wifi and would never consider hooking it up to a monitor. In reality how many consumers do this. As a laptop it is a cracking piece of kit and the very low weight is very good. I would totally agree that its should not always be a race to the smallest and certainly not thinest laptop but the Macbook is very good. Port wise it would be good for another Type-C to be included but things like a headphone port are just old hat and do you ever actually ever see anyone using it. I would say nowadays for 99% of consumers (that is not your average Mac Rumours reader) apart from power and using a memory stick they probably never use any other ports. How many people even use SD cards anymore as sales of digital cameras have plummeted as most people just use their phones.

 

[deeddawg]

Ives, if I have to buy and carry a separate device just to charge and use a USB flash drive, that's a major design failure.

Who carries a docking station around with them? Seems pretty silly if you ask me.

 

[earthTOmitchel]

Thanks for the writeup! Got my wife a gold macbook and been looking for a docking solution. I have looked and if anyone can help with these question I would be sure grateful!

1) Can the dock be use with the macbook in clamshell mode (i.e. closed after initial docking) ?

2) What is the refresh rate on 4k ?

Maybe I am missing something but cannot find answers to these...

Thanks - long time reader and first post.

Hey there, so in answer to the first question, in my testing the only two plugs that kept working when the computer was closed or not plugged in were the "High-Power Ports." These are essentially just slightly beefed up traditional USB-A ports, one on the front of the dock, and one on the back left. Those will keep charge going to a device through USB even without the computer.

And this is directly from OWC's site in answer to your 4k refresh rate question: "HDMI 1.4b with support for resolutions up to 4K/30Hz"

 

[theluggage]

As a Macbook user it is clear that the Macbook is not aimed at professional IT people or really anyone that would consider for instance plugging in an ethernet cord.

Why not?
Wired ethernet is still faster and more reliable than WiFi, and I'm sure that there are plenty of people out there who only have ethernet at work. WiFi is great when you can't run a cable, but if (e.g.) the router is close to your desk and you have the option, cable is still king. WiFi may not be the bottleneck in your Internet connection, but people do have NASs and other computers that they sync with. Don't be fooled by the blurb for 802.11ac WiFi that offers Gigabit speeds: that only happens under ideal conditions.

You don't have to be running climate simulations or editing Avatar 2 to benefit from a bigger screen, and personally if I'm sat at a desk I'd prefer a better keyboard than the MacBook offers, and a choice of mice not restricted to the handful of Bluetooth options.

I'd agree, its sensible not loading down an ultra-portable like the MacBook with ports that you're not going to use on the train (although I think a second USB-C so you could charge <i>and</i> plug in a stick would be a minimum) but the idea that, at your desk, you can plug in one cable and get something like desktop connectivity is a great idea.

Also remember that, before long, Apple will presumably be releasing MacBook Pros with USB-C and rather meatier CPU and graphics, and this dock will be just as useful with those.

Although this dock is currently in the same price bracket as Thunderbolt docks, I suspect that as USB-C catches on there will be a lot more competition and downward pressure on prices than there has been with TB, and that TB will become even more tightly confined to the "pro" audio/video/RAID niche than it already is.

 

[gimikinc]

It talks about design, but it is an ugly brick. Would be nice to be thinner, taller, or a cube to help with the desk footprint. For coffee shop work not sure this is something you'd drag along. It is nice there is a more featured offering.

 

[mdelvecchio]

Ives, if I have to buy and carry a separate device just to charge and use a USB flash drive, that's a major design failure.

no it isn't. i dont use an external flash drive. this is an ultraportable, not a robust general notebook.
[doublepost=1453212160][/doublepost]

I guess MacBook users don't trip over their power cords anymore.

do you trip over your iPad? same use case -- all-day battery in an ultra-light device. i dont need a magsafe in my iPad because i only charge it when it needs charging and then i use it. why would this be any different?

 

[felt.]

I need 10gbit ethernet.

 

[mdelvecchio]

Call me old-fashioned, but I like my hardware ports. Docking stations, external options, yuck. Still rocking my 2012 rMBP 15" and loving the ports. To the folks at Apple. It's thin enough! I don't want to lose ports at the expense of thinness. What's next, taking away the keyboard?

you're using a Pro device, but confusing your Pro device with an ultraportable. that is strange.
[doublepost=1453212395][/doublepost]

It's all such a fuss though isn't it. All this just to have a laptop that's useful. I wish they would stop the clamour to build a computer thinner than an After Eight mint and just keep them functional.

its quite functional. its a fantastic ultraportable. if you need a plethora of ports AT ALL TIMES, then an ultraportable probably isn't the device for you. thankfully, Apple also makes other notebooks, with ports. sounds like thats what you need instead of an ultraportable use case.

not terribly complicated stuff.

 

[Gudi]

Call me old-fashioned, but I like my hardware ports. Docking stations, external options, yuck.

You are old-fashioned. And the yuck dockingstations, they are made for people like you. To add back the odd thing old people will be missing about the future. I also like my hardware port, singular. One port ought to be enough for anybody. Provided it is versatile, speedy and daisy-chainable. USB-C is just a trick to make every new accessory on the market Thunderbolt 3 compatible. Apple will continue to build in special high-performance ports, but this time in a non-proprietary, industry-standard kind of way. I don't know what's not to love about the unfolding port situation of 2016. It's a dream come true.

 

[bladerunner2000]

All this hassle plus a $159 price tag just to get functionality that the MacBook should have had in the first place?

LOL, fail.

 

[zhenya]

All this hassle plus a $159 price tag just to get functionality that the MacBook should have had in the first place?

LOL, fail.

Do you understand the point of a dock? Do you know how much a dock costs from Dell, Lenovo, HP, etc?

Go ahead and continue to plug in 5-6 cords every time you want to dock your laptop, and carry around all those ports the rest of the time when you have no need for them. I'll plug in one cable at my desk, and have one of the lightest laptops on the planet while I'm on the go.

 

[kingtj]

I think what you don't get is that there's a market for a highly portable computer like this that still functions as a full-featured desktop machine when docked, on a computer desk where all the accessories sit.

I'm using one every day in the office as my primary (only) work computer. It's great because when I have to travel to our other location and provide computer assistance, I can just unplug a USB-C cable, throw it in a padded, zippered sleeve, and take it with me on the Metro. But when I'm working with it in my office, I still want to take advantage of things like our gigabit wired ethernet connection and attach it to my 27" monitor, using a full size keyboard and mouse, and use my Logitech USB C910 webcam for any video conferences. (Works much better than the built in iSight camera and lets me work with the lid closed on the Macbook too.)

Now, granted -- this is NOT the most powerful of Macs. I'd say the overall performance in OS X is probably not a lot better than my late 2010 era Macbook Pro 17". But for Microsoft Office, OmniGraffle, apps like DropBox or Google Drive, Microsoft's remote desktop client and so forth? What more do I really need?

I don't get it!
Each to their own of course, but why would you buy a laptop with such limited connectivity if, in fact, what you needed was a laptop with many connectivity options.
I always assumed that the target market for this laptop were people who used the cloud/wifi for everything that they do, they dont have SD Cards, LAN connections and connected printers.

This product will sell to people who bought the laptop for it being sexy whilst having no clue why they needed the MacBook in the first place.

 

[felt.]

I'll plug in one cable at my desk, and have one of the lightest laptops on the planet while I'm on the go.

do you even lift bro?

 

[bladerunner2000]

Do you understand the point of a dock? Do you know how much a dock costs from Dell, Lenovo, HP, etc?

Go ahead and continue to plug in 5-6 cords every time you want to dock your laptop, and carry around all those ports the rest of the time when you have no need for them. I'll plug in one cable at my desk, and have one of the lightest laptops on the planet while I'm on the go.

Yeah, because the extra 0.34 lbs was SUCH A BURDEN when you had all the ports in your previous laptop.

LOL, so petty.
[doublepost=1453225013][/doublepost]

do you even lift bro?

LOOOOOOOL!!!!!!!

 

[zhenya]

Yeah, because the extra 0.34 lbs was SUCH A BURDEN when you had all the ports in your previous laptop.

LOL, so petty.

Again, you clearly have no idea of the point of a docking station. And no, the Air with its garbage screen and outdated design doesn't even have the option of a single connection dock.

LOOOOOOOL!!!!!!!