Satechi Announces Type-C Hub Adapter for MacBook

[John.B]

Is there a technical limitation that prevents a docking station with the rMB from using the USB-C port for charging and data simultaneously? Why else would they leave that out? You shouldn't need a focus group to know people are going want a docking station that overcomes the limitations of the one-port rMB.

 

[HPDoor]

It needs a MagSafe connection. No ...hold on...: the Macbook needs a MagSafe connection!
I am waiting for an Air with Retina to replace my wife's 2011. Still waiting.

 

[DFZD]

It needs a MagSafe connection. No ...hold on...: the Macbook needs a MagSafe connection!
I am waiting for an Air with Retina to replace my wife's 2011. Still waiting.

The Air would need atleast 8gb RAM to pull of a retina screen. Right now it's very restricted for any kind of serious work.

 

[Acorn]

no power passthrough indeed. I fart in your general direction.

 

[jgallant1990]

I still dont understand why they included a headphone port and not an additional usb-c. bluetooth wireless headphones. everything else is supposed to be wireless.

I’d love to see Phil Schiller spin this one.

For music, agreed. For anything where you actually want the screen to be in sync with what you're hearing, wired is nice

+1 for breakout cable and pass through. They would be the first to get it right with a dock at this price point.

 

[H2SO4]

Maybe it isn't designed for people who need all kinds of ports on a regular basis.

Sorry, yeah - I forgot.

They should have desinged the laptop with no keyboard either as Siri is just great and it would get in the way. Oh bugger, that’s the iPad.
Right, no keyboard and no screen and jack the price up too.

One port on either side is reasonable if you are minimising. One port in total is ridiculous and restrictive.

 

[pmhparis]

Sorry, yeah - I forgot.

They should have desinged the laptop with no keyboard either as Siri is just great and it would get in the way. Oh bugger, that’s the iPad.
Right, no keyboard and no screen and jack the price up too.

One port on either side is reasonable if you are minimising. One port in total is ridiculous and restrictive.

Thats not all it's missing! No IDE headers!!! No Floppy headers!!! No Parrallel port!!! Where is the PS/2 conector so I can plug in my cuecat!!! It's ridiculous that they would leave these off what would otherwise be a perfectly engineered 1995 era PC!!!

On the other hand, the macbook is perfect for my son in college as the only thing other than power he has ever needed to connect to the macbook is a HDMI connector that he got with Apple's multimedia dongle.

 

[baryon]

This computer would be so much better if it just had one more USB port. I hope the next gen MacBook follows the MacBook Air, which had 1 USB port to begin with and then gained a second one eventually. It's just needless fiddling, being able to always charge it should be a given. It's like those stupid newer cars that require removing the entire bumper just to replace a lightbulb.

 

[Flunkyturtle]

uterly useuless as it doesn't provide enough power to support two external drives anyway.

I can't even attach an external drive and a memory card without one ejecting due to power issues.

 

[unplugme71]

I'd be interested to see accessories for a Apple. Perhaps a slicer?

It's been done before, but I did hear rumors of one made out of aluminum and thinner.

 

[JackANSI]

For music, agreed. For anything where you actually want the screen to be in sync with what you're hearing, wired is nice

+1 for breakout cable and pass through. They would be the first to get it right with a dock at this price point.

But... but... wireless is the future!

 

[Kissaragi]

What a stupid design decision to not include a USB C port!

 

[mdbradigan]

I don't understand why, if no usb3 passthrough, they could not have added an AC adapter and made this a powered hub. Or added a bit of heft and added a battery, etc. This would be **perfect** with a power solution. Even at double the price. Must be some serious technical issues going on here. (See Hub+'s failure)

 

[melendezest]

If this computer doesn't meet your needs, it DOES NOT make it inferior. That's so egotistical.

Actually it does make it inferior. For him/her.

It really is quite simple.

Just because the computer meets your needs does not make it equal or superior to other offerings out there.

There is NOTHING a Macbook can do that others can't, while others provide more or better connectivity, storage, real-estate options, etc.

That said, if an individual buys this accessory, what does that say about them?

They bought a one-port computer when they clearly needed more (a stupid mistake), or they believed Apple when they said you could do everything you need to with the one port (a foolish and/or sucker mistake).

In my opinion this company is banking on Apple customers that fit the above criteria.

 

[PaulRustad007]

How many of you people actually have this computer? Use it on a regular basis? My God......

Apple made a computer with one port. Get over it. I personally believe that this computer was not designed to run the latest Final Cut Pro with terabytes of external storage.....for most people, this works well.

Facebook, email and Safari.....that is about it. It is perfect for the Grandmother in you.....

 

[mdbradigan]

I agree with ^. I don't think we are complaining because we are idiots, and were sold on a bill of goods about not needing more ports. I think we all assumed, based on all of the products going into development at time of purchase, that there would be more usb3 products by now. I'm not upset with Apple - I'm upset with pace of development.

I use my MB as my portable - I have an excellent 15" 16GB monster that I use for work. It's phenomenal. but lugging it around sucks. carrying my MB? awesome. that is why I bought it. That doesn't mean that I wouldn't like to plug it into an external display every now and again.

 

[Max(IT)]

I for one am glad Apple is pushing people to rely more on wireless technologies instead of plugging things in like a caveman. I get that some people need ports, then this isn't right for you. Remember, just because it isn't right for you, it doesn't make it universally bad. That's insanely egotistical thinking. Many people hardly plug in accessories at all.

Mate, we are not speaking about 3-4 ports.
Just 2, one for charging and one for occasional plugging. Totally reasonable IMHO

 

[Max(IT)]

They added a separate controller for the second port. Apple used only the controller built into the Broadwell-Y chipset, which supports only one USB-C port. It's a design decision. Clearly Apple is aiming this product at people who don't use ports a lot.

indeed, but they went too far ...
One port could be enough for many of us, but at least let the notebook charge while an external device is connected !
With 2 USB-C that could have been obtained.

Sorry, yeah - I forgot.

They should have desinged the laptop with no keyboard either as Siri is just great and it would get in the way. Oh bugger, that’s the iPad.
Right, no keyboard and no screen and jack the price up too.

One port on either side is reasonable if you are minimising. One port in total is ridiculous and restrictive.

Maybe not ridiculous, but surely restrictive.
And Apple forgot about 2008 MacBook Air and its single port .... revised in 2010 MacBook Air.

 

[KPOM]

indeed, but they went too far ...
One port could be enough for many of us, but at least let the notebook charge while an external device is connected !
With 2 USB-C that could have been obtained.


Maybe not ridiculous, but surely restrictive.
And Apple forgot about 2008 MacBook Air and its single port .... revised in 2010 MacBook Air.

One difference is that USB-C is supposed to allow for peripherals to handle multiple tasks. That said, to date, Apple's hubs are the only products to actually hit the market, though the Hydradock might be close to coming to market (they finally demoed a working pre-production version yesterday).

 

[Dozer_Zaibatsu]

The vast majority of users never have anything more than the power cord attached to their computer. And on the incredibly rare chance they do need to connect something else, the 12 hours of battery life the MacBook offers is more than enough time to attach that other device to get their work done.

Do you honestly believe Apple didn't do their homework here and just randomly makes these changes simply because they feel like it?

I honestly believe that Apple doesn't do Marketing research because they have traditionally eschewed that, and bragged about it.

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

I honestly believe that Apple doesn't do Marketing research because they have traditionally eschewed that, and bragged about it.

I've worked with Apple for more than 15 years. They do a TON of market research. It's huge for them. What generally sets them apart is because they know how to really learn from it. Rather than look for the answers they want to see, they're great at seeing things a bit differently and reading between the lines.

They look at how people use their devices and where they can remove usage issues. How they can reinvent them in better ways to make the process more intuitive and easier. They don't simply say "We know all the answers." and figure everything out internally without any input from outside.

If they didn't do market research, their products wouldn't ask to collect usage data.

 

[melendezest]

How many of you people actually have this computer? Use it on a regular basis? My God......

Apple made a computer with one port. Get over it. I personally believe that this computer was not designed to run the latest Final Cut Pro with terabytes of external storage.....for most people, this works well.

Facebook, email and Safari.....that is about it. It is perfect for the Grandmother in you.....

To a certain extent, I have to agree.

This is an iPad with a keyboard.

And while I think this is a better purchase than an iPad, it is (arguably) not a better purchase than an MBAir, particularly the 11 inch, at least functionality-wise.

I suspect that guy will be disappearing soon, sadly.

But Apple is clever as hell, forcing you to choose between great portability & screen but crippled functionality, and great portability & functionality but crippled screen.

I swear, they love to f with their customers this way, laughing at them all the way to the bank.

They're like a really, reeeally HOT girl that gives you just enough to keep you hoping she'll actually put out one day.

She WON'T, but you just don't want to take the chance she MIGHT.

 

[sentiblue]

I think the lack of pass through charge feature is a terrible mistake.
Although the macbook runs for quite many hours using the excellent battery life, but what if I was on a plane, using multiple devices at once and my flight is 14 hours?

They are able to make so many extension ports available on the dock, why not just 1 more?
We do all know that these days... most flight seats including economy seats have power ports.

 

[ajfahey]

Did anyone else notice that this thing covers up both USB-C ports on a 15" 2016 MBP? It doesn't just not include a pass through port for charging but it uses 2 ports to boot!

 

[LotusLord]

Did anyone else notice that this thing covers up both USB-C ports on a 15" 2016 MBP? It doesn't just not include a pass through port for charging but it uses 2 ports to boot!

Since it's USB C could you not just turn it the other way? May look funny but wouldn't cover the other port.