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Satechi Introduces New USB-C Slim Dock for 24-Inch iMac With Enclosure for External SSD
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There must be billions of USB-A peripherals and cables out there still in active use, and there have been for decades now. Outside tech enthusiast circles like this, people don't always just throw things in the garbage just because some new thing comes out.
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it's cheaper to make a downstream USB A hub from USB C. My understanding is that multi-port USB C hubs really need a Thunderbolt controller which would add significantly to the cost.
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It is, and it's really nice.
I have it in "leather" color. It's not actually leather (which I actually think is a plus), but it looks and feels really nice and supple, has no vinyl-y odor or anything, and I don't have to worry about setting my coffee cup on it.
I'm sure they're more expensive to implement.
It's not so much that you have to have a thunderbolt controller if you just want to connect a bunch of USB 3.1 peripherals - it's just that such a non-Thunderbolt USB hub has no real advantage over using a bog standard USB 3 type A hub. At best, you could connect a single standard definition display via the hub (but no 4k@60Hz if you want USB 3 on the other ports) - otherwise you're just paying for the privilege of buying new cables for everything.
This is a neat product at a reasonable price, and I really appreciate how "built-in" it looks. If I had one of these iMacs I'd almost certainly buy one.
I'm vaguely remembering some kind of dock for the (even older) iMac G4, but wasn't able to Google anything up.
I do, but it was at least 17 years ago; there have been "docks" for the Mini since the first-gen G4 in 2005: MicroNet had the miniMate and I actually owned a NewerTech miniStack for my own G4 mini that had almost exactly the same functionality as this--a hard drive with extra ports on the back. If memory serves I ordered mine at the same time I bought the Mini as a server/HTPC.
I'm vaguely remembering some kind of dock for the (even older) iMac G4, but wasn't able to Google anything up.
USB A is perferctly functional for existing thumb drives, keyboard, mice, and all those spare iPhone charging cables Apple is certain that we all have. The computer itself already has 4 USB C. But yeah sure, "obsolete".
Basically you are just dividing up a 5 or 10Gb port. Satechi makes a 4 port USB-C dongle but all the reviews on it are mixed because it is dividing up the bandwidth of a 5Gb port (limited to USB 3 speeds only not 3.1 for some reason) and really has a hard time keeping with more than one disk drive at a time. You really need a larger upstream bandwidth pie to slice up in order to have any practical modern use beyond input devices and flash drives which USB A is more likely to accommodate without adaptors.
You miss his point. It's missing Red, Green, Orange, Yellow and Purple. It is ONLY matching the Silver and Blue shades but NOT the others which makes the lone blue options seem dumb.
Should work with the Studio, why wouldn't it? I believe the base is the same width...
UPDATE
I just spoke with Satechi support, they said the studio display stand is wider and it wont sit flush. They also said they are working on new products that fit the Studio Display so there's that...
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Here is the Amazon link for the Desk mats. There is a $13 off coupon, plus free Prime shipping.
Amazon.com : Satechi Dual Sided Eco-Leather Deskmate - Desk Blotter & Protector - Safe for Lacquered & Varnished Wooden Surfaces (Blue/Green) : Office Products
Amazon.com : Satechi Dual Sided Eco-Leather Deskmate - Desk Blotter & Protector - Safe for Lacquered & Varnished Wooden Surfaces (Blue/Green) : Office Products
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
I still have lots of USB A devices as I'm on a 2015 MacBook and a generic HP laptop for work.. it's got exactly one USB C in 2020. I've only bought like two retail devices (out of like a dozen mouse, keyboard, hard drives, headsets, etc) in the last four years that included USB C connectors.
Eco leather indeed. It’s PU. Which companies would stop using such rubbish as eco leather.
Does look nice but no Euro shipping.
I interpreted the comment as a complaint concerning lack of a neutral option, which I would consider silver to be. Coincidentally, it happens to be the same silver as the iMac variant.
Well sure. There are entire forums on the internet for people to show off their clean, stylish, eye-pleasing battlestations. For those people, the mere shape of this hub is the advantage - especially when they would otherwise have no real use for the additional full-speed USB-C ports.
This hub wasn't designed to be the most performant hub in the world. Just performant enough to offer value to the 90% of Mac users who just need an extra port or two and maybe some external storage, while also doing so in an aesthetically pleasing form factor.
What if you are a minimalist and want a clean sleek look and do everything wirelessly?
Maybe you haven't ventured out the home much to see that USB A ports are not obsolete. They are very much in use and USB thumb drives are sold everywhere and will be for many years to come.
I have not, I was a "digital nomad" for a few years before the pandemic and have been charging everything, from my electric shaver to my laptop to my watch out of a single usb-c charger since at least 5 years. My life used to fit on a carry-on backpack so I transitioned to a single charging port without a second thought.
I haven't own a single USB A cable since at least 2018. So, yes, I might be out of touch to think a newly announced dock in 2022 having so many USB A is obsolete, to each its own.
Satechi confirmed they have no plans on making this in other colors at this time
— “For the launch of this product, we went with blue and silver as they are the most popular iMac colors” and said it’s difficult to make colored matched aluminum products. I was hoping for a yellow one but I guess silver it is!