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Satechi Launches Type-C Pro Hub for 2016 MacBook Pro With Ports for Thunderbolt 3, HDMI, SD, and More
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Obviously you fail to understand what desktops and notebooks are: computers in a different package. That's why your opinion doesn't contain irony or hypocrisy. The only thing your opinion shows is that you failed to understand computing and didn't grasp the concept of it all (which btw, is fine, not everyone is an expert on everything, just be smart to recognise your own limitations). That was something I was trying to subtly point out to you. If you want to disprove what I wrote then you really need to do that with technology, not by the personal attack you've now opted for.
You *think* that you did while in fact you did no such thing. What you did is show that both notebooks and desktops are computers and that on occasion people connect stuff to it. You also showed that you failed to grasp the one and only difference between desktops and notebooks: the option of portability.
Yes, it is perfectly credibly to deny the fact that students all around the world are using notebooks for heavy tasks such as 3D modelling, 3D CAD and so on. Just as it is perfectly credible to deny the fact that their teachers are doing the same. Not to mention that it is perfectly credible to deny people on the forums here doing the exact same thing. And of course it is ultimately credible to deny even Phil Schiller and Craig Federighi saying these things. Those are the facts and you have chosen to deny all of them. You are free to do so but it will make you look silly (and then I'm being overly positive).
We have various kinds of computing models. One of the very first is the one used back in the days where we had mainframes and terminals. It's the fat server, thin client principle which is heavily used throughout the world today. It has died off when we went to the thin server, fat client but with the so called "cloud computing" (which is just a buzzword for server based computing) we are returning to that old model from the 70s/80s. Things are a tad bit different though because it isn't just a matter of having a remote desktop like back in the day. We now have the option to stream applications (Steam is a good example of that) where all the computing is done serverside. The client (your computing being it a desktop, notebook, tablet or whatever) only sends and receives video, mouse and keyboard signals. Citrix is one of the companies that managed to grow and there are many others doing the same.
Then there is also something that is called a cluster or a supercomputer. People offload their tasks to those machines because they are more powerful, they run 24/7 (their computers do not) and it doesn't interfere with the other stuff they are doing on their computer. In this case what kind of computer you use also doesn't matter at all because, again, everything is done serverside.
Not to mention the many web based services we now have. You can have your entire development in the cloud now for example (Microsoft isn't the only one offering things like this): this means the entire IDE, the entire process of compiling up to the entire process of releasing and running the software. This has caused some developers to use iPads.
Btw, another good example are TV programmes about renovations, DIY, looking for a new house, etc. because those use 3D modelling extensively and they mostly use a tablet for that.
Mind you, that Microsoft is also redefining what a tablet and notebook is with their 2-in-1 computer: the Surface. They even mocked Apple with it when they introduced the Surface Pro 3. Basically these devices are just a notebook shaped like a tablet and they are very popular. Even the difference between tablets and notebooks are disappearing.
Since a subtle nudge doesn't get the point across to you I'll be blunt here: you may be intimate with 3D modelling but you are not with computing and that shows because you are blatantly wrong on all accounts. You simply don't have what it takes to participate in this discussion and that makes you look very silly. Yet this is very easily remedied by simply looking around the forums here and looking up the definitions at wikipedia. You need to let go of this idea of yours that all the magic happens in that single box on your desk. In reality the magic happens all over the place in various boxes.
I agree with your point.
But there are other manufacturers besides Apple. If youre a pro then you need a pro solution. All pro software runs on PCs, MacOS has similar offerings but nothing that the PC world doesn't have.
I don't mean to imply that there is no market for the gadget but I suspect the majority of people who need the dongle for their profession could have made a better choice when buying the machine.
Try to stay on topic. This article—and its comments—regard a port device for an Apple laptop. The solutions you gave—Xeon processors, eGPC—aren’t options for Apple laptops. Apple laptops aren’t suitable substitutes for processor-heavy applications that workstations handle. And if you look again at the photo, it’s clear that someone is trying to emulate a workstation using a laptop. The hassle of attaching and detaching numerous cords seems inelegant and inefficient to me. It’s best to use a tool that is optimized for the task or situation—and let laptops do what they do best. Because portability—not flexibility—is the most important trait for a laptop. If you disagree, then you should tell Apple, not me. After all, the selling points of laptops are weight, compactness, and battery life. Frugality and versatility are never at the top of the list.
And make sure you know someone’s credentials before you make an assumption about their experience. Some of us have lived the history. The Present is rarely correct about the Future. There’s many young newcomers starting careers that involve computer technology and they naively believe the technology was created by them, and that their limited use of it somehow makes them cocksure of what the future will bring. Digital nomad? Ha! That futurespeak was invented in the 1990’s. It’s hardly a trend. Younger prognosticators like to revive the concept from time to time and declare it the lifestyle that everyone will someday have. I’m doubtful. If anything, telecommuting has revealed some serious disadvantages. It’s a niche occupation arrangement for very few people.
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Please explain to me again how USBc has been an improvement, when you have to slap all sorts of bulky add-ons just to allow for basic functionality that was already there
Because it allows, like Lightning (but on both ends), for the cable to be plugged either way.
Because it's smaller.
Because eventually, more devices will support it directly.
Big. effing. deal.
Negligible. And not worth the trade-off in connectivity and battery life IMHO
Sure. By the time this happens though, we'd all need to upgrade our MacBooks again anyway.
You sure live up to your nick by saying something like this. The entire USB-C thing is negligible because it is only a connector and cable. The protocol doesn't change so all you need is a cable with USB-C instead of USB-A at the other end and you can use your device for another 20 years (or even more because USB-C can take a lot more insertions than previous connectors can). Big deal.
It's just not worth sticking with the old connector for because there are more advantages to it. The number of insertions has increased (it is smaller and sturdier connector so it lasts longer), it is actually designed to be used with high bandwidth applications (with Thunderbolt 3 it can do 80Gbps (40Gbps in both directions since TB is full duplex)) just as it is designed to deliver up to 100W to a device (no need to be carrying additional power adapters for devices because they can now be buspowered; USB-C also has proper USB-PD support). Another small improvement is cable thickness: they are thinner and more supple than the old USB3.0 cables.
The biggest improvement is that unlike previous cabling it is actually forward compatible. The alt mode functionality of USB-C allows for future use of stuff we haven't invented yet. Very different from the pre-USB-C era where we had cabling that was designed to be used with stuff that we used at that time and previously. It meant that you had to change cabling when something new came out. Something that is not going to happen with USB-C, it is designed to last.
There are other nicer advantages such as the cable being able to be used for just about anything as well as powering something up to 100W. Previous USB cabling could do none of that.
I think this type of dock, multiport adapter or whatever you want to call it is rather silly. It would have made more sense if you could attach a USB-C cable of your preferred length to it so you can get the cables out of the way, put the dock wherever you want it and connect it to whatever port (thus side) you want. This dock from Satechi is not a very useful dock in that regard. Although their other docks don't come with a separate USB-C cable those are better choices because at least they have a cable (as short as it is). Makes it so much easier to put it where you want it. I for one would like to have one with a separate USB-C cable and magnetic feet so I can stick it to the side of the (server) rack. Should prevent tripping over wires and launching a notebook (MagSafe is power cable only, doesn't do anything for USB and network cables and thus it is these cables that will launch your notebook).
Btw, I like the fact that this cuts down on e-waste because with one cable you can do anything. No need for VGA, DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort and USB cables to be supplied with a display. The more devices and computers come equipped with it, the better and the quicker we can move to a feature where you don't have to have an entire collection of cables like we used to in the past.
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The problem is not USB-C/TB3. The problem is Apple dropping everything but USB-C/TB3 on its Pro laptops about 2-3 years too early, while most of us still have a shedload of USB-A, DisplayPort, HDMI, Magsafe, TB1/2, Lightning etc. devices... including any brand-new desktop Mac or iDevice you buy from Apple in the near future.
Take the 2015 MacBook Pro - replace its two TB2 ports with TB3 ports - keep the USB-A, HDMI and MagSafe... perfect. OK so you have to replace any existing video dongles, but at least you won't have to replace everything.
Of course, Apple might also have wanted to create a new thin'n'crispy 13" macBook for people who's priority was portability rather than power/versatility. Fine. If you scratch out the "Pro" on the 2016 non-TB MBP, it starts looking a lot better - although it would be far better still if it had MagSafe so you didn't have to 'waste' one of its two high-speed I/O/external display ports with a charger.
I kinda assumed it would have it until I saw your comment. WTF. Dealbreaker.
AHAHHAHHAHAHAHAHAH! Just look at these butt ugly bulky things! Yes, the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, you fanboys!
I am glad Apple did a pure USB-C with the MacBook Pro. I likely would have purchased a MacBook Pro if it had all the ports and 32 GB of memory when I really didn't need to upgrade yet. That hub mess makes me want to go with a cleaner Desktop PC tower machine now.
^^^ This. And I rewarded Apple for this nonsense by buying an HP laptop, ZTE Phone, and Huawei Watch 2 this year instead of a Macbook, iPhone 7s/8/whatever, and maybe a new watch. It's really not as bad on the "dark side" as some make it out to be. It's actually quite refreshing. Maybe I'll be back in 2-3 years.
As a shareholder of Apple I hated to do it but their new products are very uninspiring and expensive.
I'm always curious why Apple themselves don't have an elegant docking solution.
With my work Dell, I can take it out of my backpack, go to my deck, and click it in to my dock, which drives my speakers, microphone, two monitors, has ethernet, an external drive, and powers and charges the device, all without plugging in anything. This is very elegant solution.
With all the popularity of these devices, especially now that we are starting to get ones with egpu and external storage possibilities, I'm always surprised that Apple doesn't have something similar. Like 12-South's Arc solution, that houses many many external ports, etc. This seems pretty necessary in a world where more and more people are using laptops with peripherals instead of workstations for their needs.
With my work Dell, I can take it out of my backpack, go to my deck, and click it in to my dock, which drives my speakers, microphone, two monitors, has ethernet, an external drive, and powers and charges the device, all without plugging in anything. This is very elegant solution.
With all the popularity of these devices, especially now that we are starting to get ones with egpu and external storage possibilities, I'm always surprised that Apple doesn't have something similar. Like 12-South's Arc solution, that houses many many external ports, etc. This seems pretty necessary in a world where more and more people are using laptops with peripherals instead of workstations for their needs.
Apple did this "abomination" so that we need to bring a bunch of dongle to use "legacy" hardware and peripherals.
But, could this dongle be a bit thinner? Like, similar thickness of MacBook Pro?
Also, wish there is a massive dongle using all four ports of MacBook Pro and provide like 6 USB-A port, HDMI, Ethernet, SD card reader etc., and also charging port. Cable is used to connect all four ports.
But, could this dongle be a bit thinner? Like, similar thickness of MacBook Pro?
Also, wish there is a massive dongle using all four ports of MacBook Pro and provide like 6 USB-A port, HDMI, Ethernet, SD card reader etc., and also charging port. Cable is used to connect all four ports.
Yup. I just skip this big chunk of words altogether. "It's too much to watch!"
Ugh, ethernet is NOT a legacy port. Wifi is still crap in 2017 unless you've got a really good access point that you're close to.
Hey guys!
A question regarding using this kind of hubs, is there any issues with overloading the ports? Can i find out what the maximum load would be on this kind of adapter?
I am looking for something like this, to be used for our photographers, but they have a ******** of stuff then need to connect.
Cameras, external HDD, external display, ethernet .. also, the macbook needs to be charged during this
Should we look in to a hub with external power instead?
A question regarding using this kind of hubs, is there any issues with overloading the ports? Can i find out what the maximum load would be on this kind of adapter?
I am looking for something like this, to be used for our photographers, but they have a ******** of stuff then need to connect.
Cameras, external HDD, external display, ethernet .. also, the macbook needs to be charged during this
Should we look in to a hub with external power instead?
Uh, this style of dock has been around since at least the PowerBook G3 era - with the "attach to the side via the ports" model having been around since at least 2001 and the white iBook! http://lowendmac.com/bookrev/04/0510.html#1
That said, Satechi is shipping *NOW*, by an established company, while HyperDrive is still "taking preorders" with no clear-cut time when current orders will ship.
I have no horse in the race, but calling Satechi a ripoff is disingenuous. HyperDrive is itself extremely similar to many preceding devices, such as similar USB-C ones for the MacBook Retina. Including ones by - SURPRISE! - Satechi. That came out long before the HyperDrive was announced.
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Yes, I know. The non-touch bar MBP still has only one port per side.
Those with TB and 2 per side are less likely to need a hub. And even if they do, my main point is that it looks bulky and rather ugly.
No, the non-touchbar has two ports on the left side, no ports on the right side. (Well, it has a headphone jack on the right side.) The touchbar models have two ports on each side (the 13-inch model has "half speed" ports on the right side compared to the left side.)
http://appleinsider.com/articles/16/11/13/review-apples-late-2016-macbook-pro-without-touch-bar
I got my Hyperdrive almost 2 months ago, I didn't realise some people were still waiting. I presumed it was shipping properly now as well.
On one hand, I resent that I need to use this sort of product but actually 99% of my daily use does not require it. I keep it in my satchel and only really get it out when I'm doing DJ stuff as I need all sorts of stuff plugged in and occasionally when someone hands me a USB stick. I have a dual USB-A/C stick for my own use.
My personal view though is that apple should have still included a single USB-A port on one side and a SD slot on the other.
On one hand, I resent that I need to use this sort of product but actually 99% of my daily use does not require it. I keep it in my satchel and only really get it out when I'm doing DJ stuff as I need all sorts of stuff plugged in and occasionally when someone hands me a USB stick. I have a dual USB-A/C stick for my own use.
My personal view though is that apple should have still included a single USB-A port on one side and a SD slot on the other.
Unless you are using 10gb ethernet a USB to ethernet adapter is going to provide you with sufficient speeds to exceed any spinning media attached to a network. 99.9% of people don't have SSD NAS nor 10gb needed to take advantage. I personally use wifi and don't see the need for ethernet as an option.
I hate these docks. If you spent $99 on various alternatives to fill your connectivity needs such as a wifi SD card or a USBc to Hdmi cable etc you could reduce all that mess to almost zero. I know people feel like it was too early for an all USBc device but this is taking it just way too far.
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Sure, they could have put one in there but the majority would say ethernet isn't a high priority or necessary. Ethernet has been dropped from most laptops for 5 years or so. I love me some ethernet myself but this thing is hideous enough already.
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Sure, they could have put one in there but the majority would say ethernet isn't a high priority or necessary. Ethernet has been dropped from most laptops for 5 years or so. I love me some ethernet myself but this thing is hideous enough already.
And I am glad that my PC laptop has an Ethernet port so I can connect to my Pi board using cables, to complete some initial configurations.
Very much no. Why do you assume that? That's why I said the new MBP - equipped just as it is now - should be sold as the MacBook Air (or pick some new name), and they should continue to make a high-end machine with all those ports.
I am very happy for you that you're "considered a pro user", but the label "Pro" attached to a MacBook previously wasn't intended to convey the status of the user, it was to signify that the machine had additional capabilities built-in, beyond what most consumers needed. If you don't need those capabilities, then you probably don't need the "Pro" laptop.
And yes, USB-C lets one plug in all sorts of things. It is not a panacea. Aside from then having to keep track of all sorts of extra bits, I've had (painful) experience using an external ethernet dongle on a MacBook Pro (via Thunderbolt, on a rMBP) in a professional setting where I needed to move the machine around a lot, and it was nowhere near as robust as a built-in port (Mini DisplayPort / Thunderbolt didn't have "staying attached while moving around" as a design consideration) - I had to constantly be very careful to keep the dongle from being pulled out of the side of the laptop (which would drop the network connection and break a dozen or so ssh sessions), while the same problem doesn't affect a built-in ethernet port (and USB-C isn't much better than Thunderbolt from a physical connection respect).
Who is forcing you to carry around those ports? Apple makes several lines of laptops, only one of which has (had) lots of ports. Now they've eliminated that choice, and you're treating the elimination of choice as some sort of victory? For whom?
The point of mine you're replying to clearly says "PRO laptop" and "thinner". Along with removing ports, they went from having a really terrific keyboard, to having a merely okay keyboard whose main advantage is that it's thinner, so they could make the laptop thinner. Again, nobody asked for it to be thinner. And I was specifically talking about their "Pro" models, the ones that (previously) had lots of built-in ports.
Very nice for you (and thank you for informing me about managers - I had previously misclassified them merely as "mostly human"). "Pro" in this context is not some sort of status symbol label. It's an indication that the device includes features beyond what most users need. There is no shame in using a non-pro device (I use many) - very few people drive a Formula 1 race car to work, or use a Red 8K video camera to shoot movies. But you wouldn't suggest that those who actually need to do such things enter their next Grand Prix driving a Prius, or shoot their next major motion picture on an iPhone, would you? Watering down the definition of "Pro" in relation to Macs (making a non-upgradable, thermally limited "Mac Pro", and removing ports from the "MacBook Pro"), is changing the "Pro" label on Mac equipment from being a meaningful distinction indicating a more capable machine, to being a mere status symbol. Which makes people who want a status symbol ("my laptop should say Pro because I'm a professional") happy, but it's kind of a big f-you to people who actually needed those capabilities that Apple has removed. Now they're stuck in a situation where they can buy a more capable laptop (from some other company), but they cannot legally buy a more capable laptop running macOS.
As to managers, again, a laptop is meant to be a tool, not a status symbol. Yet it still stands that "ManagerBook" is a term of art that has been around for years, to describe compact-but-capable laptops suited to the needs of those for whom small size and light weight are more useful than lots of connectivity options.
I stand by my original point that the new MacBook Pros are nice laptops, but they do not replace the need for macOS-based laptops that are inherently more capable. (And, since Apple doesn't issue product roadmaps, leaving us to guess from things like what names they give devices, it's a disturbing sign.)
Be aware that another Kickstarter usb-c hub project has been abandoned due to a lack of suitable chips.
Re Ethernet, when travelling I use a Satechi travel adapter that converts ethernet to wifi.
http://www.satechi.net/index.php/sa...and-more-in-us-ca-mx-uk-eu-au-nz-hk-and-china