Satechi Launches New USB-C Pro Hub With Ethernet Port

[MacRumors]

Satechi today added to its USB-C hub lineup with the launch of the Aluminum Type-C Pro Hub with Ethernet.

Designed for 2016 and 2017 13 and 15-inch MacBook Pro models, the new Pro Hub with Ethernet comes equipped with a Gigabit Ethernet port, an HDMI port, a USB-C Power Delivery port that supports 87W of power, two type-A USB 3.0 ports, and a micro SD card slot.

Like other Satechi USB-C hubs, the Pro Hub with Ethernet comes in a brushed aluminum that's available in either silver or Space Gray to match Apple's notebooks.

The Pro Hub with Ethernet's integrated Gigabit Ethernet port is invaluable in a situation where Wi-Fi is either unavailable or unreliable. It supports 10/100/1000Mb/s.

In addition to an Ethernet connection, the Pro Hub supports a 4K monitor through the HDMI port and the USB-C port allows for power delivery. The microSD card slot can be used for importing images and files, while the two USB 3.0 ports allow for data transfer from USB-A accessories.

Satechi's new Aluminum Type-C Pro Hub with Ethernet can be purchased today from the Satechi website or from Amazon for $99.99.

Article Link: Satechi Launches New USB-C Pro Hub With Ethernet Port

 

[jameswilby]

Soooo close to perfect... Just needed that full size SD card slot. But I'm still really tempted by this

 

[DJMagicMelliott]

No word on 4K 60hz? Otherwise, this is useless, just like the rest of the Satechi USB C - HDMI accessories that share HDMI with USB 3.0. Ain't nobody got time for 30hz!

 

[lilrush]

It's sad that these are products. The simple fact there is a market for products like this demonstrates that Apple took away ports the users need.

 

[robertcoogan]

I bought a USB Type C hub for my 2016 MBP not long ago from Amazon. It cost me almost $70, and I am still using it to this day, but I can't connect any external hard drives to it.

The problem with USB Type C isn't in the speed (it is really fast), it is with the poor quality of the hardware component. The very design of USB Type C connector and port isn't very sturdy. Even my pricey USB Type C hub wobbles in the port, causing any connected devices to disconnect, then reconnect, then disconnect, etc. This has also happened with much cheaper hubs I have bought, so price (read: quality) isn't an issue here. It only compounds the dongle hell issue that a lot of 2016 MBP owners experience.

So with Satechi's new hub (if I were to buy it), I can now expect Ethernet to disconnect, then reconnect, then disconnect, etc. I would hope that they and other hub manufacturers would design some sort of clip that would secure it more firmly to the MBP, so the wobble would hopefully go away. I really hope that USB Type C goes the way of the dodo very soon, or the connector and port are redesigned to make them more sturdy.

 

[ateslik]

God that’s an arse ugly wart. FFS just put ports back into the mother f’ing computer Johnny!!

 

[Schranke]

newer liked the docks which is a block on the side of the Mac. So when I bought a new 2017 MacBook Pro I got this dock instead https://satechi.net/collections/usb...type-c-multi-port-adapter?variant=27296854025
No ethernet or microSD, but looks a lot better in my opinion.

 

[mrzz]

..and all these ugly and expensive hubs just because of Apple how decided to prefer design over functionality. If they don't return back a single USB3.1 to MBP 2018 it will be a fail again. Who TF needs 4xUSB-C even in 2018?? 5% of all the MBP users? Apple just totally screwed 2016&17 MBP (ports/keybord/magsafe removal/...) and extended that dongles' hell (my opinion is that they just did it on purpose to force people buy another overpriced dongles .. I doubt they didn't find a place e.g. for a single USB3.1.

 

[mzeb]

The portable dock doesn't make sense to me. I haven't plugged in ethernet anywhere but home since a very long time ago. At home this is my "dock":

https://mymantiz.com/products/mz-02-venus

But a portable dock just doesn't make sense anymore. I DO have a tiny usb-c to usb-a converter just in case but I rarely use it. All my portable stuff is BT. Clearly this will sell but I'm curious how bit the market is at this point...

 

[dirt_farmer]

So so so insane.

They removed the features that are necessary to the usage of the device, all in the name of "design".

Prediction: Next generation Macbook Pro has no display.

You view it via dongles and aftermarket adapters.

You read it here first!

 

[araadt]

So with Satechi's new hub (if I were to buy it), I can now expect Ethernet to disconnect, then reconnect, then disconnect, etc. I would hope that they and other hub manufacturers would design some sort of clip that would secure it more firmly to the MBP, so the wobble would hopefully go away. I really hope that USB Type C goes the way of the dodo very soon, or the connector and port are redesigned to make them more sturdy.

I have (what I would describe as) an earlier version of this Satechi hub: HDMI, two usb-c, two usb3, full-size SD/mini SD. This is 100% my beef with this hub, which cost no small dollars. It's a great feeling when you're working on a massive PS file on an external HD and the "drive disconnected" notification pops up.

 

[loybond]

USB-C isn't going away. I agree with you about the wobbliness of the port, but it's more a symptom of the cheap, low-end Chinese Amazon-centric companies rather than products from real tech companies. If you buy USB-C products from genuine first party sources, you'll find they're stiff and strong.

I bought a USB Type C hub for my 2016 MBP not long ago from Amazon. It cost me almost $70, and I am still using it to this day, but I can't connect any external hard drives to it.

The problem with USB Type C isn't in the speed (it is really fast), it is with the poor quality of the hardware component. The very design of USB Type C connector and port isn't very sturdy. Even my pricey USB Type C hub wobbles in the port, causing any connected devices to disconnect, then reconnect, then disconnect, etc. This has also happened with much cheaper hubs I have bought, so price (read: quality) isn't an issue here. It only compounds the dongle hell issue that a lot of 2016 MBP owners experience.

So with Satechi's new hub (if I were to buy it), I can now expect Ethernet to disconnect, then reconnect, then disconnect, etc. I would hope that they and other hub manufacturers would design some sort of clip that would secure it more firmly to the MBP, so the wobble would hopefully go away. I really hope that USB Type C goes the way of the dodo very soon, or the connector and port are redesigned to make them more sturdy.

 

[smithrh]

USB-C isn't going away. I agree with you about the wobbliness of the port, but it's more a symptom of the cheap, low-end Chinese Amazon-centric companies rather than products from real tech companies. If you buy USB-C products from genuine first party sources, you'll find they're stiff and strong.

Uh, no.

My Apple USB-C charging cable connects and disconnects from my Apple MBP USB-C port all the time.

Try again.

 

[xraydoc]

Very few laptops from PC manufacturers include ethernet ports these days - not sure why people are bitching about Apple not including one.

USB-A? Sure, Apple could have, and probably should have, included one USB-A port. Complaint totally valid.

HDMI? Maybe. I got used to Apple's inclusion of the mDP port, so I always carried a couple of adapters (HDMI, VGA) in my laptop bag anyway, so I guess I'm used to it. But complaint understood. I connect wirelessly (via AppleTV) to the conference room in my current workplace, so I don't have to mess with cables too often currently. But not everyone has that luxury.

SD card slot? For a "pro" laptop, yeah, Apple probably should have jammed one in there. If the Mac mini and the iMac can have one, the MacBook Pro probably should as well.

 

[Nabby]

I was ready to purchase, but the use of a case on my MBP ruins it. I occasionally need the wired ethernet connection at work because wireless is wonky in some conference rooms.

FYI, pretty sure the Amazon link references 4K at 60Hz. Edit: Well the Amazon pages says 30Hz in 2 places, which look like marketing specs and 60Hz in the "comparison table at the bottom".

 

[robertcoogan]

USB-C isn't going away. I agree with you about the wobbliness of the port, but it's more a symptom of the cheap, low-end Chinese Amazon-centric companies rather than products from real tech companies. If you buy USB-C products from genuine first party sources, you'll find they're stiff and strong.

I disagree. As I said, I have used both cheap and pricey USB hubs now, and both have this problem. I got my last hub from the Apple Store in Palm Desert, CA...so it stands to reason that it would work without too many problems. But that's not the case.
[doublepost=1524861288][/doublepost]

Very few laptops from PC manufacturers include ethernet ports these days - not sure why people are bitching about Apple not including one.

USB-A? Sure, Apple could have, and probably should have, included one USB-A port. Complaint totally valid.

HDMI? Maybe. I got used to Apple's inclusion of the mDP port, so I always carried a couple of adapters (HDMI, VGA) in my laptop bag anyway, so I guess I'm used to it. But complaint understood. I connect wirelessly (via AppleTV) to the conference room in my current workplace, so I don't have to mess with cables too often currently. But not everyone has that luxury.

SD card slot? For a "pro" laptop, yeah, Apple probably should have jammed one in there. If the Mac mini and the iMac can have one, the MacBook Pro probably should as well.

I agree on all counts, but SD cards slots (even on a "pro" laptop) are debatable. One could always get a small dongle that does the same - I use one myself.

 

[Moonlight]

It's sad that these are products. The simple fact there is a market for products like this demonstrates that Apple took away ports the users need.

*some users need
[doublepost=1524861572][/doublepost]

So so so insane.

They removed the features that are necessary to the usage of the device, all in the name of "design".

Prediction: Next generation Macbook Pro has no display.

You view it via dongles and aftermarket adapters.

You read it here first!

They already have that, it is called a Mac mini.

 

[robsp2000]

When is it time to move on toward new tech? Do they keep all the ports 5,10 years later?

I just got an external ssd drive in a usb-c enclosure. 400+ mb/s. My monitors hook up with display port to usb-c wires. I had to use a usb 3 hub with a sd card reader before so now I just have one that connects through usb-c. My camera hooks up through wi-fi also so unless I'm transferring video files I don't use the card reader much. My point is I still have the same amount of wires attached as before - just different connectors. It's not such a miserable change as people make it out to be.

 

[Shirasaki]

When is it time to move on toward new tech? Do they keep all the ports 5,10 years later?

I just got an external ssd drive in a usb-c enclosure. 400+ mb/s. My monitors hook up with display port to usb-c wires. I had to use a usb 3 hub with a sd card reader before so now I just have one that connects through usb-c. My camera hooks up through wi-fi also so unless I'm transferring video files I don't use the card reader much. My point is I still have the same amount of wires attached as before - just different connectors. It's not such a miserable change as people make it out to be.

Even 10 years is not a very long time for old tech users to transition to new tech. Plus, what it comes will eventually come, regardless of time.
And, CD are still widely used in multiple countries (except US) despite Apple removing CD drive from all of their macs 10 years ago.

 

[dirt_farmer]

*some users need
[doublepost=1524861572][/doublepost]

They already have that, it is called a Mac mini.

*some users need
[doublepost=1524861572][/doublepost]

They already have that, it is called a Mac mini.

Not everyone needs cruise control but a lot of people do so every manufacturer offers it.

Not everyone needs a good laptop keyboard but a lot of people do.

Not everyone needs a headphone jack but a lot of people do.

Not every buyer of a Pro laptop needs 32GB of RAM but a lot of Pros do.

NOTE EVERY BUYER NEEDS A NORMAL USB PORT but a lot of them do.

etc.

It's just silly.

 

[Mick-Mac]

I wonder if this also gets so hot you can fry an egg on it (like you could with Satechi's previous USB-C hub).

 

[robsp2000]

Not everyone needs cruise control but a lot of people do so every manufacturer offers it.

Not everyone needs a good laptop keyboard but a lot of people do.

Not everyone needs a headphone jack but a lot of people do.

Not every buyer of a Pro laptop needs 32GB of RAM but a lot of Pros do.

NOTE EVERY BUYER NEEDS A NORMAL USB PORT but a lot of them do.

etc.

It's just silly.

My MacBook Pro keyboard is great. It has a headphone jack. I hook up tons of usb stuff to it. It's really easy.

 

[dirt_farmer]

My MacBook Pro keyboard is great. It has a headphone jack. I hook up tons of usb stuff to it. It's really easy.

I'm talking about the 2016+ models that are widely panned.

If you have one with normal USB, you mean something different.

 

[robsp2000]

Even 10 years is not a very long time for old tech users to transition to new tech. Plus, what it comes will eventually come, regardless of time.
And, CD are still widely used in multiple countries (except US) despite Apple removing CD drive from all of their macs 10 years ago.

I don't think they always need to cater to the lowest common denominator. If someone needs that old tech so badly they can find a work around. I understand that isn't ideal for everyone but it's not like you can't get a external CD burner/reader if you really need it.

I agree it's inconvenient but my whole point is that the change over isn't as dramatic as people cry about. Granted, since this is macrumors, most of them are avid anti-apple people.

For example, sometimes when I take the train to work I have to use an external hard drive. Back when it was micro usb to usb A I had to be careful where I placed it since it sometimes would come a little loose and disconnect the drive. It was a pain regardless and didn't have to use an adapter. My laptop had usb A ports. Now I have to use the adapter for some of my drives and I still have to be careful where I put it. It's not much different. If I use my external usb-c drive I still have to be careful without the adapter. It hasn't changed. Not that big of a deal. The change isn't making these unusable or ridiculously over complicating it. Having to hook stuff up to a laptop always sucks.
[doublepost=1524876085][/doublepost]

I'm talking about the 2016+ models that are widely panned.

If you have one with normal USB, you mean something different.

Mid 2017 - great keyboard - made me replace my older Mac Pro keyboard with the latest one. I use a multi port adapter for older usb drives or a cheap travel hub I got on Amazon. It doesn't make things anymore difficult for me.

 

[dirt_farmer]

I don't think they always need to cater to the lowest common denominator. If someone needs that old tech so badly they can find a work around.

Granted, since this is macrumors, most of them are avid anti-apple people.

It's very Apple to call "what people want" , "what people need", or "what people use" (take your pick) the "lowest common denominator".

The fact that to use your brand new $3000 laptop the normal way you need a "workaround" is exactly my point.

It would be like buying a car that you can't drive to the store unless you install an aftermarket workaround.

Ridiculous.

Macrumors used to be a gathering place for underground Apple lovers -- people who understood how great it was.

That all changed when it stopped being great like that.