Satechi's New Mac Mini Hub Solves the Power Button Problem

[Big_D]

I have the previous version for my M1 Mac mini. The hub has been 100% reliable over the last 3 years. I have a 1TB SSD installed and use it for virtual machines and storing my RAW photo images (the internal storage is only 512GB).

It is cheap and good quality. The only downside is that it is USB-C 3.2 and not Thunderbolt - but it is a couple of hundred dollars cheaper than a Thunderbolt hub...

 

[leifp]

If Satechi ever got around to making their devices with Thunderbolt, I’d entertain the idea.

 

[omiks]

Who uses the power button?? And who needs USB-A nowadays?

 

[jakey rolling]

And who needs USB-A nowadays?

Judging by the comments from people in this thread so far - many, many people.

 

[Joshuaorange]

For you maybe. I have lots of USB A devices.

You can replace the cables on many of those devices and buy a hub. No reason to go backwards for the sake of old ports.

 

[Joshuaorange]

From the Joshuaorange glossary of computer terms:

Backwards thinking: Plug your device into your new computer and just continue using it like before without any noticeable change in speed, convenience, user interface, or functionality.

Forward thinking: Buy a new cable or a new dongle or a new device altogether. Then plug your device into your new computer and just continue using it like before without any noticeable change in speed, convenience, user interface, or functionality.

I’d rather have a newer port in place of an antique when space is limited. If you can fit 5 usb c ports and throw in a few a ports if you want. But don’t add the old port at the expense of new.

 

[Tyler O'Bannon]

It depends if you like powering things off when not in use for a few days. Also having wall sockets with switches makes that a lot easier.

To power off, simply click the Apple in the top left of your screen, and click shut down. I jest.

But I just think the power button thing is overblown. Accessing the button to turn it on is really easy IMO

 

[MacAddict1978]

This is one of several similar 3rd party accessories like this.

I'm curious about heat issues.
Sure the Mac Mini slots into these docks all nice and cozy, but the whole reason the power button is allegedly where it is was not to obstruct cooling. These docks all seem to obstruct the vent a little and block air flow.

I'd be waiting to let early adopters find out of its a problem before I dropped money. This one would also be off the list. It's not TB.

 

[MacAddict1978]

They didn't really solve the power button issue. A solution would have been a mechanical "pusher" located at the front of the device.

Sorry, but that would look really bad. And your hand is larger than the bloody mini. How lazy does one have to be?
It's already lady not to lift up the little bugger if you really need the button in the first place.

 

[MacAddict1978]

Glad to see those USB-A ports. One of the advantages of buying a hub is to get port types the Mac doesn't have that are practically useful for many people. There is a large installed base of USB-A peripherals out there working fine, and many dropping a hundred bucks on a hub would prefer to not have to also buy adapters or special cables to convert connectors.

While different users have different equipment, needs and approaches, USB-A connection devices will remain in common usage for many years to some.

That said, I'm surprised that is doesn't also offer USB-C ports. From the look of it, you sacrifice one of your Mac Mini's 5 USB-C ports (3 Thunderbolt-based) to gain 3 USB-A and a media card reader plus a USB-C speed type internal SSD housing. Nice, but a dongle intended for notebooks can offer much the same connectors minus the SSD housing, and external SSDs of that type aren't much more expensive than buying an internal one to stick in it.

So, you can get this for around $100, or an on sale dongle/hub aimed for notebook computers with similar ports for under $30 plus an external SSD (I picked up a Samsung T7 Shield and a Crucial X9)...or spring for the more expensive Thunderbolt 3 or 4-based docks and get more ports (including extra USB-C ports).

Those of you interested in buying a hub or dock, is this what you want, or do you plan to go the cheap dongle route (which I'm doing now because I already had one) or a more expensive $180 - $400 'upgunned' option with a lot of ports and/or Thunderbolt (though many lack an internal SSD option)?

99% of people wouldn't need any more USB-C ports, though I do agree one or two would have been nice just for the convenience factor.

Unless you are connecting multiple external drives, or are a madman that insists on connective every peripheral you own that you probably don't even use, it's more than enough.

If anyone still uses wired mice and keyboard, maybe it's time to connect with the year 2025 or admit being a cheap ass.

 

[jakey rolling]

If anyone still uses wired mice and keyboard, maybe it's time to connect with the year 2025 or admit being a cheap ass.

Or perhaps people should just continue to use what they prefer and not feel like they have to re-buy everything they already own just because some random guy on the internet calls them cheap.

I'm likely to keep my current keyboard for at least two more upgrade iterations, even though it is wired. Nothing to do with being cheap (though not spending the $200+ on its replacement would be plus), it simply has to do with the fact that it is an excellent keyboard and "getting with the times" would do nothing to improve my typing ability.

 

[drrich2]

If anyone still uses wired mice and keyboard, maybe it's time to connect with the year 2025 or admit being a cheap ass.

I'm a fan of using what works and you're happy with till it breaks, but one caveat. When my old 2017 iMac's Fusion Drive messed up and I switched to externally booting from an SSD, I eventually got periodic kernel panics (never figured out why). Dealing with that and other technical issues at times brought something to mind...

There are times when a wired keyboard and mouse work, and Bluetooth ones don't. I assume the Bluetooth capability comes up later in the boot up sequence process, whereas the ability to input via the wired versions comes online faster.

It's also useful switching Macs. I switched to an M4 Pro Mac Mini, so I switched my Apple Bluetooth keyboard and Microsoft Bluetooth mouse to it. Yesterday I needed to check the old iMac to grab a file for my wife. It's easier to move a wired peripheral to another Mac for short term use - no switching the pairing back to the old one. Some devices can pair with multiple devices (e.g.: some Logitech gear), but that's not what I'm using.

There's also the cheap factor. I have a wired mouse because I wanted one (for what dealing with partial boot ups - recovery, etc...) and Amazon has a USB-A basic mouse cheap. I've got an old wired Dell keyboard from probably over a decade ago, so that's effectively 'free.'

My point is that even as a wireless fan, I've found having a wired mouse and keyboard handy, and for people who have old computers they seldom use (and don't want to keep separate peripheral sets for), it can make sense.

 

[jakey rolling]

I’d rather have a newer port in place of an antique when space is limited. If you can fit 5 usb c ports and throw in a few a ports if you want. But don’t add the old port at the expense of new.

"When space is limited" being the operative phrase. Personally, I'm one of those "have my cake and eat it too" kind of guys, so I don't tend to look at these things with an "either/or" mentality. I want my computer to support what I have now, and also support what I need in the future. Outside of Apple's anemic offerings, that's not been an issue.

I don't care if my computer takes up an extra 2" of space on my desk (well, especially since my computer is a tower and it sits on the floor, so it currently takes up zero desk space). I care if my computer actually works the way I need it to.

 

[GDF]

There is no power button problem. And why would I buy a MacMini M4 for its form factor just to add something that will make it larger. Go for a Studio if you want that.

 

[j26]

You can almost certainly replace the cables on those drives with USB-C cables.

Cable Matters Type C (USB-C) to Micro B (Micro USB) Cable with Braided Jacket

Cable Matters Type C (USB-C) to Micro B (Micro USB) Cable with Braided Jacket

www.amazon.com

Cable Matters 10Gbps USB C to Micro USB 3.0 Cable - 3.3ft, USB-C Hard Drive Cable, Micro B to USBC Cord, Compatible with Seagate, LaCie, Toshiba, Samsung, WD External Hard Drive, Black

The Cable Matters USB 3.1 Type-C to Micro-B cable is specifically designed to connect an external hard drive, smartphone, or tablet to the new release computers with USB Type-C such as the 2015 MacBook and Google Chromebook. Connect an external hard drive with USB 3.0 Micro-B to tra...

www.amazon.com

But with only 2 available ports on the back (the hub takes up one of the 3 usb c ports) how long before things need to get plugged into the front?

I think 2 of the ports should have been on the back of the hub - but otherwise very nice.

 

[drrich2]

And why would I buy a MacMini M4 for its form factor just to add something that will make it larger. Go for a Studio if you want that.

You can't buy an M4 Studio now, people have been waiting for a new one since the M2 max version, if you do wait and a new Studio comes out (M4 or M5 series?), you'll likely have to buy at least a Max chip and maybe at least 32-gig RAM and the cost will be higher. People buying M4 Minis and hand-wringing over whether to stick with a 256-gig SSD or pay to upgrade to 512-gig may not be willing to make that leap.

There was substantial pent-up demand for the Mini and/or Studio, the Mini came out and the M4 series reviews were strongly positive.

If people could have what they want, there'd be a Mini and/or Studio mini-tower with one or 2 internal SSD bays a user could easily till with 3rd party SSDs.

 

[Astuces iOS]

As a Mac mini owner, the power button was literally only a problem when turning on my Mac mini for the first time...

Put your Mac at 90 degrees

 

[Joshuaorange]

"When space is limited" being the operative phrase. Personally, I'm one of those "have my cake and eat it too" kind of guys, so I don't tend to look at these things with an "either/or" mentality. I want my computer to support what I have now, and also support what I need in the future. Outside of Apple's anemic offerings, that's not been an issue.

I don't care if my computer takes up an extra 2" of space on my desk (well, especially since my computer is a tower and it sits on the floor, so it currently takes up zero desk space). I care if my computer actually works the way I need it to.

That’s easy to say when it’s a giant tower. Much more difficult when the computer is a 5” square. I just bought a gaming PC that has just 2 USB C ports on the case. Not even thunderbolt and no less than 10 USB A ports on the motherboard. That’s flat out stupid.

 

[DaneLA]

Ditch USB-A and replace with a pair of USB-Cs (on the back) with a thunderbolt connector for faster NVME SSD speeds and I'd pay 3X what they are asking.

 

[jakey rolling]

That’s easy to say when it’s a giant tower. Much more difficult when the computer is a 5” square.

Yes. It is difficult to do a lot of things when the computer is a 5" square. It is difficult to build proper thermals. It is difficult to include space for additional storage. It is difficult to build a proper EM shield and antenna that doesn't suffer from interference by nearby devices and hubs. It is difficult to put the power button in an accessible spot. It is difficult to add more than one video output connector or audio output connector. And yes, of course, it is difficult to add more than a couple of I/O ports.

And yet, here we are with a computer built into a 5" square. Not because that 5" square offers any appreciable extra space on the users' desk over the previous 7.7" square. And certainly not because the 5" form factor itself offers any technical advantage over the previous 7.7" one.

It is simply because Apple's customers have made it abundantly clear over the years that that they are fine with accepting endless compromises in functionality in order to get a smaller little pretty box to put on their desk.

I just bought a gaming PC that has just 2 USB C ports on the case. Not even thunderbolt and no less than 10 USB A ports on the motherboard. That’s flat out stupid.

At least your gaming PC probably has the expandability to add additional USB-C or even Thunderbolt ports to it if you should so choose. Can't really say that for any of Apple's offerings. Of course, I'm also going to venture a guess that, despite "only" having two USB-C ports on the case, you have at least one of them vacant right now. You also probably have exactly zero Thunderbolt devices that you plan to plug into that particular machine.

 

[drrich2]

Ditch USB-A and replace with a pair of USB-Cs (on the back) with a thunderbolt connector for faster NVME SSD speeds and I'd pay 3X what they are asking.

Intriguing thought, but I know of no product quite like that - at least that sits under the M4 series Mac Mini and matches its appearance.

The closest to what you describe off the top of my head is the Sonnet Echo 20 Thunderbolt 4 SuperDock. At around $300 it hits your price point, offers a bunch of posts and has an internal M.2 NVMe SSD slot. It would not sit under the Mac Mini or match its appearance, but it would be drastically more functional than what you describe except in one key issue (and this is where one must read the fine print)...the SSD speed is only up to 800 MB/s (per the Amazon description I linked).

Given that the cost of an external SSD tends to not be drastically greater than an internal SSD (though with Thunderbolt enclosures that goes up), it'd probably make more sense to buy an external Thunderbolt 3 SSD and plug it into your Mac Mini's rear Thunderbolt port, or one on the SuperDock.

From other threads, I've gotten the impression Thunderbolt external SSDs give off a lot of heat (from the controller and the SSD itself operating at high speed, IIRC?). Packing all that inside a dock that has a lot of connectors in a compact space may not be practical; sticking it under your Mac Mini where it's sucking in air to cool itself might be even worse.

All that said, the SuperDock would offer far more ports than what you describe and so a lot of potential extra function. If you wanted to save some money and didn't need so many ports, Amazon has a sale on the UGREEN Revodok Max 208 Thunderbolt 4 Dock 8-in-1 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4 Hub 3 x Thunderbolt 4 Dual 4K@60Hz or Single 8K Display, 85W Charging, Gigabit Ethernet, 3 x USB A 3.2 for Mac M1/M2/M3/M4 Pro/Max
for roughly $250 marked down to $160. Less money than you offered to pay, you get 3 Thunderbolt 4 ports (net gain of 2) + more ports, and no internal SSD slot granted.

Does anyone here know of a Thunderbolt dock with an internal SSD slot that supports 'real' Thunderbolt speeds, like 2,800 Mbps and up? Is it just not practical from an engineering standpoint?

I like the Satechi, it's cute, but I'm having a hard time thinking it's a good value proposition. How much extra money is having something sit under your Mini and match the style worth it to you guys?

 

[paulcons]

Saw a video of a brilliant idea for dealing with the power button. Guy put 2 silicon adhesive “buttons” on the power button. They just touch the top of your desk. A simple gentle push down at that corner boots the machine.

 

[31 Flavas]

There was a power button problem?

There’s always a “-gate” that has to be created.

 

[amartinez1660]

I want the USB-A ports in the back, so that I can connect my two Time Machine hard drives.

The power button is only an issue for whiners and the writers of click-bait. Where is the power button on your big screen TV? Ever use it?

Great take on the TV analogy 🤔

 

[clv101]

I'm one of the folk impacted by the poor power button placement. My Mini shares a mouse, keyboard and webcam with a PC. If I don't use the PC the Mac will sleep and wake on a mouse click or keyboard press. However, if I use the PC, then switch back to the Mac it won't wake up from the mouse or keyboard - I have to use the button. This is pretty much a daily event.

This looks like a great product - the 10Gbps nvme is annoyingly slow, I'll be waiting for a 40Gbps version.