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oxband

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Sep 10, 2009
333
4
I currently use an old Samsung Syncmaster monitor that connects as miniDV (with a VGA to miniDV adapter). I got a new MBP and I'm looking for a hub. I therefore want something a miniDV connection.

I'm trying to choose between this

1 - this OWC dock (https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/TCDK10PMDSG/)

2 - this Hyperdrive dock (https://www.hypershop.com/products/hyperdrive-usb-type-c-hub-with-mini-displayport)

3 - this hub (https://bourgedesign.com/products/arc-hub)

4 - just getting a VGA to USB-C converter, although I'm not sure that'll work for my computer. If I did that, I don't need miniDV for a hub.

Anyone here have thoughts or recs? I imagine getting a new monitor in the next couple years in which case I might not need a miniDV connector.
 
I currently use an old Samsung Syncmaster monitor that connects as miniDV (with a VGA to miniDV adapter). I got a new MBP and I'm looking for a hub. I therefore want something a miniDV connection.

I'm trying to choose between this

1 - this OWC dock (https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/TCDK10PMDSG/)

2 - this Hyperdrive dock (https://www.hypershop.com/products/hyperdrive-usb-type-c-hub-with-mini-displayport)

3 - this hub (https://bourgedesign.com/products/arc-hub)

4 - just getting a VGA to USB-C converter, although I'm not sure that'll work for my computer. If I did that, I don't need miniDV for a hub.

Anyone here have thoughts or recs? I imagine getting a new monitor in the next couple years in which case I might not need a miniDV connector.
Since you might be getting a newer monitor sooner rather than later, I wouldn't invest too much in an expensive dock just to hook up that old Sammy monitor. If you want to stick with Apple, there's that $69 USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter, bypassing that VGA to miniDV adapter you already have, and giving you a legacy USB port and an extra USB-C charging port in the bargain, or for even less money (*if your adapter is the 'active' type) you could go for that Hyperdrive dock at $50 using your existing adapter. Hope one of these suggestions works for you!

*see the disclaimer in red on Hyperdrive's website:
  • An active Mini DP adapter is required to work with monitor with DVI/VGA/HDMI connector.
 
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What is the exact model of Samsung monitor?

"MiniDV" was a video tape format for use in camcorders, not a video port. I assume you mean Mini DisplayPort, or miniDP. But you also say "with a VGA to miniDV adapter," which to me implies the display itself has a VGA port, and you were using a Mini DisplayPort to VGA adapter to connect the display to your old computer.

So we definitely need to know more about the monitor to be sure. If the display actually contains a VGA port, you would want a Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C dock with either a native VGA port, or else you would need an active converter to turn whatever display output the dock has to VGA. It might be easier to just use a USB-C-to-VGA adapter directly on the MacBook Pro, as those adapters are *SIGNIFICANTLY* cheaper.

If the display has a Mini DisplayPort connection on the display itself, then any of the listed docks would work, as would any dock with a full-size DisplayPort connector, as switching from Mini DisplayPort to full-size DisplayPort can be done with a cheap cable, since the electrical connection is the same. But from your description, I assume it has VGA, not Mini DisplayPort.
 
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