What do I need to turn my M1 Macbook into a desktop replacement (dock, cables etc.?)

[canyonblue737]

I'm replacing my 27 inch iMac with a M1 Macbook Air (already have it) and the new Apple Studio Display (on order.) For what I need to be able to do, my iMac has a bunch of old USB3 Type-A connected external drives connected. I also will need an SD slot (and a micro-SD would be good but not necessary too.) I have excellent Wifi but I also have accessibility to ethernet so being able to plug in a cable seems like it would be nice.

So I need a powered Thunderbolt dock right? Do I run a cable from the Macbook Air to the Studio Display and a seperate one to the dock? Or do I run one cable to the dock then from the dock to the display? What type of cables are these and what do you recommend? What type of dock do you recommend?

Sorry for all the questions but I've never attempted to run a monitor / desktop setup off a Macbook and its all a bit confusing what I should get. Thanks!

 

[smoothbit]

The Studio Display has one Thunderbolt port and three USB-C ports. You’ll connect your MacBook Air to the Thunderbolt port and then the three USB-C ports can be used directly for your external drives if you buy new cables, or by using a USB hub.

If you buy a USB hub such as this one:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NDGD2V5

It also has SD card slots, an Ethernet port, and USB-A ports. You could leave it connected to the back of the display, or use it directly with the MacBook Air’s second Thunderbolt port.

All of which is to say, you only need to buy a Thunderbolt dock if you need to use Thunderbolt devices connected to that dock. If you only want to use USB devices, then a USB hub will suffice.

 

[Arctic Moose]

I use the Caldigit TS3+ that should do all you need and more:

TS3 Plus | Thunderbolt 3 Dock – CalDigit

www.caldigit.com

I am really happy with it.

Caldigit has now released the TS4, which is probably a better purchase, although I am sad that the optical digital output has been removed:

Thunderbolt 4 Dock | TS4 | CalDigit – CalDigit

www.caldigit.com

I have done practically the same thing, replaced 5K iMac with a MacBook Pro 14” and a 4K monitor, and have just placed my Studio Display order.

 

[canyonblue737]

I use the Caldigit TS3+ that should do all you need and more:

TS3 Plus | Thunderbolt 3 Dock – CalDigit

www.caldigit.com

I am really happy with it.

Caldigit has now released the TS4, which is probably a better purchase, although I am sad that the optical digital output has been removed:

Thunderbolt 4 Dock | TS4 | CalDigit – CalDigit

www.caldigit.com

I have done practically the same thing, replaced 5K iMac with a MacBook Pro 14” and a 4K monitor, and have just placed my Studio Display order.

thanks! i've been looking at this and the TS3 Plus seems the better option for my Macbook Air's needs and price-wise but it also seems they stopped making it and everyone is sold out, only used ones are on the market. The TS4 looks overkill and surprisingly has quite a few complaints that it isn't as bug-free as the TS3 Plus with people having issues with the ethernet port and also external HDs going to sleep... it also isn't in stock anywhere and CalDigit claims they might have a few available to order tommorow direct, on B&H mid month and Amazon in late April at $360+. Still thinking about my options... I might not need as many USB-A ports as I was contemplating since I might have to get a 1-2 TB SSD external drive for my photos library as the 512GB internal drive on my Air isn't going to likely cut it. Then I can backup both the internal drive and the external SSD to a large external spinning drive and all of that to Backblaze online. All this is getting expensive quick lol but so it goes... this iMac did really well for me for 6.5 years and so no complaints.

 

[canyonblue737]

The Studio Display has one Thunderbolt port and three USB-C ports. You’ll connect your MacBook Air to the Thunderbolt port and then the three USB-C ports can be used directly for your external drives if you buy new cables, or by using a USB hub.

If you buy a USB hub such as this one:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NDGD2V5

It also has SD card slots, an Ethernet port, and USB-A ports. You could leave it connected to the back of the display, or use it directly with the MacBook Air’s second Thunderbolt port.

All of which is to say, you only need to buy a Thunderbolt dock if you need to use Thunderbolt devices connected to that dock. If you only want to use USB devices, then a USB hub will suffice.

i'm not too savvy about USB-C vs. thunderbolt other than they use identical plugs and thunderbolt is faster. my needs are going to be mainly powering external hard-drives, currently using USB-A cables and their own dedicated power, along with a scanner and printer. The scanner and printer have wireless options but that has been a bit flaky so I've plugged them in (USB-A and USB square printer style). I'll need the SD (which it seems your example has) and I'd like ethernet (which yours has... will that still go to gigabit speeds and all?) Just not sure if I should bite the bullet and buy a powered Thunderbolt hub like those super pricey and hard to find CalDigit ones or get something like you've shown as it seems my needs are simpler? Thanks!

 

[JPack]

You can buy a USB-C to Ethernet adapter, then plug that into the monitor. Or you can buy a mini-hub with USB-A ports and Ethernet. The monitor is a good starting point to attach accessories. You don't need a Thunderbolt dock as the monitor already serves as a good hub.

 

[Arctic Moose]

i'm not too savvy about USB-C vs. thunderbolt other than they use identical plugs and thunderbolt is faster. my needs are going to be mainly powering external hard-drives, currently using USB-A cables and their own dedicated power, along with a scanner and printer. The scanner and printer have wireless options but that has been a bit flaky so I've plugged them in (USB-A and USB square printer style). I'll need the SD (which it seems your example has) and I'd like ethernet (which yours has... will that still go to gigabit speeds and all?) Just not sure if I should bite the bullet and buy a powered Thunderbolt hub like those super pricey and hard to find CalDigit ones or get something like you've shown as it seems my needs are simpler? Thanks!

Since the Studio Display has a few USB-C ports, I think the following would fulfill your requirements for about $75:

USB-C Combo Hub for Desktop | Satechi - Apple and PC Accessories

satechi.net

Type-C to Ethernet Adapter - Gigabit | Satechi - Apple and PC Accessories

satechi.net

It wouldn't be Thunderbolt of course, and the hub is restricted to 5 Gbps, but for your use case it seems to me this wouldn't make much of a difference, if any.

(which yours has... will that still go to gigabit speeds and all?)

The TS3+ is Gigabit, and the TS4 is actually 2.5 Gigabit.

I am a little bit annoyed that Apple didn't put Ethernet and at least one downstream Thunderbolt port on the Studio Display.

 

[canyonblue737]

Since the Studio Display has a few USB-C ports, I think the following would fulfill your requirements for about $75:

USB-C Combo Hub for Desktop | Satechi - Apple and PC Accessories

satechi.net

Type-C to Ethernet Adapter - Gigabit | Satechi - Apple and PC Accessories

satechi.net

It wouldn't be Thunderbolt of course, and the hub is restricted to 5 Gbps, but for your use case it seems to me this wouldn't make much of a difference, if any.



The TS3+ is Gigabit, and the TS4 is actually 2.5 Gigabit.

I am a little bit annoyed that Apple didn't put Ethernet and at least one downstream Thunderbolt port on the Studio Display.

Thanks!