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Which TB3 dock for your 15MBP?
- Thread starter richpjr
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
EDIT: See my post at #50 for TEXT ANALYSIS of all docks ports on one page.
And in pix...
1. Belkin:
2. Caldigit main:
3. Caldigit lite:
4. Elgato:
5. OWC:
6. Plugable flagship:
7. Plugable volume:
8. Lenovo:
EDIT 1 (06.Mar.2017): Plugable docks added.
EDIT 2 (06.Mar.2017): Lenovo dock added.
EDIT 3 (08.Mar.2017): link to #50 added.
And in pix...
1. Belkin:
2. Caldigit main:
3. Caldigit lite:
4. Elgato:
5. OWC:
6. Plugable flagship:
7. Plugable volume:
8. Lenovo:
EDIT 1 (06.Mar.2017): Plugable docks added.
EDIT 2 (06.Mar.2017): Lenovo dock added.
EDIT 3 (08.Mar.2017): link to #50 added.
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I'm watching this space closely as is everyone else but will wait a while until the dust settles. Take a look at the reviews for TB2 versions of these docks. Caldigit TS2 station isn't too bad but OWC TB2 dock has terrible reviews on amazon. It matters because these docks will pass through high wattage in addition to everything else. Yes yes, obviously there are chipset differences but really it looks like the "approach" is very similar execution, I wouldn't be shocked if the Chipsets for mundane stuff like Ethernet and USB were identical to the ones in the TB2 versions, for Mac OS compatibility, but if people on amazon are complaining about speed issues and drop outs on the existing versions and the only things that change are the inclusion alpine ridge (TB3), who is to say these docks won't perform as poorly as the prior versions. I hope the bugs have been worked out but I'm not optimistic. Hopefully the extended time needed to introduce these to the market place includes robust testing procedures, but there is always the possibility that it was rushed to market to beat out the other docks and capture the initial appetite (hence the reduce price preorders).
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Done, with the caveat that most dimensions & weights have not been announced, so are still unavailable to add to my listing (at post: #50). ;-)
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IMPORTANT QUESTION.
We have USB-A >to> USB-C converters, e.g.'s:
Apple: http://www.apple.com/uk/shop/product/MJ1M2ZM/A/usb-c-to-usb-adapter
Aukey: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01GKS2HCE
...et al.
But, is there such a thing as the reverse, USB-C >to> USB-A converters?
(even if any device would be limited to USB-C gen.1 5gbps, instead of gen.2 10gbps.)
Reason being, that if we are going to go out and buy devices with fixed male USB-C on them, then it surely must be important for us to be able to convert them back to USB-A, in case we are don't have a USB-C port available on the host computer device.
We have USB-A >to> USB-C converters, e.g.'s:
Apple: http://www.apple.com/uk/shop/product/MJ1M2ZM/A/usb-c-to-usb-adapter
Aukey: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01GKS2HCE
...et al.
But, is there such a thing as the reverse, USB-C >to> USB-A converters?
(even if any device would be limited to USB-C gen.1 5gbps, instead of gen.2 10gbps.)
Reason being, that if we are going to go out and buy devices with fixed male USB-C on them, then it surely must be important for us to be able to convert them back to USB-A, in case we are don't have a USB-C port available on the host computer device.
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No, absolutely not.
Its a long story but the skinny of it is, USB-C to USB-A is simply not allowed by the USB spec because it is possible to create unsafe cable chains.
There are some adapters on amazon but again they are 100% nonspec.
Oh really, I didn't know that. Thanks. Got a link to that, by chance? It'd make interesting reading.
Any links for these dodgy ones, I haven't found any?
[doublepost=1488954487][/doublepost]
Found, erm,
1) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01BYG75WY
2) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01CV3CAJC
3) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01J16IOIS
4) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01C43FUIW
They all look pretty cheapo, unlike the ones going other other way, though.
BTW, I think that official rule was created to target those creating C-A-C type of chains, which introduce dodgy electrical current issues (or similar). Doing a simple C->A (especially of self-powered peripherals) is unlikely to be a problem... perhaps/maybe, lol! ;-)[/S]
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Yeah, that Benson (infamous USB-C tester man!) post also says one should wait:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-...vw_btm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B01ABTHI7C#wasThisHelpful
Surely the means "...Type-A hubs with a USB-C plug will exist soon" ??
And if so, when are these hubs coming, presume none available yet...?
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Owch indeed. I applaud their efforts and willingness to work it through, however I'm extra annoyed at Apple for not providing a OEM solution. Why couldn't we have been given a TB3 dock that mimics the IO of the Thunderbolt Display?
Perhaps because they are running into the same issues as all the other manufacturers. Thunderbolt isn't an Apple technology but an Intel technology and thus they are at their mercy just like everybody else. Apple also never was very good with their displays. The competitors either had a display that was the same quality for a lower price or the same price and a better quality. Professionals that needed really good displays never bought the ones from Apple, they went with NEC, Eizo, etc. And then came USB-C which now all those competitors are implementing on their displays. Suddenly all displays are Thunderbolt displays whereas previously you had Apple and LG plus docks that you connected a display to.
I think that all in all there simply is way too much competition to make a successor to the Thunderbolt Display or some kind of dock feasible. But why on earth did they team up with LG? A company that knows how to make panels but fails at making displays (and have been doing so for years); there is no logic to that. Maybe they should have went with Benq or even better: NEC and the like.
I am hoping AKiTiO makes a Thunderbolt 3 dock based on my experience with their Thunder2 Dock.
I like what the OWC TB3 dock appears to be doing port-wise (except for the lack of eSATA), but I'm not sure if I could bring myself to buy it until several months or even a couple years after release, to ensure it isn't received like their Thunderbolt 2 dock, which, as you noted, has many terrible reviews.
Yeah, I haven't tried Akitio's products before, but have heard they can be good.
Also, weren't Kanex going to do a large TB3 dock (they have a travel one coming April - "Thunderbolt 3 Travel Dock"), but I seem to remember them having a page on their website last year asking something like 'what would you like to see on a TB3 dock?' or similar. Can't find the page now, of course.
I think they may be skipping a large dock for TB3, instead focusing on other smaller TB3 product ideas.
Yeah, I haven't tried Akitio's products before, but have heard they can be good.
Also, weren't Kanex going to do a large TB3 dock (they have a travel one coming April - "Thunderbolt 3 Travel Dock"), but I seem to remember them having a page on their website last year asking something like 'what would you like to see on a TB3 dock?' or similar. Can't find the page now, of course.
I think they may be skipping a large dock for TB3, instead focusing on other smaller TB3 product ideas.
Thus far, my experience with AKiTiO has been probably the most consistent of any Mac company (which it should be, given they charge a small fortune - although their Thunder2 Dock is really cheap now!) Their Thunder2 Dock is somewhat limited compared to the other options, but the eSATA, FireWire, and USB 3.1 g1 all have speeds higher than other docks I use/have used, and all work consistently and correctly (including with ethernet adapters and displays, and HDD sleep cycles work properly on every interface.) I've recently started using eSATA extensively. Even with a Pro capable of 3.1 gen 2, I'd like to continue using it because I'm sometimes limited to weaker 2.4 WiFi signals.
Good to know, thanks.
BTW, if you check the purchase option on the OWC, you can swap a USB-A for an eSATA if wanted.
What do you use eSATA extensively for, just out of interest? What else is eSATA used for...?
It's an adaptor, and it's another 19 bucks. One of the reasons I went with the Caldigit.
eSata is definitely a legacy port nowadays, but my Lacie external drive has it so I'm glad I can get a dock with it.
Which is exactly what the Thunderbolt displays are. The only difference is that they are built into a display. So the question one should ask first: do I want just a dock or do I want a display with a dock? A display with a built-in dock makes for a very clean setup which doesn't take up as much space as a separate display and dock setup does. For some this is a very viable option which they may not even have thought about.
You are not the topic starter so you do not get to say what is relevant here or not. It is rather rude to put words into someone else's mouth. Just let the topic starter decide whether it is relevant or not. Nothing wrong with just naming the option.
The reason for including the past is due to the question asked: it is about trying to understand why there isn't a TB3 successor to the Apple Thunderbolt Display. This is a very valid question in a thread about TB3 docks, especially considering the popularity of said display.
From all the TB3 docks announced thus far both the CalDigit and OWC ones are the most attractive because they offer a different set of ports than the rest does. CalDigit has had very good reviews on their TB docks before, OWC not so much. Like you I'm curious if the TB3 version of the OWC dock has solved those issues.
It's all so bleeding obvious though...
Title: Which TB3 dock for your 15MBP?
First post: Looking at the soon to be released Thunderbolt 3 docks for my MBP and was curious as to which dock you had decided on. There is no "perfect" dock for what I'd like, but I really look forward to getting rid of the cable mess on my desk.
So yes, by now we all know the ATD was a dock by proxy; still not related in any way to Thunderbolt 3 though, is it.
No, no one asked why there's no Apple successor, as they already know by now given Apple said they're out of the display business (source: Nilay Patel@The Verge), and so that leaves the LG 5K (or lesser 4K), which again, we already know about ad-infinitum having only having 3 USB-C gen.1 ports since Apple announcing their collaboration months ago...and the separate forums where it's being discussed.
Docks here are clearly meant as standalone models; hence me taking the time to write out the known facts and add pix above. Thanks!
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Pfff, are we going anal on semantics again? What you are displaying here is only your definition of what is a dock or not. Wikipedia has a good article which simply says that a dock can be anything as long as it is something that can connect several peripherals and devices to a computer. Docks come in different shapes and forms but they are all docks. It has been the case for a couple of decades.
That said, let's have the topic starter have a final say in this. The first post in this topic does mention that the dock will be used to clean up the cable clutter. In that perspective, a dock built into a display can be an option as it omits the additional power and display cables you'd have with a separate dock and display set up. Taken this a bit further one could even argue that a Thunderbolt 1 or 2 docks is an option because they do the same as the TB3 docks in your list. Yet those add an additional cable because they are unable to power the notebook through the Thunderbolt connection. It really depends how far you want to go with reducing the cable clutter.
That said, let's have the topic starter have a final say in this. The first post in this topic does mention that the dock will be used to clean up the cable clutter. In that perspective, a dock built into a display can be an option as it omits the additional power and display cables you'd have with a separate dock and display set up. Taken this a bit further one could even argue that a Thunderbolt 1 or 2 docks is an option because they do the same as the TB3 docks in your list. Yet those add an additional cable because they are unable to power the notebook through the Thunderbolt connection. It really depends how far you want to go with reducing the cable clutter.
Anywho, the first (consumer) review for the Caldigit TS3 Lite is out and the review (4/5 Stars) is fairly positive. Nothing to say about instabilities. I lean closer to the full fat TS3 station now:
Also keep in mind, many of the poor or less than favorable reviews for the Caldigit TS2 station revolve around the single display output limitation on the dock (instead of being able to multiple displays without using a Thunderbolt device in-between), but this is a limitation of all TB2 docks. The TS3/Lite station handily fixes this limitation as evidenced here:
85w Charging [✓]
Dual Monitor Outputs [✓]
eSATA [✓]
I think TS3 (full fat) will be the one to beat.
Also keep in mind, many of the poor or less than favorable reviews for the Caldigit TS2 station revolve around the single display output limitation on the dock (instead of being able to multiple displays without using a Thunderbolt device in-between), but this is a limitation of all TB2 docks. The TS3/Lite station handily fixes this limitation as evidenced here:
85w Charging [✓]
Dual Monitor Outputs [✓]
eSATA [✓]
I think TS3 (full fat) will be the one to beat.