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Level 1

34 points

Thunderbolt Hubs and docking stations

We are looking to buy MacBook Pro (Retina maybe). We have two displays that are DisplayLink.

Apple seems to be behind/non-existant on the docking station game...(not enough companies to make millions here i guess?) so I know they don't want to make that, but does any 3rd part company make a Docking Station that you can plug the MB into and have all the ports already plugged into the monitors?

From a cleanlyness standpoint this seems like something Apple would do yet the only thing they offer in this regard is buying one of their displays. A $1000 Thunderolt hub? works for oil barrons, but not the rest of the world.

Belkin has an interesting offer, though since its not out yet, it's hard to know how that functions... do you plug in the Thunderbolt in the front? and then the back plugs just all work? is it that easy? if so it might be worth $200-300

http://www.belkin.com/us/thunderbolt

But it is amazing that Apple doen't offer a simple 20 ($30 apple prices) splitter.

i found 2 online after much dingging. is is discontinued and the other is out of stock. both look questionalbe with regard to quality.

So, am i missing something? Apple put all R&D and marketing into Thunderbolt got business to be the end of the chain, but over looked the middle?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

thanks.

Posted on Jan 7, 2013 1:36 PM

Best reply

gooballala

Level 3

800 points

Posted on Jan 7, 2013 1:38 PM

The belkin one isn't out yet but its probably going to be your best bet.

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190 replies

cpage Author

Level 1

34 points

Sep 11, 2015 5:06 AM in response to schnautz07

Looks like the Sonnet Echo 15+ has finally come to fruition!

http://www.sonnettech.com/product/echo15thunderboltdock.html

who ever would have thought it would take more than 2.5 years

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

Sep 11, 2015 5:16 AM in response to Michael Paine

Michael Paine wrote:

Still waiting for a TB2 dock with all the necessary features...

So now there is a new "standard" in Mac ports - USB-C - on the new Macbook. Not a very powerful (throughput) port system but it could discourage further TB dock development.

What do you mean by 'not very powerful'

It's the end of the TB experiment.

Sep 16, 2015 3:50 AM in response to Csound1

USB-C throughput - just my impression from reports. Happy to be proved wrong.

I would still like a decent TB dock for my iMac. Sonnet recently announced:

"The Echo 15+ Thunderbolt 2 Dock has recently completed Thunderbolt Certification testing and we have begun manufacturing. We expect to begin shipping against our very large backlog of pre-orders the first half of September 2015 and anticipate that it will take a number of weeks to work our way through all of the orders."

http://www.sonnettech.com/product/echo15thunderboltdock.html

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

Sep 16, 2015 6:02 AM in response to Michael Paine

10Gb/s is the initial release speed of USB C, exactly the same as Thunderbolts release speed.

Oct 19, 2015 4:13 PM in response to Michael Paine

My iMac is in for repairs so I am using a Retina Macbook with an HDMI monitor as a temporary office computer. I have the Apple HDMI adaptor which also has USB-C power input and a USB 3 (?) port. I have a USB hub plugged into the adapter and wired keyboard attached to that (macbook works in clamshell mode). Hard drives and other USB peripherals can be added to the hub.

My point? The Macbook only needs one cable (USB-C adapter) to be plugged in to turn it into a desktop station. This covers many of the features that I was (not "am") looking for with a TB docking station.

Oct 28, 2015 1:00 PM in response to Michael Paine

Here is my docking arrangement - messy but simple

Bye bye Thunderbolt

Oct 29, 2015 1:29 PM in response to Michael Paine

Actually I am still keeping an eye out for TB2 docks:

http://9to5mac.com/2015/10/29/mini-review-owc-thunderbolt-2-dock/

"OWC had developed its own Thunderbolt 2 Dock ($228), entering an accessory category that was simultaneously worthwhile and fairly stagnant..."

Sam Katz1

Level 2

200 points

Nov 1, 2015 9:50 AM in response to Michael Paine

OWC is a company I trust a lot.

Phrehdd

Level 1

0 points

Nov 4, 2015 10:23 AM in response to Michael Paine

I appreciate your spreadsheet but perhaps additions might prove worthy -

1) TB cable included

2) Software (as in Caldigit that puts info on the top bar of the screen to eject devices hooked up)

3) availability now (as in some items are not fully available just yet)

I admit I get irked when I have to search "what's in the box" only to discover I have to add a TB cable.

As well, though it really isn't exactly the same as the usual fair, a new item seems to be in the make - Zenboxx. I think some folks might find it interesting.

Nov 7, 2015 12:48 PM in response to Phrehdd

Someone else is welcome to take over updating the spreadsheet - I am no longer in the market for a TB dock. I did buy the OWC TB2 dock to give me a few extra ports on the iMac. If only the Sonnet had be released 2 years ago...

Thunderbolt Hubs and docking stations