Thin, new MacBook Pro. Elegant design. Pure jewel. Lack of legacy ports? Well, OWC comes into play to help those in need offering a Thunderbolt 3 Dock. However, sometimes this could be too much for what we actually need.
I am sure many brands will come with solutions to the lack of legacy ports in the new MacBook Pro. There are two main options to choose from: adaptors only for the devices we use, or a dock that may offer more ports than we might need. Both are a compromise to having a sleek machine way ahead of its time, but still having to get the job done.
OWC announces its new Thunderbolt 3 Dock that offers 13 ports, and is designed to be used with the new MacBook Pro. It has everything professionals complained they desperately needed: SD card reader slot, Gigabit Ethernet, five USB 3.1, mini display, analog and digital audio, FireWire 800, and two Thunderbolt 3 ports.
If you need too many adaptors or you swear to never use an SD card dongle adaptor, such solution is for you.
Now for the not so exciting part: It's pricey and it's only available for pre-order. OWC is going to ship those in February, 2017 (they say "only") for $279. Well, what is this price compared to the considerable amount of money already gave to Apple! At least the dock looks sleek too.
Do you think it's worth carrying another expensive device slightly larger than your smartphone and keeping it always connected to your thin MacBook Pro?
[via MacRumors]
It's partly Apple. Some of their engineers participated in the development (23% if I recal correctly).
NO THANKS! 300$ and an additional power cord -- must be kidding. Sleek apple jewel with cancer hanging foul out of its body. What a marred beauty!
Notebooks are for travelling and this 'solution' is completely useless.
Shame on Apple
If we look from the following perspective: Apple to comply with the current hardware status quo, you are right. Shame on Apple.
From another perspective: having univesal cables and ports, they are on a good track and manufacturers have to keep up quickly. However, the users are those who carry the weight of that transition.
It is design to cost. Obviously, a Thunderbolt port or a USB 3 port are no higher than the USB C
I suppose it's related to patents. If they patented (or have some part in patenting of) USB-C, their decision is obvious.
I think it is an inconvenient solution, and only practical if you use your laptop on a desk only.
I need the ports built in. The whole point of a laptop is to be portable and practical without dangly bits hanging off the sides.
So not only the MagSafe is gone, you have to have a dock hanging - increasing the chances of accidents happening.
I'm sure it will work for some, and Apple apologists will make themselves love the solution, but the bigger issue is that Apple is showing no interest in the pro market. They are in the mass market fashion electronics business and the stench of neglect of pro hardware, and Mac in general is becoming unbearable.
This holiday season my plan is to install Windows 10 as a virtual machine and start working on a transition plan. Surface Book is looking more tempting by the minute.
Bare in mind this "solution" will last for less than a year only for those that really need lots of ports on a desk. For work on the field I rarely use more than 2 USB ports at the same time. 2 adaptors is not that of an issue for a limited period.
$279.... you can't be serious.
Probably they want to have their ROI for a short period as manufacturers will start producing USB-C devices in the near future and this dock may become useless for those that have more money to buy the latest MBP. Then they will drop the price for the long tail users who will use old devices for several years more.
I don't think they've lost customers. People complained about glossy screens and the Retina. Now they prefer the 2015 MBPs. History repeating.
It's a tool after all. It's like cars. You may drive a Ferrari but you can't put your woodwork shop lumber in it.