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Super Sticky Thread for USB-C Docks, Cables and Accessories [MERGED]
- Thread starter Truefan31
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I would probably buy this one http://www.amazon.com/Satechi-Type-...UTF8&qid=1461767461&sr=1-5&keywords=usb-c+hub
but the reality is, at the moment, every hub has some tradeoffs. This one has at least been around a while and people generally report that it works properly although it gets very hot. If you think you might ever want HDMI out, I'd just buy the Apple one and keep a usb-SD card adapter around as well.
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I've had several issues with that one, and a couple others like it. They tend to be very flaky about which kinds of USB devices work, and it's been very hit and miss. That and the device itself doesn't attach well to the Macbook, and you have to be very careful not to jiggle it while using or you'll lose connection.
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Thanks! They look cool but the general reviews seem pretty mixed.
I'm still looking for someone to make a decent model with a removable cord - short one for travel - long one for minimal clutter on the desk.
OWC perhaps? Or the Hydradock?
My OWC, ordered back in January, FINALLY just sent me a shipment notice. But I'm not buying it for travel. And the Roadie version of the Hydradock only has 2 USB, 1 HDMI, 1 Ethernet and a USB-C charging port.
Honestly, I just wish Apple gave us one dongle that had both HDMI and VGA out on it. While HDMI inputs in projectors are becoming more common (and I carry a Pico version for close-up demonstrations), VGA is still the norm in most places.
Those are really overkill for what I need. I am interested in seeing the Roadie though. It's really odd that the Hydradock was supposed to ship to ~1500 or so people in February or so, but there isn't a mention of it I can find anywhere.
What I really want is something like the Anker power brick that was just released for charging, but with all my ports integrated into that. Then I carry 1 power brick that covers my MacBook, iPhone and iPad charging needs, and it also doubles as my hub/dock for the MacBook.
It's a little frustrating to me to look over Anker's website of dongles and chargers. It's like there's always one device that comes SOOOOOO close to being everything I need, but misses the mark.
https://www.anker.com/products/taxons/114/Connectivity
Honestly, I don't care so much about a battery. I'm getting really good battery life out of the laptop itself already.
https://www.anker.com/products/taxons/114/Connectivity
Honestly, I don't care so much about a battery. I'm getting really good battery life out of the laptop itself already.
Hey guys,
here's my feedback. I bought the Anker Premium USB-C Hub with HDMI and Power Delivery. It looks nice, I unfortunately had no much time since i've returned my 2015 Macbook (bought 3 days before 2016 Macbook announcement). I'm then waiting to pick a new one (1.2 or 1.3).
I've also bought this adapter from Amazon https://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B01AI0R96E/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
AUKEY USB-C to displayPort. With a DisplayPort to minDisplayPort adapter it is working great with my Cinema Display 27''. I'm really happy, because I was not so sure it would behave correctly. The full native resolution of Cinema Display is supported ... good stuff.
However I tried to connect the usb c port of that adapter to the AUKEY hub (usb c input port) with no luck. It seems that this USB C port available on the AUKEY hub is only intended to carry power and not data.
I would also be interested in knowing if this hub would be functional connected to the wall charger to get the apple original cable set the bridge between hub and the Macbook.
My dream would be to find a hub with no attached usb c cable, letting people selecting a USB-C / USB-C cable of their choice to link hub and the MacBook. That hub should have 2 usb c additional port (with charge passthru) a miniDisplay Port and few usb A 3.0 ports. The closest to that dream is the calDigit bigger hub, but this one is really huge and over-price for my needs. The smaller one would be good, but it comes only with HDMI flavor.
I'm still searching.
here's my feedback. I bought the Anker Premium USB-C Hub with HDMI and Power Delivery. It looks nice, I unfortunately had no much time since i've returned my 2015 Macbook (bought 3 days before 2016 Macbook announcement). I'm then waiting to pick a new one (1.2 or 1.3).
I've also bought this adapter from Amazon https://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B01AI0R96E/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
AUKEY USB-C to displayPort. With a DisplayPort to minDisplayPort adapter it is working great with my Cinema Display 27''. I'm really happy, because I was not so sure it would behave correctly. The full native resolution of Cinema Display is supported ... good stuff.
However I tried to connect the usb c port of that adapter to the AUKEY hub (usb c input port) with no luck. It seems that this USB C port available on the AUKEY hub is only intended to carry power and not data.
I would also be interested in knowing if this hub would be functional connected to the wall charger to get the apple original cable set the bridge between hub and the Macbook.
My dream would be to find a hub with no attached usb c cable, letting people selecting a USB-C / USB-C cable of their choice to link hub and the MacBook. That hub should have 2 usb c additional port (with charge passthru) a miniDisplay Port and few usb A 3.0 ports. The closest to that dream is the calDigit bigger hub, but this one is really huge and over-price for my needs. The smaller one would be good, but it comes only with HDMI flavor.
I'm still searching.
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OWC Dock received today. Tried it with a 2015 & 2016 Macbook. No video from HDMI to either a Dell 4k 2415q or a cheapo regular monitor. Tried two different HDMI cables. With the official apple AV adaptor, HDMI works perfectly. RMA was quick and painless with the friendly OWC rep.
Just got mine too. HDMI is flakey. Sometimes it works, sometimes the MacBook will see the monitor but there is no video going out to it, sometimes nothing at all. It takes restarting or replugging cables to get it to work. Did you exchange for a new one or just return it?
This just goes to confirm what I have been saying for a while.. Apple Digital A/V Adapter remains the best UBS-C "dock" solution out there. People love to gripe about its $79 price tag, but the thing is portable, well designed and it actually works.
Well, I discovered that that the issue with the HDMI not consistently working is due to the cable from the MacBook to the hub. Specifically the connection at the computer. Moving the MacBook even a little will cause the video to cut out. The MacBook thinks it's still outputting the video, but no signal makes it to the monitor. Unplugging the cable from the MacBook and plugging it back in will -usually- get it to work again. And of course, unplugging the cable if you have any drives attached is not a good thing.
Just checked, I can make the video drop by jiggling the hub end - it takes a bit more jiggling, the end at the Mac is so ridiculously touchy I can't move the Mac at all.
And, even though the manual says that any USB C cable will work, only the supplied one will carry video. When I used the Apple cable or one from Anker the Mac didn't even recognize that there was a monitor attached. Jiggling them had no affect on data. Only video on the supplied cable is affected.
Edited to add: OWC is sending a new cable
Just checked, I can make the video drop by jiggling the hub end - it takes a bit more jiggling, the end at the Mac is so ridiculously touchy I can't move the Mac at all.
And, even though the manual says that any USB C cable will work, only the supplied one will carry video. When I used the Apple cable or one from Anker the Mac didn't even recognize that there was a monitor attached. Jiggling them had no affect on data. Only video on the supplied cable is affected.
Edited to add: OWC is sending a new cable
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A carryover from my other thread. I purchased ORICO 2.5 inch Type-C Hard Drive Enclosure (2588C3) for my kid's MacBook (picture is from ORICO).
It is fairly decent looking and surprisingly good quality (metal bottom, no blindingly annoying indicator light). It does not get hot even after prolonged use with Samsung 850 EVO and it's pretty darn fast (e.g., loading RAW photos from very large library in Photos app is instantaneous).
Oddly enough, it comes bundled only with USB-C to USB-A cable, but considering my mistrust for most USB-C cable vendors and given fairly low price (I paid $12.99 from Amazon), no big deal.
It is fairly decent looking and surprisingly good quality (metal bottom, no blindingly annoying indicator light). It does not get hot even after prolonged use with Samsung 850 EVO and it's pretty darn fast (e.g., loading RAW photos from very large library in Photos app is instantaneous).
Oddly enough, it comes bundled only with USB-C to USB-A cable, but considering my mistrust for most USB-C cable vendors and given fairly low price (I paid $12.99 from Amazon), no big deal.
The larger dell usb c dock is shipping. It has displayport. Has anyone tried with with the Macbook?
According to the specs it supports two monitors at 1080p. I was really hoping to get 2560x1440 through displayport for my dell U2713HM (HDMI only supports 1080p on this monitor).
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=1217292&gclid=Cj0KEQjwx7u5BRC1lePz2biJpIYBEiQA-ZeDmkFDe1bj9UrXLffv55IAfQaYaeGqJNhsvbgg-EOmLoEaAjPg8P8HAQ&is=REG&ap=y&m=Y&c3api=1876,92051677682,&Q=&A=details
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/...ven1=450-AEUO:100955342709:901pdb6671:c&ven2=:
According to the specs it supports two monitors at 1080p. I was really hoping to get 2560x1440 through displayport for my dell U2713HM (HDMI only supports 1080p on this monitor).
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=1217292&gclid=Cj0KEQjwx7u5BRC1lePz2biJpIYBEiQA-ZeDmkFDe1bj9UrXLffv55IAfQaYaeGqJNhsvbgg-EOmLoEaAjPg8P8HAQ&is=REG&ap=y&m=Y&c3api=1876,92051677682,&Q=&A=details
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/...ven1=450-AEUO:100955342709:901pdb6671:c&ven2=:
Hey itsmekb, this dock seems interesting, I haven't tested it or heard about it before. But I'm quite sure I won't buy one.
One only thing is missing, this stuff is lacking a detachable USB-C cable (If I'm not wrong, but there's no mention about it in the description). The link between the device (macbook or whatever) and the dock is only 2,62 feet which represents barely 80 cm. Too short.
It would be so easier to provide a female usb-c port on such device + a separated male/male usb-c cable to use with it, giving people the choice to switch to a longer (or shorter) cable.
Is there any dock or hub out there able to provide that choice?
One only thing is missing, this stuff is lacking a detachable USB-C cable (If I'm not wrong, but there's no mention about it in the description). The link between the device (macbook or whatever) and the dock is only 2,62 feet which represents barely 80 cm. Too short.
It would be so easier to provide a female usb-c port on such device + a separated male/male usb-c cable to use with it, giving people the choice to switch to a longer (or shorter) cable.
Is there any dock or hub out there able to provide that choice?
I have the same monitor with the restricted HDMI.
This review http://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/accessories/dell-wd15-docking-station says
So if you only want the one monitor it sounds like it'd work. I'm still waiting for the CalDigit dock since that should be able to drive both this monitor via DP and another via HDMI. My patience is starting to run out though.
Marble project is on Kickstarter. Clic here.
I know that a lot of you guys are so-so with kickstarter projects as i believe that Hub+ as failed, despite a complete pledge.
This dock, apparently, answers to any of my needs so I've decided to jump on the boat for the DCS2.
I just wanted to let you know that this one seems to be a good contender for those searching around .... and are not in a hurry (ETA is on October).
I know that a lot of you guys are so-so with kickstarter projects as i believe that Hub+ as failed, despite a complete pledge.
This dock, apparently, answers to any of my needs so I've decided to jump on the boat for the DCS2.
I just wanted to let you know that this one seems to be a good contender for those searching around .... and are not in a hurry (ETA is on October).
That's exactly the kind of device I want - an all-in-one hub and power brick built into one device. Still, I have zero confidence in kickstarter hardware campaigns, let alone ones based on usb-c, so I'll wait this one out!