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ctyrider

macrumors 65816
Jul 15, 2012
1,042
620
Like I said, if you insist. You buy a laptop with a single port but complain about not having enough ports. You bought the wrong tool for the job.

There is no one here "complaining about not having enough ports", as far as I can tell. Just a discussion of various USB-C accessories and their pros/cons.
 

Wallabe

macrumors 6502a
Mar 15, 2015
660
205
I already hear people wanting a second USB-C or a regular USB-A port.

I know people want a sexy slim notebook but can still do all the heavy lifting. That's like trying to buy a sports car but expecting it to be able to haul a trailer behind it. It's possible, but really, would you?
 

maryunani

macrumors member
Jun 9, 2015
56
22
Did someone die and made you the decider of who the rMB is "designed" or "not designed" for? There are many of us who love the idea of ultra-light ultra-portable computer, and yet still need a few accessories for it. This thread is exactly to discuss these types of accessories.

Well to be honest Wallabe didn't word his/her post in the nicest way possible, but he/she has a point. It's an ultrabook designed for a wireless world. It's really just the way it is. Plus, the ethernet jack/port is a very aged one as well.

I'd agree with Wallabe too about AirPort Express. If you must, then why not buy it yourself? It's a very handy and useful device for connecting to ethernet. It's not cheap of course, but it's an option.
 

jbromer

macrumors 6502a
Jul 13, 2008
612
7
MD, USA
I ordered this one earlier this month and it has been shipped; but won't be here for a couple weeks. It looks perfect for me. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YL1QRTW?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00

That seems to be the best of the bunch so far, but I'm waiting until I see some real usage reviews. I'd also like to wait until a more reputable manufacturer offers something...

There was someone on an earlier thread that ordered before me that should be getting his any day now. So hopefully we will get a review on it.

Hate to burst everyone's bubble. I ordered the other version of this (USB-c and 2 USB-A's) and kept getting a delay. I finally heard from the supplier that there were "problems" with the charging port. He told me he would ship the other one (that you are linking) in a few days. The next day my Amazon order changed to "shipped" - i.e. can't cancel right? I got a tracking number that had the wrong number of digits, so about 2 weeks later I e-mail again. He then tells me there are still "problems" with the design and that it actually hasn't shipped. If I will wait just a few more days yada yada. At that point I asked for (and promptly received) a refund. I'm still looking.
 

zhenya

macrumors 604
Jan 6, 2005
6,931
3,681
To me one of the most appealing things about the Macbook is precisely that it DOESN'T have all of those ports, yet the port it does have is capable enough of routing everything I would ever need over a single cable. That is elegant in a way that computers rarely are.

What that means is that for the 95-99% of the time that I will use the computer without needing any accessories, I get the benefit of interacting with a device that is thinner, lighter, with a smaller footprint. For the rare times that I need additional connectivity, once the accessory market has had time to develop (which is precisely the point of this thread, to watch that development), I'll have my choice of accessories to fit my needs. Most likely it will be a single hub with a couple of usb-a ports, a couple of usb-c ports, an hdmi or displayport, and an ethernet port. A well designed one of these will be smaller than the AppleTV or Airport Express you suggest I carry instead. If I want the convenience of a power workspace at home or the office, I can set up a larger hub like the Hydradock, connected to a monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc. and have a full-featured workstation with the mating of a single connector. Again, way more elegant than what is currently the common Mac method of individual connections to power, ethernet, video, usb cables, etc.

Your snarky comment about 'telling the client to buy an Airport Express' makes it all too clear that you've not had much experience in the real world. I do, in fact, often travel with an Airport Express as a backup option when I suspect there might be a need and the added bulk is worth lugging along. However it is by no means a guarantee that the client's network will be configured in such a way that it will work, or they may well not allow you to connect such a device to their network at all. I'll make sure to tell them your solution next time I find myself on a project site in central Africa with an Ethernet only connection, however.
 
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zhenya

macrumors 604
Jan 6, 2005
6,931
3,681
Hate to burst everyone's bubble. I ordered the other version of this (USB-c and 2 USB-A's) and kept getting a delay. I finally heard from the supplier that there were "problems" with the charging port. He told me he would ship the other one (that you are linking) in a few days. The next day my Amazon order changed to "shipped" - i.e. can't cancel right? I got a tracking number that had the wrong number of digits, so about 2 weeks later I e-mail again. He then tells me there are still "problems" with the design and that it actually hasn't shipped. If I will wait just a few more days yada yada. At that point I asked for (and promptly received) a refund. I'm still looking.

I had a suspicion. Thanks for the update.

I'll be thrilled when some of the big names start to ship some of these products. Right now there is a lot of question about what usb-c and the Macbook are actually capable of doing together, and I'd like to see something come from a reputable company. I expect it will be at least the fall before those products are available, however.
 

Wallabe

macrumors 6502a
Mar 15, 2015
660
205
So you are expecting a notbook designed for the wireless world to go backward and adapt to the none wireless world? Get a rMBP, and if you must, there is an ethernet adapter for it. You can still connect to ethernet with the rMB if you want, just get the right adapters.

If you plan to take pictures and show it off on a screen, the rMBP has display out and an SD card slot.

Like I said, you bought the wrong tool for the job if you know you need to constantly connect to a bunch of things. The rMB was designed for the wireless world. You'll have to carry all these adapters, why not just get thr rMBP? I have both, and I use both.

At least some individuals know their needs and returned their rMB and got a rMBP or MBA.

I do understand you want the latest and sexiest toy, but there are compromises here. If you want to be able to do more stuff, you either have to get accessories like Apple TV or adapters. If you don't want one, then get the other.
 
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ctyrider

macrumors 65816
Jul 15, 2012
1,042
620
So you are expecting a notbook designed for the wireless world to go backward and adapt to the none wireless world? Get a rMBP, and if you must, there is an ethernet adapter for it. You can still connect to ethernet with the rMB if you want, just get the right adapters.

blah blah blah

Again with this? This thread is to discuss USB-C accessories for rMB. No one here asked for your advise on what laptop to get or how to use our MacBooks. Take your "pearls of wisdom" to some other thread - I promise they won't be missed here.
 
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Big Ron

macrumors 6502
Dec 7, 2012
419
106
United Kingdom
I know it's early days, not withstanding Apple's own offering, has anyone got a feel for a good USB C dock
that ISN'T in kickstarter phase?

My rMB is coming this week and I can't put the decision to but an adapter/dock off for too much longer.
Your thoughts would be appreciated, as would some links;)
 

oGu

macrumors regular
Sep 19, 2007
112
25
I am interested about this also. The bigger companies like OWC and pluggable are releasing theirs late autumn.
 

MVPinFLA

macrumors 6502
Jul 10, 2008
361
88
Boynton Beach, FL
Hate to burst everyone's bubble. I ordered the other version of this (USB-c and 2 USB-A's) and kept getting a delay. I finally heard from the supplier that there were "problems" with the charging port. He told me he would ship the other one (that you are linking) in a few days. The next day my Amazon order changed to "shipped" - i.e. can't cancel right? I got a tracking number that had the wrong number of digits, so about 2 weeks later I e-mail again. He then tells me there are still "problems" with the design and that it actually hasn't shipped. If I will wait just a few more days yada yada. At that point I asked for (and promptly received) a refund. I'm still looking.

Interesting. I am not sure what company they are using for shipping, since there is no tracking info available. With it taking 5 weeks to receive after shipping, it must be coming by a slow boat. Unfortunately, I will be out of town part of the time when it is supposed to arrive; but when it comes in, I will report on it. That is if it actually did ship.
 

objektør

macrumors 6502
Nov 25, 2014
273
24
At home
There was someone on an earlier thread that ordered before me that should be getting his any day now. So hopefully we will get a review on it.

I ordered mine june 3th. Shipped the 4th. ETA july 6th but I'm still waiting. Tracking code doesn't work. I wrote them today and getting more and more sceptical...
 

objektør

macrumors 6502
Nov 25, 2014
273
24
At home
See my earlier post...

thanks, I missed that one.
I asked for a refund as well. Seems to be no problem.
So the only one working is the Apple hub/dongle than? But that one is not reversible, is it?
I mean, you have to connect the short cable to the rMB since the usb c port on the hub is charging only, no data transfer.
I'd rather connect the short end to the charger so it is out of the way when using the rMB on my lap.
 

MyopicPaideia

macrumors 68020
Mar 19, 2011
2,155
980
Sweden
Just wanted to come back and say that I can confirm that this small dongle dock:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261870590062

Does indeed have functional charging from both the rMB standard Apple issue charger as well as an iPad Air 2 charger using 3rd party USB-C to USB-A or USB-A to USB-A cables, and has functioning Gb Ethernet. It does work and does charge the Macbook.

It IS NOT USB 3.0. It is only USB 2.0 speeds.

You do realize you won't be able to charge your MacBook with this, right?

Hi

Can you open a thread for this one? Very curious to see if it works like it should.

Thx!
 

zhenya

macrumors 604
Jan 6, 2005
6,931
3,681
Just wanted to come back and say that I can confirm that this small dongle dock:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261870590062

Does indeed have functional charging from both the rMB standard Apple issue charger as well as an iPad Air 2 charger using 3rd party USB-C to USB-A or USB-A to USB-A cables, and has functioning Gb Ethernet. It does work and does charge the Macbook.

It IS NOT USB 3.0. It is only USB 2.0 speeds.

So it has a female usb-c port on it somewhere not pictured?
 

MyopicPaideia

macrumors 68020
Mar 19, 2011
2,155
980
Sweden
So it has a female usb-c port on it somewhere not pictured?
Nope, three USB-A 2.0 - But all three work for charging, essentially functioning as power pass throughs. You'll need a male USB-C to male USB-A to use it with the Apple Macbook charging brick, or a male to male USB-A cable to use it with any USB-A charging brick that supplies enough power to charge the MB.

Sorry if that was unclear.
 

zhenya

macrumors 604
Jan 6, 2005
6,931
3,681
Nope, three USB-A 2.0 - But all three work for charging, essentially functioning as power pass throughs. You'll need a male USB-C to male USB-A to use it with the Apple Macbook charging brick, or a male to male USB-A cable to use it with any USB-A charging brick that supplies enough power to charge the MB.

Sorry if that was unclear.

Ok, interesting. I have a couple of those cables already although charging with them is a mixed bag. Thanks!
 

ctyrider

macrumors 65816
Jul 15, 2012
1,042
620
Just wanted to come back and say that I can confirm that this small dongle dock:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261870590062

Does indeed have functional charging from both the rMB standard Apple issue charger as well as an iPad Air 2 charger using 3rd party USB-C to USB-A or USB-A to USB-A cables, and has functioning Gb Ethernet. It does work and does charge the Macbook.

It IS NOT USB 3.0. It is only USB 2.0 speeds.

And yet they advertise 3.1 interfaces:

2. Multiple USB 3.1 interface support plug and play. hot swap, easy to use and carry.

If it was me - I'd be requesting a refund.
 

MyopicPaideia

macrumors 68020
Mar 19, 2011
2,155
980
Sweden
And yet they advertise 3.1 interfaces:

2. Multiple USB 3.1 interface support plug and play. hot swap, easy to use and carry.

If it was me - I'd be requesting a refund.
Debatable.

It is indeed a USB 3.1 "interface" in that it does have a USB-C end. One can't expect anything more than a choppy translation to English from a no name Chinese part. Given the low price, my similarly low expectations (the fact that it does indeed have full charging capability with a "power passthrough" functionality is great) I think it fits the bill fine (I'm not doing anything that will make me really miss 3.0/1 speeds, USB is more for legacy connectivity than anything else) and worth the price IMHO.

With you having written it off at first glance as not being able to pass power through to my MB, I'm sure that you would return it and demand a refund for any seemingly justifiable (to you) reason, however trivial. For me, it would be more hassle than it is worth, especially when it actually is a nicely functioning piece of kit. If it didn't even work at all, that's another story...
 

coreyk

macrumors member
Oct 20, 2011
42
21
SF Bay Area
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TillysWily

macrumors regular
Jun 8, 2011
214
16
I bought this adapter off Amazon -- it works great, but unfortunately you can't charge the rMB with a USB-A to USB-C cable and the supplied 29 watt charger.
By chance have u tried to charge with a usb-usb cable and a extrnal power brick? Thanx in advance
 
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