4 ms·

> USB-C hub/dock/whatever There aren't that many good one's. What I would need would be one which handle's at least, 4-6 USB, two HDMI, Ethernet and charging w

by merb 10y ago

> USB-C hub/dock/whatever There aren't that many good one's. What I would need would be one which handle's at least, 4-6 USB, two HDMI, Ethernet and charging would be a bonus.

exhilaration 10y ago
That would be pretty cool actually, so only a single connection for everything? Like a docking station! Why isn't Apple making one?
- Bud 10y ago
  Because Apple does not NEED to make every single necessary object in the universe. LG is making them, they are 5k, they have wide color gamut and 3x USB-C out, and they are in the Apple Store. That's good enough. This enables Apple to focus on what they are good at.
  - dictum 10y ago
    If we stretch this approach, Apple will become good at making the iPhone and nothing else. The display was the soul of the desktop Mac. It's easier to perceive your Macbook as another PC when your window into it is another mostly generic-looking LG display, even if the panel in the Apple branded display was manufactured by LG. Perhaps they want to focus on the iMac again and don't want the MBP + display combo to cannibalize it. But again, with extreme focus soon they'll be abandoning the iMac for good. (I still love macOS and I enjoy how the new MBP looks)
- henrikschroder 10y ago
  They already did, it's called the Thunderbolt Display.
lmm 10y ago
Can I tempt you over to the Microsoft side? The Surface Dock has exactly those connections - I leave everything connected to the dock as my "workstation", and carry my Surface Book travelling when need be.
- douche 10y ago
  If you're being tempted over to the Microsoft side, you might as well just buy a Dell or HP or Thinkpad or whatever, and get Mac-level specs at half the price, and usually a good collection of today's standard ports.
  - lmm 10y ago
    It's hard to match the Surface Book on specs, at least if you care about the size and weight and resolution and touchscreen. I went shopping 6 months ago with requirements of: thin and light (13" or smaller), available in the UK, NVidia graphics, 12gb or more of RAM, reasonable processor, and touchscreen; I wasn't expecting to walk out with Microsoft hardware but the Surface Book was the only laptop I saw that (more-or-less - it's 13.5") matched up to that.
  - ocdtrekkie 10y ago
    I think the Surface Pro is still pretty competitive, though the Book and Studio are really out there on price. But that's the great thing about the Microsoft side... You have choices like buying the HP it the Dell.
- xenadu02 10y ago
  Who wants to run Windows?
edwinjm 10y ago
Apple's idea is that your monitor will be the hub. See the new LG Ultrafine Display. Just connect your Mac with one cable and you're ready to work.
- monkmartinez 10y ago
  Can we say that, at this time, Apple's idea here is a bit dumb/half-baked/incongruent/silly/frustrating and it will materially hurt them in the longer term?
  - threeseed 10y ago
    None of what you said is remotely true. Betting entirely on USB-C as the one true connector is not half baked and is quite reasonable. And by using it solely it will force accessory manufacturers to build the docks, monitors etc. This has all happened before with the original iMac. And it was universally seen in the long run as one of the best decisions they made.
  - matwood 10y ago
    It's the short term where the pain will be felt if there is any. The long term is clear, USB-C throughout which I think is a good thing. What I'm confused about is why the iPhone7 was also not USB-C. I fully expect to see the next iPhone switch over.
    - bwilliams18 10y ago
      while I 100% agree the next iPhone SHOULD switch over to USB-C I'd be very surprised if it actually does...Apple isn't going to want to go through a second port transition in such a short period of time (30 pin to lightening) and certainly won't want to change anything after the headphone port this year. Especially b/c next year is the 10th anniversary, and it's understood that they really want it to be something special,
      - scottmf 10y ago
        I agree they won't change so soon, but I just realized there have been as many lightning models as 30 pin models.
bwilliams18 10y ago
Look at Thunderbolt 3 docks instead, theres a better selection of options...and I'm sure in the next few weeks there will be even more.
phonon 10y ago
http://plugable.com/products/ud-ultcdl/ http://plugable.com/products/ud-ultcdl/ came up in a quick search. Looks good to me!
- merb 10y ago
  not available in my country tough.

by merb 10y ago

> USB-C hub/dock/whatever There aren't that many good one's. What I would need would be one which handle's at least, 4-6 USB, two HDMI, Ethernet and charging would be a bonus.

exhilaration 10y ago

That would be pretty cool actually, so only a single connection for everything? Like a docking station! Why isn't Apple making one?

Bud 10y ago
Because Apple does not NEED to make every single necessary object in the universe. LG is making them, they are 5k, they have wide color gamut and 3x USB-C out, and they are in the Apple Store. That's good enough. This enables Apple to focus on what they are good at.
- dictum 10y ago
  If we stretch this approach, Apple will become good at making the iPhone and nothing else. The display was the soul of the desktop Mac. It's easier to perceive your Macbook as another PC when your window into it is another mostly generic-looking LG display, even if the panel in the Apple branded display was manufactured by LG. Perhaps they want to focus on the iMac again and don't want the MBP + display combo to cannibalize it. But again, with extreme focus soon they'll be abandoning the iMac for good. (I still love macOS and I enjoy how the new MBP looks)
henrikschroder 10y ago
They already did, it's called the Thunderbolt Display.

lmm 10y ago

Can I tempt you over to the Microsoft side? The Surface Dock has exactly those connections - I leave everything connected to the dock as my "workstation", and carry my Surface Book travelling when need be.

douche 10y ago
If you're being tempted over to the Microsoft side, you might as well just buy a Dell or HP or Thinkpad or whatever, and get Mac-level specs at half the price, and usually a good collection of today's standard ports.
- lmm 10y ago
  It's hard to match the Surface Book on specs, at least if you care about the size and weight and resolution and touchscreen. I went shopping 6 months ago with requirements of: thin and light (13" or smaller), available in the UK, NVidia graphics, 12gb or more of RAM, reasonable processor, and touchscreen; I wasn't expecting to walk out with Microsoft hardware but the Surface Book was the only laptop I saw that (more-or-less - it's 13.5") matched up to that.
- ocdtrekkie 10y ago
  I think the Surface Pro is still pretty competitive, though the Book and Studio are really out there on price. But that's the great thing about the Microsoft side... You have choices like buying the HP it the Dell.
xenadu02 10y ago
Who wants to run Windows?

edwinjm 10y ago

Apple's idea is that your monitor will be the hub. See the new LG Ultrafine Display. Just connect your Mac with one cable and you're ready to work.

monkmartinez 10y ago
Can we say that, at this time, Apple's idea here is a bit dumb/half-baked/incongruent/silly/frustrating and it will materially hurt them in the longer term?
- threeseed 10y ago
  None of what you said is remotely true. Betting entirely on USB-C as the one true connector is not half baked and is quite reasonable. And by using it solely it will force accessory manufacturers to build the docks, monitors etc. This has all happened before with the original iMac. And it was universally seen in the long run as one of the best decisions they made.
- matwood 10y ago
  It's the short term where the pain will be felt if there is any. The long term is clear, USB-C throughout which I think is a good thing. What I'm confused about is why the iPhone7 was also not USB-C. I fully expect to see the next iPhone switch over.
  - bwilliams18 10y ago
    while I 100% agree the next iPhone SHOULD switch over to USB-C I'd be very surprised if it actually does...Apple isn't going to want to go through a second port transition in such a short period of time (30 pin to lightening) and certainly won't want to change anything after the headphone port this year. Especially b/c next year is the 10th anniversary, and it's understood that they really want it to be something special,
    - scottmf 10y ago
      I agree they won't change so soon, but I just realized there have been as many lightning models as 30 pin models.

bwilliams18 10y ago

Look at Thunderbolt 3 docks instead, theres a better selection of options...and I'm sure in the next few weeks there will be even more.

phonon 10y ago

http://plugable.com/products/ud-ultcdl/ http://plugable.com/products/ud-ultcdl/ came up in a quick search. Looks good to me!

merb 10y ago
not available in my country tough.