httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOKu9uwdwZI
I use my MacBook Pro as my main work computer thanks to a Logitech notebook keyboard stand and an external monitor, but I’ve often wanted something cleaner: a simple and elegant docking solution without any need to manually connect DVI cables and USB umbilicals.
Henge Docks’ line of MacBook docking stations seems to be just solution. All you do is slap your MacBook into the docking station and it’ll drive an eternal keyboard, mouse, printer, hard drive, stereo and any FireWire or USB hard drives you care to connect to it… all in a clean, compact and efficient design. It even uses your existing MagSafe charger.
Very nice indeed, and with prices starting at $59.95, this looks like an easy product to recommend to any Apple fan who uses their MacBook as their main work machine.
John Brownlee is a writer for Fast Company, and a contributing writer here at CoM. He has also written for Wired, Playboy, Boing Boing, Popular Mechanics, VentureBeat, and Gizmodo. He lives in Boston with his wife and two parakeets. You can follow him here on Twitter.
27 responses to “Gorgeous Docking Stations Allow You To Easily Use Your MacBook As Your Main Work Machine”
This is not the only dock available. Check out http://www.byte-dock.com. The owner is someone I know and the bytedock is a much better all in one solution.
It may be functional but the first three words of the post were “Gorgeous Docking Stations” and that Byte Dock is anything but gorgeous.
I personally think one of the most attractive things about Macs is there streamlined look and feel, so the Byte Dock won’t be for me.
Not yet available.
They all suck. Not one is a full docking station, and only replicate ports you already have, and thats in a crude 1980’s fashion!
I have just received mine, the quality is appalling, i sent emails to the company and they ignored them, so I posted my concerns onto their facbook page, and they deleted them, please avoid, for £140 odd it is amazingly poor quality.Eventually when i got a response from the company they sent me The returns policy, nothing about poor quality, it works, but is really rubbish quality…this is the comment they kept deleting
Hi I received my Byte Dock today, and to be quite honest, for the price paid, I am quite disappointed, the item does not sit stable on a flat surface, putting a straight edge across the bottom of the unit, the side wings are a few mm higher than the base, also where the blocks have been put in to guide the front and back of the laptop into position have been glued in, there are glue marks visible, and I know im being a little pedantic about this part, but when I unpacked it there were greasy fingerprints all over it, I would expect this quality from a much cheeper product, but as I said, for the price of this, I would expect so much more
Jason, I have my one of these and love it.
I think you have been really unfair about this product you complain about there product yet I have to ask have you returned it yet? It clearly states on there site that if you do not like it then you are more than welcome to return it. I have taken this direct from there site:
“If you change your mind
If you have simply changed your mind about any item ordered and
you wish to return it, then in line with the Distance Selling
Regulations
(DSR) you can do so provided you inform us of your decision within
30 working days of receipt. The item must not be used and must be
‘as new’ when returned to us. Once you’ve informed us that you wish
to return goods under the DSR, you have 30 calendar days to do so,
at your own expense. Once the item is received at http://www.byte-dock.com,
we’ll issue a full refund for the product to your original payment
method.”
So Jason have you return the Byte-dock yet to get your money back?
Thanks
Jason,
I got mine through there priority purchase scheme and love this product.
So much I have bought another one.
I should really ask one question of you as you seem to be bad mouthing the
Byte-dock guys everywhere, have you sent yours back for a full refund
yet? You say that they pointed you to there returns policy have you used
it yet?
I have owned a Hengedock which is the only docking station I can compare to
this as it is on end, and while the henge was good I personally think the
Byte-dock is better. Ok so it is a little expensive, however it is new to
the market and I tell you what Jason I bet you could not have put together a
henge and it not wobble or the port not align properly.
You seem to have a real bee in your bonnet about this by the childish way you
have spammed every message board I have seen about this product.
Give this new company a break and use their returns so they can give you your
money back if it is not up to your standards.
As for you comment on facebook that you posted here. I saw that before
the Byte-dock team took it down, if you have an issue with someone or there
product do you really think that is the right way to complain about it, I
understand why they took it down because rather than talk to them about the
issue you have just spammed every possible place know to man.
In conclusion I LOVE MY BYTE-DOCK and I will help these guys out against
negative people like Jason below.
Thanks
Gadgetman
Hi guys and girls,
Just wanted to say I have just got a docking station for my MBP and to tell you the truth I love it. It is the Byte-dock one Teryy mentioned sometime ago and I see Jason has posted about his negative experiences with it. Well I think you are wrong. I do agree it is not the most beautiful thing but my desk is now completely cable free with my wireless keyboard and mouse and my MBP sat in the Byte-dock just off to the right of my 26″ display. It worked straght out of the box and to be honest I think I will be getting another one to go next to my TV.
The only thing I would say that was not brilliant about it was the box it turned up in. But hay thats gone straght in the bin anyway :). I have 3 mates who got one of these on the priority purchase scheme and they all love them.
There was one problem with one and the support guys at byte-dock.com where really quick to reply and they offer a full refund or to replace it as quick as. Nothing wrong with there support I would say. Delivery was well quick from when I got the email stating that it was on it way think it was only 3 days and I am in the US that came from the UK. Absolutly brilliant and I would buy from this company again keep up the good work guys would love to see what else comes from them.
Thanks
SKY
Jason,We have seen from
the numerous post you have chosen to place on review sites that you are still
unhappy with your Byte-dock. Could you possibly respond to our e-mail dated
08/09/2011 telling us if you wish to keep the Byte-dock or send it back as per
our returns policy.Kind RegardsThe Byte-dock
Team