LAS VEGAS — Laptop docks aren’t usually the sexiest things in the world, but the latest hardware from Henge Docks could be considered somewhat titillating.
Henge’s upcoming horizontal docking station is a beauty. Its sleek, metallic profile looks like an extension of Apple’s unibody MacBook design. But this thing doesn’t only have good looks; it boasts robust port expansion, helpful cable management and automatic docking.
A small company based in San Francisco, Henge Docks is already known for its vertical MacBook dock and Gravitas dock for iOS devices. Customers clamored for a horizontal MacBook dock that didn’t require a secondary display, and the finalized version is being displayed for the first time at International CES here this week.
In a demo, Henge Docks CEO Matthew Vroom showed off the new dock attached to three additional monitors. The nicest part of the experience is never having to plug anything into the MacBook’s port manually — the dock automatically encloses the MacBook in its metal grip and fills every port.
Up to three external displays can be powered with either Thunderbolt 2, Mini DisplayPort or HDMI. The row of ports on the dock’s back expands the two USB ports on a MacBook to six. There are also two audio ports for separate input and output, ethernet, HDMI and an SD card slot. A Kensington lock can also be added.
All that’s great, but my favorite feature is that charging is built into the dock. Henge has made the first Apple-approved accessory capable of charging a MacBook through MagSafe, according to Vroom. So you don’t need to worry about plugging your Apple power brick in every time you come back to your desk.
A little helper app for OS X communicates with the dock and memorizes your multi-display setups and window placements. It can also make you enter a password to undock.
Overall, I was very impressed with the usefulness of this dock. There’s a model for the 13-inch and 15-inch Retina MacBook. At $399, it’s certainly pricey, but you’re getting quality craftsmanship and something that actually makes your life easier. Starts shipping in June.
Alex Heath is a journalist who works for Tech Insider. He’s the former co-host of The CultCast. He has been quoted by the likes of the BBC, KRON 4 News, and books like “ICONIC: A Photographic Tribute to Apple Innovation.” He lives in Lexington, Kentucky. If you want to pitch a story, share a tip, or just get in touch, additional contact information is available on his personal site. Follow him on Twitter.
13 responses to “Awesome MacBook dock looks like it was designed by Apple”
I’ve been waiting for this for a long time and was on their list to be notified of the release. Got an e-mail giving me a deadline to reply by the end of the day to buy it in advance, with a discount, but then they wanted more money to have a “special” plate on the dock noting it was one of the pre-release models appearing in April – essentially asking people to pay for the privilege of being a beta tester! The true release will be in June. This has left me wondering. The real issue with this dock is going to be the USB 3.0 implementation. The USB 3.0 ports on the rear are in exactly the location most prone to 2.4 Ghz interference from the laptop, and many USB 3.0 hubs have problems on Macs, with only one USB 3.0 controller apparently a good candidate to use, and the USB 3.0 ports causing wireless interference with WiFi and dongles (such as those from Logitech).
I find it odd that there is no clear picture of the product.
Serious power user stuff here. See all the cables in back? Crimony.
Looks like it was designed by Apple? Eh…..that’s being generous.
WAAAY, too busy and complicated for an Apple product. Buying a device to connect a TON of cords? AND it does nothing else? Apple would NEVER do that; they HATE cords. What Apple would do is…..well…..the Thunderbolt Display. 2 connections – power and data; with more on the back of the display.
This has a market, but not the one you describe. Just because you don’t like a product, doesn’t mean it’s made for freaks.
FYI, up-voting your own comment further invalidates your opinion.
Hmm. Thanks for the “input” “guy”.
Never said I didn’t “like” the product. And I think I discussed the market for this product quite clearly. So I DO believe their IS a market for it, OBVIOUSLY!
Oh, so you’re a full-blown, moronic troll who just generalizes everyone to fit her agenda. No more food for you.
Yikes! That’s an angry one, right there.
You win my upvote. I couldnt have said it better.
Idiotic
Saw this up close @CES, there is a hard plastic case that wraps around the macbook. I was not a fan, it did not feel durable enough to handle a lot of “ins and outs”. Would’ve loved to see a fan or other cooling solution integrated. Driving 3 displays is going to generate a lot of heat.
I don’t think I’m “one of those guys.” Sorry. But a dock is needed when you have a laptop as your main or only computer and you have work to do. When I had ThinkPads from work, for a dozen years, I had fully featured docks for home and office, and when I got my MacBook Pro, I missed the convenience. I did have BookEndz docks before my latest MacBook Pro Retina, but had to have them serviced four or five times, mostly because the USB connections failed.
At work I have an Apple monitor, a printer, wireless keyboard and mouse with dongle, microphone, headphone DAC/amp, a gigabit network connection, a backup drive, and need to connect flash drives. At home I have a headphone DAC/amp, a wireless mouse with dongle, a printer, a network connection, two backup drives, an optical drive for CDs and Blu-rays, an industrial USB 2.0 hub, and I need open USB ports for a mike and flash drive access.
So I have a OWC Thunderbolt2 dock at home and an Elgato dock at the office; each connects to the laptop via Thunderbolt, and each has Firewire 800, USB 3.0, audio, etc. The laptop needs a separate power connection, so I have two cables to connect. When I use the laptop to type at home, I have riser feet from JustMobile. I miss the stability and ease of the BookEnds, plus the resulting angled keyboard.
There’s ONE! OVER THERE! See him? LOL!
It all makes sense to him. Just ask.
It’s funny, I was going to bring up the back up tape drive, but I thought people would know the old floppy better.
“the dock automatically encloses the MacBook in its metal grip and fills every port.”
Superb marketing. Is there a pirate with a billowy blouse on the cover?