| Cult of Mac

Alogic’s new Thunderbolt 4 docks deliver max speed and connections

By Ian Fuchs • 11:00 am, November 23, 2021

Sponsored

Unlock the potential of your MacBook Pro with a blazing-fast Thunderbolt 4 dock.
*Image: Alogic*

This post on USB-C docks is brought to you by Alogic.

Not all USB-C hubs and docks are created equal. While all Type-C ports look virtually identical, the fact is that some are faster and more capable than others. If you want the best possible throughput, you need to seek out ones that support the latest standards — Thunderbolt 4/USB 4.

Buying the right USB-C dock or hub will let you get the most out of living the “one cable for everything” dream. And it will future-proof your setup (at least as much as is possible in the fast-paced computing world).

New HyperDrive USB-C MacBook dock adds amazing 15 ports

By Ed Hardy • 9:30 am, November 15, 2021

News

New HyperDrive USB-C MacBook dock adds amazing 15 ports — Add up to 15 ports to a MacBook with a new USB-C hub/dock from Hyper.
*Photo: Hyper*

The HyperDrive 4K Multi-Display Docking Station for 13”-16” MacBook has room for 15 ports, including a trio of HDMI ports that support 4K 60Hz. There’s also Gigabit Ethernet, a trio of USB-A ports, a trio of USB-C ports, memory card readers and more.

Rather than sitting beside or behind the laptop, Hyper’s latest dock props it up.

Powerful MacBook dock lets you escape ‘dongle hell’

By David Pierini • 12:50 pm, January 11, 2019

News

Linedock is a device designed to deliver power and salvation from what its creators refer to as “dongle hell.”

It’s a massive messiah at two pounds with nine ports, a 20,000mAH battery with 100 W pass-through charging and an onboard SSD with up to 1 TB of storage.

The iPad needs a new kind of USB-C dock [Opinion]

By Charlie Sorrel • 11:00 am, November 21, 2018

Friends don’t let friends get to this stage.
*Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac*

If you have a new 2018 iPad Pro, then you probably need a new USB-C hub. Without it, you can only plug in one accessory at a time, and that includes the charger. With a hub, you can plug in an almost unlimited number of USB devices (and other gear), plus provide power for everything at the same time.

The problem is, almost all USB-C docks are designed for laptop computers like the MacBook. They’re designed with short tails so they can sit on a desk next to the MacBook’s desk-level USB-C port, and plug in without trailing a long cable all over the place. But these short tails are terrible for the iPad — especially if you use the tablet on a stand.

They result in a dongle dangling from the iPad, trailing all the cables and accessories hooked up to the hub. This puts a strain on the USB-C port, and reduces mobility for the iPad. It also looks ridiculous. Ditto those docks that clip to the iPad itself. They’re a disaster waiting to happen. Fortunately, I have a better idea.