Kind of surprised the author didn't describe getting refunds -- the behavior here seems like it should have triggered European consumer protections.
USB-C hubs and my slow descent into madness (2021)
101–110 of 530 posts
Re: USB-C hubs and my slow descent into madness (2021)
#102If you want a decent dock you have to spend a bit of money. I went through this pain before accepting the cost and buying a CalDigit Thunderbolt 4 Element Hub[1]. Run's two 4k displays at 60Hz, any peripheral and charges my laptop. So good I bought a second. 1. https://www.caldigit.com/thunderbolt-4-element-hub/
I don't like the idea of having to chain multiple dongles(I know the advantages, being able to choose a good network adapter, etc.) but I'd still pay decent money for a single device that I can leave on my desk with everything plugged in without the need for additional interconnects. (I do see that they make actual hubs as well, might check those out.)
Re: USB-C hubs and my slow descent into madness (2021)
#1037 years ago I wrote a comment, dismayed about the coming USB-C insanity and was made fun of. Here we are. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9645013
See you again in 7 years! :(
Re: USB-C hubs and my slow descent into madness (2021)
#104I've been through this rodeo myself. I've been happily using for years docks made by Hyper over USB-C (and now over TB4). When on the go, I use the official Apple dongle for HDMI and USB. If I need more ports, Hyper and Anker both make USB-C hubs that are very solid and actually work.
I totally agree with the author, most of the products on the market are garbage, and many are the same garbage with different names. To a large degree to solve this issue you need to stop shopping on Amazon. Almost everything listed on Amazon not made by Anker doesn't work. Either buy directly for Apple, or buy from directly from small companies that focus on solving accessories for the Apple market (e.g. Rain Design, 12South, Hyper, CalDigit, et al). This is definitely not limited to USB-C hubs, and encompasses nearly all products. Buying direct from high-quality companies is always better than trying your luck with random brand-named Aliexpress specials sold through Amazon.
Re: USB-C hubs and my slow descent into madness (2021)
#105It feels like Apple should have done/should do an official in-house docking system instead of outsourcing such a critical component in the overall system/value proposition.
They do--they just include the monitor as part of it. That seems to have been the vision since at least 2011 [1]. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Thunderbolt_Display
That was discontinued over 6 years ago. In 2022, it isn't a great monitor, either.
Re: USB-C hubs and my slow descent into madness (2021)
#106Earlier quoted context omitted.
The most frustrating part is that I want no logo. It’s the worst of both worlds; no brand reputation, yet still covered in ads.
While not the ideal solution to your needs, I've found that Brasso does a great job of removing logos from electronics with a little elbow grease. I've used it on my LG television, my Levoit air cleaning machines, and other devices.
Or acetone a.k.a. the pure form of nail polish remover.
Re: USB-C hubs and my slow descent into madness (2021)
#107It feels like Apple should have done/should do an official in-house docking system instead of outsourcing such a critical component in the overall system/value proposition.
Actually they have a simple USB-C break-out adapter which has a USB-A port, an HDMI port and power-in. It works extremely well. You can connect it to a USB3.0 hub to get a lot of ports. I leave it at my office desk for day to day operation. If you want a proper docking station, a higher end Dell monitor [0] will do with USB-C, display daisy chain and USB-PD. It'll enable single cable connectivity to anything you care…
There's nothing like having to do Johnny Mnemonic cosplay because a manufacturer won't let their product be sullied with holes.
Re: USB-C hubs and my slow descent into madness (2021)
#108Even with a 2014 macbook I still have to run an oldschool USB hub
Re: USB-C hubs and my slow descent into madness (2021)
#109If you also need a monitor for your office tasks, try the Dell P2720DC. Its a Monitor including a USB-C Dock and it just works.
Re: USB-C hubs and my slow descent into madness (2021)
#110I've gone through a number of Thunderbolt docks over the last few years. I tend to prefer docks to hubs because you tend to use your laptop at several fixed positions, each of which might have 1 or more monitors, a network cable, accessories (eg keyboard, mouse, camera) and so on. It's easier to just plug in one cable from the dock to the Macbook that'll do everything including power it. A good example of this is the…
I also prefer docks to hubs, for the same reasons you mentioned. There are still some pretty big gaps which need to be addressed before we can use a single cable for everything.
First, Mac OS still doesn't support DisplayPort MST. If you have two or more non-Thunderbolt monitors, you'll need to use more than one port.
Second, many companies require their employees to use tokens such as Yubikeys, which are USB devices plugged into a laptop operating on human touch. Even if you dock your laptop, you will need to keep it within arm's reach so you can touch the Yubikey. You could remove the Yubikey from the laptop and plug it into your dock, but that defeats the purpose of docking.
Ultimately, I just want more desk space, and I consider both the dock and the laptop to be clutter.