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USB-C hubs and my slow descent into madness (2021)

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Re: USB-C hubs and my slow descent into madness (2021)

#501

Post by thayne »

vinhboy wrote: post #13

> It honestly feels like no matter what you buy, you get more or less the same hardware, and you’re most likely getting a heavily overpriced product just because some company printed their logo on it. Isn't this like a known thing? Almost all peripherals on Amazon will have dozens of the exact same form-factor with different logos on it. You just buy the one that is the perfect intersection of costs, positive reviews…

In a competitive market someone would (supposedly) see the need and create a competitively priced product that is higher quality, but maybe doesn't have the brand recognition. But that doesn't really seem to happen. I think part of it is that gaming amazon reviews is cheaper than actually making a higher quality product.

Re: USB-C hubs and my slow descent into madness (2021)

#503

Post by Forgeties79 »

jelling wrote: post #227

Would anyone else be interested in a modular hub / kvm system? Personally I’m tired of buying and replacing so many hubs, both because of new port requirements but also because they tend not to last.

Ehhh maybe? Modular + affordable usually translates into more things that break in my experience. But if there was a quality build one with lots of options/configurations I’d definitely take a look.

Re: USB-C hubs and my slow descent into madness (2021)

#504

Post by Forgeties79 »

hbarka wrote: post #300

This beautiful block of metal is my go-to: https://www.amazon.com/Docking-Station-Dtation-Thunderbolt-E... Docking Station, 18in1 USB C Docking Station for Windows/MacBook Pro/Air/Thunderbolt 3 Dock with SSD Enclosure 3 HDMI DP100W PD3.0 RJ45 SD/TF Card Reader Audio&Mic 5 USB Ports.

What a beast. The only concern I have is the price point - seems a little low. You feel the build quality is good?

Re: USB-C hubs and my slow descent into madness (2021)

#505

Post by tempnow987 »

smoldesu wrote: post #485
tempnow987 wrote: post #173

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Haha... That's pretty perfect. And after 7 years I'm also still playing with stuff. I got a hub with an external power connector that plugs into wall and it charges my iphone at trickle charger rates. Meanwhile my "crappy" apple charger seems to blast my iphone up in no time. One cost me MORE (the hub/dock).

This just in! Accessory designed for use with phone works well with phone, while off-the-shelf generic accessory does not. More at 11.

We have been told, repeatedly, about the "next great thing" in standards. The EU mandated micro-USB (ugh!). 7 years ago we were being hyped up about USB-C.

Here we are 7 years later, and the SAME lighting cable apple has had for 10 years (!!) is more sturdy, has great low latency (if you compare to USB-C for music making the difference is crazy), has fantastic reliable power delivery.

I mean, after 10 years you'd think the new standards would be absolutely crushing Apple's old tech.

But I can't get the low latency on USB-C for audio I get on lighting (anyone know why? Both are wires) 10+ years later.

It's maddening. And the power delivery and speeds of USB-C/USB3 are just crazily all over the map. You can plug into a blue USB3 port and go no faster than you did on an old port!

Re: USB-C hubs and my slow descent into madness (2021)

#506

Post by smoldesu »

tempnow987 wrote: post #505
smoldesu wrote: post #485

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This just in! Accessory designed for use with phone works well with phone, while off-the-shelf generic accessory does not. More at 11.

We have been told, repeatedly, about the "next great thing" in standards. The EU mandated micro-USB (ugh!). 7 years ago we were being hyped up about USB-C. Here we are 7 years later, and the SAME lighting cable apple has had for 10 years (!!) is more sturdy, has great low latency (if you compare to USB-C for music making the difference is crazy), has fantastic reliable power delivery. I mean, after 10 years you'd thi…

If only Apple had considered the plight of man before switching their laptops over to exclusively use USB-C connectors.

Re: USB-C hubs and my slow descent into madness (2021)

#507

Post by eek2121 »

I have suffered from a similar experience minus the ethernet. One of my hubs was even falsely labeled Thunderbolt when it was not. ALL of my devices were purchased direct from Amazon.com, no third-party resellers. All of them are dead as of today. I switched to using a USB-C -> DisplayPort cable for video. I upgraded my Macbook Pro, so I actually have a selection of ports. Prior to this I spent hundreds of dollars on so called 'docks'. I will never buy from these companies again. I will also never buy a USB-C dock again. Instead, for my Windows laptop, I have USB-C -> USB cables, and it also works with USB-C to DisplayPort. My Macbook has all the required ports.

Re: USB-C hubs and my slow descent into madness (2021)

#508

Post by eek2121 »

eqvinox wrote: post #380

> Ah, so it’s a Realtek RTL8153! I always found Intel NICs to be way more reliable and stable, but okay, that’s a reasonably popular chip. Intel doesn't make USB ethernet controllers, they only do PCIe. Realtek has a near monopoly on USB Ethernet, the only other supplier I can think of is SMSC/Microchip LAN7500, and I'm not sure it's any better. > There’s also a second USB hub, but only a 2.0 one, same vendor, but 0x…

On the desktop, on Windows, the RTL8153 hasn't given me an issue. However, I've heard bad things. My last upgrade had an Intel I225-V, so unfortunately, I cannot report on longevity. The Intel NIC, however? Thumbs up.

Re: USB-C hubs and my slow descent into madness (2021)

#509

Post by eek2121 »

WaxProlix wrote: post #229
jmyeet wrote: post #74

I'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've had some mediocre luck with USBC cables, paying premium for stuff that has the same below-spec performance as the bulk I got from monoprice a few years ago at a fraction of the cost. How do you evaluate 'nice' cables before shelling out money for garbage?

Ensure the certification is legitimate, for starters.

Re: USB-C hubs and my slow descent into madness (2021)

#510

Post by nickm12 »

moritonal wrote: post #7

If 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/

+1 to Caldigit Thunderbolt. I bought a TS3 Plus almost two years ago and have been living the single-cable lifestyle since. Works great.
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