Byte-dock MacBook Pro port replicator
What's up, dock?
Geek Treat of the Week Apple dallied with dockable laptops in 1992, with the first PowerBook Duo, but by 1997 the idea had fallen out of favour. Owners of laptop Macs have had to hook and un-hook cables themselves ever since.
No longer. Enter Techne's Byte-dock - yes, it's a naff name - a new line of docking stations for unibody MacBook Pros of all sizes.
The closed MacBook slides down into the top of the Byte-dock where it connects smoothly to USB, audio, Ethernet, Firewire, Mini DisplayPort jacks. All you have to do is hook up the cables that you'd normally connect to the laptop to the ports on the sides of the dock.
The grip's not excessively tight, but the dock clasps the computer sufficiently that you'll need two hands to lift the MacBook out: one hand to hold down the dock, the other to grasp the laptop.
The replicated connectors appear on each end of the Byte-dock: Ethernet, Firewire, Mini DP and a USB on one end, a second USB and the 3.5mm audio sockets on the other.
There's no power pass-through - presumably because Apple wants too much money for a MagSafe licence - so you'll have to connect the power before you dock the machine.
There's not a lot Techne can do about that other than coughing up whatever Apple wants, but it missed a trick by simply replicating existing ports and not building in a USB hub for extra connectivity. You do get a bundled HDMI-Mini DP cable though.
A clever design feature is a slot so that SD cards inserted into your Mac don't prevent the computer and connectors from latching correctly. But if you want to swap cards, you'll have to undock the MacBook first.
How useful this is depends on what devices, if any, you regularly hook up to your notebook when it's on your desk. If you set down your computer in your office and immmediately wire it to a monitor, a keyboard and a mouse, you'll find this a handy accessory.
While the dock is solid enough, it's not what you'd call polished. That, coupled with its nice-to-have-not-essential utility, puts well on the wrong side of £100 for me. But this is a column for treats, and if you're sick of re-connecting cables every day, you may well be willing to give it a go. ®
Geek Treat of the Week is published every Monday. Got a handy gadget in mind you'd like us to consider? Please let us know
More Geek Treats |
||||
 M-Audio
Keystation Mini 32 |
 Logitech
Touch Lapdesk N600 |
 Osun
MushRoom Green Zero |
 Audio Pro WF100
wireless streamer |
 Mobee
Magic Charger |
COMMENTS
Bug ugly
"it's not what you'd call polished."
Definitely not. It's what I'd call bug ugly.
What part of "Apple stuff needs to look cool" don't they understand?
It's neither a triumph of functionality (lack of USB hub, messy power connection), nor a must-have piece of Apple eye candy. So it fails on function AND design. Quite some achievement.
Roll on version 2.
Got one, and it is really good (although still really expensive).
Bought it from Amazon.co.uk who also shipped it to Spain gratis :)
I would suggest that you buy a spare power supply though if you might want to take you lappy walkies sometimes.
Cheers!
That'll be my Christmas present sorted!
Always wanted a proper desk dock for my MacBook and that is just perfect and with a decent price as well. Had an original Powerbook Dock years ago and loved it.
Yes but you have to built it yourself
At least witht he Byte-dock it is ready to go I have one and the simplisity of it is great coupled with the functionality. Hengedock of which I have owned 2 have both broken. This one feel 10 times more sturdy. The power in the Henge is only held in with a little plastic clip that is extra as well plus this measn you loose your £35 magsafe cable. At least with my one of these when I use it I can take the cable out and take it with me unlike the henge dock.
Works in Lion
Lion allows you to run in so-called "clamshell" mode - i.e. with the lid shut. I believe there was a way to force SN to wake up in clamshell too, certainly I've seen these docks around prior to Lion's release.
