

Belkin Thunderbolt Express Dock
Belkin offers some connectivity lovin' for Thunderbolt-equipped computers







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RE: Where is the USB3 version?
By name99 on 9/13/2011 3:27:22 PM , Rating: 2
Seeing this as a "docking station" strikes me as silly. It's all words, but thinking of it as a TB->USB3 hub is far more useful. "Docking Station" implies a very specific usage model.

This is a way to connect USB3 drives (presumably at full speed) to an MBA or Mac Mini or iMac. It also offers (if you want that) the ability to connect an external screen. It also offers (if you want that) a GigE connection. (Apple in the past supported ethernet aggregation, so you could in theory double your bandwidth between two devices both with two gigE connections. Does anyone know if that was limited to XServer hardware, or if it would work in a context like this, say with two iMacs both hooked up to a second gigE port?)

The point is: you can mix-and-match as you wish.
Assuming it works at full speed, doesn't have stupid power limitations, etc, it looks like a nice device (with horrible styling). Really, all they missed is an eSATA connection or two.

As to your complaint --- well, strangely enough Thunderbolt peripherals are not made with the non-Thunderbolt user in mind. What's next? You're going to complain to Pepsi because they don't make a brand of gasoline that works with your car?

RE: Where is the USB3 version?
By danjw1 on 9/13/2011 5:41:31 PM , Rating: 2
Does it have USB 3.0 ports? They just say "USB ports" in the article.

RE: Where is the USB3 version?
By name99 on 9/13/2011 8:11:49 PM , Rating: 2
Whoops. My bad. You are correct.
Though if this DOES have only USB2, not USB3, the CEO of Belkin deserves to be fired.

RE: Where is the USB3 version?
By Tanclearas on 9/14/2011 2:07:11 PM , Rating: 2
Your analogy is completely wrong.

Belkin makes a huge variety of products. They don't just make ThunderBolt products. They don't just make products for the Mac. In fact, they have made a USB 2.0 universal docking station.

It's not at all like Pepsi not making a brand of gasoline. It would be like Pepsi not making a diet cola.

Your complaint that it is not a "docking station" seems like the weird "complaint". If I have a laptop with a ThunderBolt port, a ThunderBolt display, USB keyboard/mouse, a network connection, and perhaps even some firewire device(s), that's pretty much what I need in a docking station. It is not necessarily the type of docking station that would be in high demand, but it is clearly a docking station.

Now, if you substitute the ThunderBolt connectivity on that device with USB3, and replace the ThuderBolt output with VGA/DVI/HDMI output, I can see it being a useful docking station to a LOT more people.


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