Despite their otherwise great products Matrox fails to get it. What Mac laptop users badly need is Thunderbolt pass through so the dock can be first in a chain instead of requiring other devices to be Thunderbolt pass through devices. Having just a single Thunderbolt port is a huge flaw.

-Allen

^ Agreed.

If I can't even hook up a thunderbolt-to-FireWire dongle and/or a second monitor, this thing is a dead end.

But hey, they added an 80-cent digital-to-analog audio converter, so average consumers should be happy. Those average consumers prepared to shell out $250 for a dock.

In addition to the comments above, if I am going to spend this much money on a device the least you can do it future-proof it as best you can. Only ONE USB 3 port, really? I'll wait for something better.

Please explain how to get two USB-3.0-spec ports over a 10Gbit thunderbolt pipe, along with audio and Gbit Ethernet.

Having peripherals connected to ports does not imply 'using ' them at the same time. A hub is meant as a convenience and having to swap peripherals in and out is not as convenient. Tell me *why* limiting an expensive devise even makes sense? You can daisy chain over 100 USB devices, per spec, but you won't get full speed from all of them at the same time now will you? So why does it exist?

blah, blah, blah

Gotta love condescending no-it-alls. (my view is the ONLY one that matters)

:lol:

USB cannot be daisy-chained.


Including functionality that cannot work according to the spec on the box is questionable, at best.

If you have three USB 3.0 ports, you're gonna have to explain shared bandwidth and power limitations in the fine print, and you're STILL going to have unhappy customers yelling "deceptive marketing."

I'm also pretty sure you can't actually call them "USB 3.0” unless they actually meet full spec, WHICH THEY CAN'T.

My opinion may be opinion, but yours doesn't change reality.

Well for me, I'm glad I have an option right now for my 27" 2011 imac where I had absolutely no other before. I have no need for a Thunderbolt passthrough port but for over a year I've been trying to put in a USB 3.0 port for my Drobo raid (instead of using slow Firewire). I've spent plenty of money and time trying to put 3rd party PCI boards for USB3 inside and couldn't get it working. Having the extra HDMI port will be much more handy than a Thunderbolt for video (other than Apple's pricey monitor is there a cheaper alternative???)

Slightly pricey but at least I have a viable alternative.

Originally Posted by macmediausa

Well for me, I'm glad I have an option right now for my 27" 2011 imac where I had absolutely no other before. I have no need for a Thunderbolt passthrough port but for over a year I've been trying to put in a USB 3.0 port for my Drobo raid (instead of using slow Firewire).

If you really want half-as-fast USB3 just buy a US$189 1 TB Thunderbolt/USB3 Buffalo Drive and plug it in via Thunderbolt and use the USB3 port to your Drobo (check with Buffalo Technology to be sure the drive works that way, because USB3 does not daisy-chain).


Having the extra HDMI port will be much more handy than a Thunderbolt for video

Not at all. Thunderbolt ports can easily be used for HDMI, whereas HDMI only does HDMI.

Thunderbolt is actually spectacular port technology, and device makers who fail to provide pass-through are seriously not getting it. Vendors who require that their devices can only be the last in the Thunderbolt chain are hugely limiting their devices' utility in the eyes of potential buyers (perhaps ok at an $80 price point but not at above $100).

-Allen

Originally Posted by SierraDragon


If you really want half-as-fast USB3 just buy a US$189 1 TB Thunderbolt/USB3 Buffalo Drive and plug it in via Thunderbolt and use the USB3 port to your Drobo (check with Buffalo Technology to be sure the drive works that way, because USB3 does not daisy-chain).
-Allen

Hmmm - interesting. I'll have to check that out. I'd like to get the new Drobo Thunderbolt but at an additional $800+, it's a bit pricey for the extra speed.
Thx for the info on the Buffalo!