AppleInsider Staff
Major Apple accessory maker Belkin on Tuesday announced the Thunderbolt 2 Express Dock HD, a Thunderbolt 2-equipped successor to the company's original Thunderbolt Express Dock that allows users to connect up to eight additional devices to their Mac with a single cable.
The Express Dock HD comes with two Thunderbolt 2 ports, one HDMI port, three USB 3.0 ports that support charging, two audio output jacks — Â one on the front, and one rear-mounted jack that supports microphone input — alongside one gigabit ethernet port. Unlike its predecessor, the new dock does not boast a FireWire port.
Belkin says that users can connect up to four more devices using Thunderbolt daisy-chaining. The dock does allow users to run two external monitors in that mode, with resolutions up to 4K.
"As consumer preference for a mobile and versatile workspace increases, Thunderbolt 2 continues to deliver unparalleled performance, flexibility and simplicity to personal computing," Intel's Thunderbolt marketing chief Jason Ziller said in a release. "Products like Belkin's Thunderbolt 2 Express Dock HD help highlight what Thunderbolt 2 makes possible."
Mac owners can use the dock in a plug-and-play fashion, but those on Thunderbolt-enabled Windows PCs will need to download special drivers from Belkin before using the device.
The Thunderbolt 2 Express Dock HD is now available for pre-order from Belkin's website, and Apple retail stores will begin stocking it in October for $299.99. Buyers will receive the dock itself, its power adapter, and a one-meter Thunderbolt cable.
The previous Express Dock is now on sale for $149 through retailers like Amazon, a 50 percent discount from its original $299.99 price tag.
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39 Comments
So you connect one Thunderbolt2 port to your computer and that leaves you one free Thunderbolt2 port. So this $300 device gives you one Thunberbolt2 port. I have an idea. If I don't buy this device, I can keep the $300 and have just as many Thunderbolt2 ports as before.
Looks a lot like the CalDigit and El Gato Thunderbolt docks. It probably uses the same motherboard. Unfortunately Belkin priced it $100 more than CalDigit's model.
Considering that you can buy, for instance, any one of several low end PC laptops for this kind of money, you have to wonder about what makes a mere dock worth $299. Yes, obviously one does not substitute for the other, but think of all the extra stuff that's in a laptop: screen, keyboard, mass storage, much more complex motherboard, WiFi/BT card, etc. And yeah, there's a TB licensing fee you're paying for, but how much can that be?
We're currently using several of the Elgato TB docks at the office, which I already thought were expensive enough at $229. That does include a TB cable, although it's uselessly short at 50cm and usually has to be replaced anyway.
So Belkin...$299, really?
So you connect one Thunderbolt2 port to your computer and that leaves you one free Thunderbolt2 port. So this $300 device gives you one Thunberbolt2 port, same as came with your MacPro. I have an idea. If I don't buy this device, I can keep the $300 and have just as many Thunderbolt2 ports as before.
Reading comprehension fail
"two Thunderbolt 2 ports, one HDMI port, three USB 3.0 ports that support charging, two audio output jacks --?one on the front, and one rear-mounted jack that supports microphone input -- alongside one gigabit ethernet port"
HOW MUCH ???????????????