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Dongle thread for the new Macbook Pro's

B

Baldrake

macrumors 6502
May 22, 2012
335
353
Great White North
anzio said:
Tell me about it. This is taking some real planning! Hopefully the transition happens quickly over the next few years.
Click to expand...
Long-term isn't so bad - for example, long-term we'll be decked out with those fancy 5k monitors. I'm really trying to think of what to do late November when my computer arrives and I'm trying to plug it in to all my existing devices!

But the fact that the current situation is transitional is what makes it difficult. How much do I want to spend to keep my ancient DVI monitor going until I get around to purchasing one of those LG monitors?
 
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N

NAYo2002

macrumors 6502
Apr 16, 2011
388
81
I posted in another thread but I wanted to contribute my solution here as well just in case:

I'm going to get a few of these and leave them permanently connected to my existing USB A devices. These are only about $4 each so cost is not a concern as long as they work well. I can even use a regular USB SD card reader with this.

IMG_0771.jpg

https://www.amazon.com/Adapter-Rank...sr=8-4&keywords=usb+c+adapter#customerReviews
 
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schmidti91

schmidti91

macrumors regular
Oct 10, 2016
111
55
Eisenach, Germany
I'll just get the the Apple ones not to take the risk of frying my machine. I guess they got what they wanted. If you already open the Accessory page of the Apple Store, the cables sub-category is on the front page.

Some extra cha-ching for Apple to compensate for the underpriced MacBooks
 
G

GoodOne

macrumors regular
May 6, 2012
192
209
I Need Ethernet, HDMI and USB 3 and I'm looking for a portable one cable solution.

After researching on Amazon I coulnd't find a decent hub, most have terrible Quality, are unstable or whatever.

Anyone got an idea?
 
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BondFancy

macrumors 6502
Jun 26, 2016
341
386
GoodOne said:
I Need Ethernet, HDMI and USB 3 and I'm looking for a portable one cable solution.

After researching on Amazon I coulnd't find a decent hub, most have terrible Quality, are unstable or whatever.

Anyone got an idea?
Click to expand...
Same boat, really hoping in the next month some good ones come out.
 
B

Baldrake

macrumors 6502
May 22, 2012
335
353
Great White North
Good lord, a power adapter costs $150 in Canada. That is, if you want the cables that allow you to plug it into the computer and the wall. I have been trying to look at all of this positively, but my goodness that's outrageous.
 
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Ryan1524

Ryan1524

macrumors 68020
Apr 9, 2003
2,093
1,421
Canada GTA
Last edited:
M

MacPioneer

macrumors member
Oct 26, 2010
74
50
FWIW, I've been happy with an Anker hub I bought for use with my rMB. It has two standard USB ports and an Ethernet port, as well as a pass-through USB-C/power port. Not ideal for the new MBPs, it would be nice if it had an HDMI port and an SD slot. The pass-through port is no longer necessary.

I'm sure Anker and others are looking at the situation and designing useful stuff.
 
Time Less

Time Less

macrumors 6502a
Jul 29, 2010
511
293
Planet Earth
NAYo2002 said:
I posted in another thread but I wanted to contribute my solution here as well just in case:

I'm going to get a few of these and leave them permanently connected to my existing USB A devices. These are only about $4 each so cost is not a concern as long as they work well. I can even use a regular USB SD card reader with this.

View attachment 669067

https://www.amazon.com/Adapter-Rank...sr=8-4&keywords=usb+c+adapter#customerReviews
Click to expand...

I was planning on doing the same but a couple 1 star reviews made me reconsider. One mentioned that they couldn't sync their iPhone to their rMB so transferring data can be a risk.
 
A

anzio

macrumors 6502
Dec 5, 2010
453
665
Innisfil, Ontario, Canada
Baldrake said:
Good lord, a power adapter costs $150 in Canada. That is, if you want the cables that allow you to plug it into the computer and the wall. I have been trying to look at all of this positively, but my goodness that's outrageous.
Click to expand...

You seem to be looking at almost all of the same things as me, haha. I noticed that price tag too. I wanted a second charger so I could leave one at my desk at home and have one charger with me on the go. I still am leaning towards a charger, but at that price, I'm thinking I can handle packing it up from my desk; however, the setup I have going right now is very nice without needing to pull out a charger when I get home.

They seem to be using an odd tactic with the USB-C charging cable and the power adapter being separate representing an almost $25 increase without the extension over the traditional MagSafe power adapters.
 
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yillbs

yillbs

macrumors 6502
Oct 2, 2015
382
158
Texas
Lightning to USB c : https://www.amazon.com/Apple-MK0X2A...1477789858&sr=8-2&keywords=lightning+to+USB+c

And the dual USB ports, memory card ports, and one more USB c port : https://www.amazon.com/Satechi-Type...UTF8&qid=1477789892&sr=1-6&keywords=USB+C+hub

That's really all anyone should / would need. Getting an adapter for USB c to hdmi is silly. Here is a USB c to HDMI : https://www.amazon.com/Plugable-Dis...&qid=1477789961&sr=1-25&keywords=USB+C+to+DVI

DVI is the way to go IMO. Not to mention DVI to HTMI cables are even cheaper then HDMI to DVI right now.
 
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A

anzio

macrumors 6502
Dec 5, 2010
453
665
Innisfil, Ontario, Canada
yillbs said:
Getting an adapter for USB c to hdmi is silly
Click to expand...

I wouldn't say getting a USB-C to HDMI adapter is silly. I have HDMI cables, so I don't need another one. A dongle (even just permanently attached to my HDMI cable) gives me the flexibility to plug into any cable I want including ones hanging out of a presentation podium, or as someone else mentioned, the ability to just unplug an HDMI cable running between a TV and a set top box or other device.

So yeah, I would consider the USB-C to HDMI cable, but an adapter would give me a little more flexibility on the go. It's definitely a good alternative, but an adapter is not necessarily silly.
 
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groundcontrol

groundcontrol

macrumors regular
Mar 20, 2014
135
131
Toronto, ON, Canada
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N

NAYo2002

macrumors 6502
Apr 16, 2011
388
81
Time Less said:
I was planning on doing the same but a couple 1 star reviews made me reconsider. One mentioned that they couldn't sync their iPhone to their rMB so transferring data can be a risk.
Click to expand...

Yea that's the problem with Amazon. Too many fake reviews (overly positive ones probably paid by the sellers and overly negative ones from competitors) so I never know which to trust. I figured I'd take a shot for $8. I'll report back when I get my MBP in a few weeks.
 
S

striders

macrumors 6502
Mar 11, 2009
406
24
For those who posted Amazon link, can you share if you actually have the USB dongle/adapter/etc and if it work?

Not doubting anyone, but I am looking at many USB-C adapter (USB-C to USB-A Female) and hub in Amazon and many seems to have bogus reviews, based on http://fakespot.com.

groundcontrol said:
And this one noting how a certain Microsoft Display Dock might be perfect for the new MBPs!
http://winbeta.org/news/need-an-all...ew-macbook-pro-use-the-microsoft-display-dock
Click to expand...

That MS Display Dock only have USB 2.0, though, not USB 3.0.

NAYo2002 said:
I'm going to get a few of these and leave them permanently connected to my existing USB A devices. These are only about $4 each so cost is not a concern as long as they work well. I can even use a regular USB SD card reader with this.

View attachment 669067

https://www.amazon.com/Adapter-Rank...sr=8-4&keywords=usb+c+adapter#customerReviews
Click to expand...

This looks quite big:

25kk6sl.jpg


But does it work at full USB 3.0 speed? If it does, I'll buy a couple.

This one looks smaller, but more expensive:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015Z7XE0A/ref=pd_luc_rh_sim_02_04_t_img_lh?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

41B1ro-r2jL._SX425_.jpg
 
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N

NAYo2002

macrumors 6502
Apr 16, 2011
388
81
striders said:
For those who posted Amazon link, can you share if you actually have the USB dongle/adapter/etc and if it work?

Not doubting anyone, but I am looking at many USB-C adapter (USB-C to USB-A Female) and hub in Amazon and many seems to have bogus reviews, based on http://fakespot.com.
Click to expand...

That's a pretty nifty site. I don't have my MBP yet so I can't say. The adapters seems to be pretty good quality and says USB 3.0 so I'm hoping they will actually get 3.0 speeds. I'll just suck it up and buy apples $20 dongle if these don't work.
 
S

striders

macrumors 6502
Mar 11, 2009
406
24
NAYo2002 said:
That's a pretty nifty site. I don't have my MBP yet so I can't say. The adapters seems to be pretty good quality and says USB 3.0 so I'm hoping they will actually get 3.0 speeds. I'll just suck it up and buy apples $20 dongle if these don't work.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I don't have my MBP yet and probably would have to wait a long time (going to buy from Best Buy since I got some gift cards), but would love to see people test these 3rd party adapter with Black Magic Speed Test or something.
 
N

NAYo2002

macrumors 6502
Apr 16, 2011
388
81
striders said:
Yeah, I don't have my MBP yet and probably would have to wait a long time (going to buy from Best Buy since I got some gift cards), but would love to see people test these 3rd party adapter with Black Magic Speed Test or something.
Click to expand...

I waited a day to preorder since I waited to use a gift card I got from an iPad trade in. My expected delivery is Dec 6-12 :(

I will do some tests and report back but I'm hoping others can test it before then.
 
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