Filip Brož I know many people who use a MacBook as their primary work tool and also need to have many peripherals plugged in at all times, such as printers, external drives, monitors, headphones and more. For some, the basic ports may be enough, but with each new model there are fewer and fewer of them, so some more demanding users simply have to settle for a third-party solution that expands connectivity.
A tailor-made solution for Apple computers is called LandingZone, which can turn a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro into a fully functional desktop station. This is a light polycarbonate dock into which you can easily "snap" your MacBook and have many extra ports at once.
In the editorial office, we tested the most expensive variant of the LandingZone Dock for the 13-inch MacBook Pro, which it will cost 7 crowns. Even the price suggests that it is an accessory for professionals. You then have 5 USB ports (twice 2.0, three times 3.0), Mini DisplayPort/Thunderbolt, HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet network cable, a holder for a MagSafe charger and a security slot. You can connect a Kensington lock to it and lock your computer with it.
It's important to note that snapping the MacBook into the LandingZone does not deny access to all ports on the computer. You connect the 13-inch MacBook Pro to the dock via MagSafe and one Thunderbolt on one side, and on the other via one USB and HDMI. In addition to the ports in the dock, you still have access to one Thunderbolt, one USB, a headphone jack and a card reader.
In case you're not so demanding on extended connectivity, LandingZone also offers a cheaper Dock Express option. It has one USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort/Thunderbolt, HDMI and a charger holder, but you will spend 3 crowns for it, which is significantly less than the classic Dock.
The advantages of using LandingZone, whatever the variant, are clear. If you regularly connect multiple cables to your MacBook, for example from a monitor, external drive, Ethernet, etc., you will save yourself work with a handy dock. All the cables will be ready when you arrive at the workplace (or anywhere else) and the MacBook just needs to be clicked with the lever.
When you have a MacBook in the LandingZone, you also get a tilted keyboard. This may suit some users, but not many. That's why it's important that you can use the MacBook in the dock if you have it connected to an external monitor. Then you connect any mouse/trackpad and keyboard to the computer.
Otherwise, the LandingZone is tailor-made for Macs, so all ports fit exactly, nothing slips anywhere, and the MacBook is held firmly in the dock. There are both the aforementioned Dock and Dock Express variants for MacBook Pro (13 and 15 inches), as well as even lighter versions for MacBook Air (11 and 13 inches), offering similar expansion options for 5 crowns, respectively 1 crowns.
Someone must have fallen on their head. A docking station for Dell with VGA, DVI, HDMI, GB ethernet, 3x USB3, 3xUSB2, audio in/out costs about CZK 1100. Will anyone really buy, for example, the dokina for 1999? After all, it will take both usb, magic safe and thunderbolt... and what will it give me? 2xusb magicsafe and thunderbolt. Well, that's the bomb.
But Mr Kunci. To compare this certainly excellent and frikulin PRODUCT with something as mundane and simple as Dell is really the height of bad taste. Here we offer PRODUCTS of the highest quality with the greatest possible style, by owning which your PRODUCT gains something extra. You practically have PRODUCTS full of PRODUCT. And that's what scares them. Prices are not discussed here. It is worth discussing the prices for normal products, but not for the PRODUCT. Apple is a manufacturer of great PRODUCTS that, according to their "awesome" slogans, are mostly the best of all time. Just to clarify.
Well, this is not what Apple does. It is a product of infiniWing, Inc. If tuning lights for the octave for 60 from company X will be on the market, I can't say that they went crazy in Škodovka. And otherwise, when I bought an NTB in 2012, Apple won. Battery life, processing quality, ALU body, lightness. The NTB from the Win world was, if it had the same durability, weight, quality, ALU body, even more expensive. Well, Apple can also run Win on it. It doesn't work the other way around.
I was reacting to the fact that Mr. Kunc was wondering about the price of some accessory for Apple. These are always very overpriced things and you can never look for an analogy in the "normal" PC world. Any add-on for PC always significantly cheaper. That's all.
It doesn't matter - there is quite a group of morons willing to buy such a device.
Good day. Mr. Kunc, I have been using DELL for the past 7 years. Have you seen an original dock somewhere for 1100? A port replicator will be a bit more expensive. Furthermore, what is the benefit of your comment? I own this dock for macbook. Yes, it hugs the macbook and you lose the ports, but those are brought out in the LandingZone. MacBook is charged, from 2 USB you have 5, RJ45 for network, 1x HDMI, kensington and mini DP. It suits me perfectly this way. So what are we dealing with here?
Thanks for introducing the product, a lot of people don't even know it exists. I've had 2x Dell Latitudes and I'm glad I can continue to use a similar port expansion system.
I apologize for the price of CZK 1100. I have a Dell E-PortII and it cost me CZK 1740. I was reacting to the model for 1999, which "embraces both USB and thunderbolt and you have 2x USB and thunderbolt on your dokin at once. And the model for 6 thousand that you describe? i-Tec USB 3.0 Hub 5-Port price approx. 670,- and Apple USB Ethernet approx. 700,-. Instead of clicking for 6000, I will connect one cable from a USB hub and a monitor to thunderbolt for about 1400 (this is how I have it again). I just don't see the added value of this device.
Isn't the connection only via 1 USB and on the right side from the point of view of classic NTB work? You write that into the USB from each side and if it were from the left, it will take both Thunderbolts (MacBook Pro Retina). It is like that, right?
You're right, there's really only one Thunderbolt on the left, we've already fixed that.
Someone once characterized the Apple company as a manufacturer that removes ports in the name of technological progress, so that the user has to buy them again for a lot of money. It has a keyboard that is its own and people are looking for applications to transform it as close as possible to a PC keyboard and finally their 80% fici on Windows. Not a parade??