Nonda's Hub+ Looks To Solve MacBook Port Woes

[exfileme]

This device will add two USB Type-C ports, three USB Type-A ports, an SDXC card reader and more to your new MacBook.

Nonda's Hub+ Looks To Solve MacBook Port Woes : Read more

 

[brandonclone1]

lol WHAT! let me get this straight... you buy a $1300 laptop without looking at its features. then you realize you can't do what literally ev-er-y-one else does with their laptops. then you buy an $80 piece to make up for it. haha!

 

[Robert Ostrowski]

why would I read the specs? it has an apple on it,

 

[gggplaya]

Actually something like this would be great for other PC's as well. A full hub to support mointors, mice, flash drives, memory stick etc....... Then when you get home all you have to do is plug in one cable.

However, the small usb connectors wear out and go bad, have intermittent connections etc.. So having one sucks long term, if it goes bad, you're screwed.

 

[ptmmac]

I would hope that anyone who put only one port on a computer would do some testing to see that it lasts. I suspect Apple has already done this. The usage case here is for people on the road who use wifi, charging and an occasional phone or usb drive connection. This is not a desktop computer.

 

[Haravikk]

lol WHAT! let me get this straight... you buy a $1300 laptop without looking at its features. then you realize you can't do what literally ev-er-y-one else does with their laptops. then you buy an $80 piece to make up for it. haha!

More and more things are wireless these days, the only really problem with the Macbook is that this single port isn't in addition to a port for power (IMO an oversight), but if you don't actually need any wired devices then it doesn't matter. For example, if you're using a wireless back-up drive (e.g- a Time Capsule, or a NAS on a WiFi network), and wireless peripherals (e.g- Bluetooth mouse) then why do you need more than one port?

Of course that's not true for everyone, so this hub may be a good way to get the same ultra-lightweight laptop without having to cut cables out completely, but not everyone will need it.

 

[none12345]

"For example, if you're using a wireless back-up drive (e.g- a Time Capsule, or a NAS on a WiFi network), and wireless peripherals (e.g- Bluetooth mouse) then why do you need more than one port?"

Because all that wireless stuff just sucks? Ill take wired connections, and wired peripherals any day. The ~$7 wired keyboard im typing this message with. Utterly desotrys the $200 wireless keyboard i was using prior. The wired mouse im using while not as cheap as that since its a gaming mouse, also blows away the even more expensive wireless mouse i had before. Having to constantly change batteries is stupid. Having link loss is stupid, etc.

And lets not even start on the craptastic wifi networking connections....(having owned dozens of different wifi routers from cheap to expensive, they all suck). From linkloss to having to reboot them all the time when they refuse to do anything wireless(the wired ports still work fine in these situations), to slower transfer speeds then wired.

Having wired stuff just works, no hassle no fuss.

So, ya id never buy a 1 port computer. Then have to buy a external hub to fix their idiocy. Put the hub internally like smart designer, and put appropriate ports in like a smart designer.

 

[KPOM]

Having wired stuff just works, no hassle no fuss.

So, ya id never buy a 1 port computer. Then have to buy a external hub to fix their idiocy. Put the hub internally like smart designer, and put appropriate ports in like a smart designer.

There's plenty of fuss with wired connections. Need to move to the other side of the room? Sorry. How well does a wired connection work on an airplane?

If they had put all the ports in, it would have been thicker and heavier. The MacBook is intended for road warriors, who may need these ports maybe 5-10% of the time. It isn't intended to be a desktop computer. They are pushing the envelope as they usually do with removing ports. I think they should have come up with their own version of this for those who occasionally need connectivity, but their own options are a bit lacking. This kickstarter project seems like a good design.

 

[KPOM]

lol WHAT! let me get this straight... you buy a $1300 laptop without looking at its features. then you realize you can't do what literally ev-er-y-one else does with their laptops. then you buy an $80 piece to make up for it. haha!

lol WHAT! let me get this straight... you buy a $1300 laptop without looking at its features. then you realize you can't do what literally ev-er-y-one else does with their laptops. then you buy an $80 piece to make up for it. haha!

So in a few years when most notebooks come standard with USB-C ports and have dropped the legacy ports (just like most notebooks today no longer have DVD drives and most ultrabooks use adapters for Ethernet and external displays), I assume you'll retract your comment?

I'm a bit surprised Apple didn't release one of these hubs themselves, but they have always been one to push the envelope with deleting ports, unlike PC manufacturers, some of whom still put VGA ports on their notebooks (that port is way past its expiration date).

 

[Christopher1]

However, the small usb connectors wear out and go bad, have intermittent connections etc.. So having one sucks long term, if it goes bad, you're screwed.

Not true. My mother has a Kindle Fire that she plugs and unplugs a good 5 times daily and she has had it for over 2 years now.
The small USB connectors do NOT go bad, have intermittent connections, etc. when you PROPERLY INSERT THE THINGS and DO NOT PUT UNDUE STRESS ON THEM.
Those are the two issues behind what you describe, someone not properly using or abusing the connectors.