CalDigit today announced that its $199 Thunderbolt Station will begin shipping on November 4, with pre-orders available now through the company's online store. Announced back in April, CalDigit's addition to the range of Thunderbolt docking station from manufacturers such as Belkin and Matrox offers three USB 3.0 ports, audio in and out jacks, Ethernet, and HDMI, as well as pass-through capabilities to allow users to include the device in a daisy-chained configuration off of a single Thunderbolt port.
Watch on YouTubeThe HDMI port on the CalDigit Thunderbolt™ Station supports resolutions of 2560x1600. Other devices on the market only support lower resolutions such as 1080i and 1080p. The HDMI port is ideal for situations when you need to expand your monitor set-up. It also supports HDCP playback that enables you to play content such as iTunes movies on a HDMI display. If you also daisy-chain a Thunderbolt monitor alongside a HDMI monitor you can have up to a maximum of three displays including a laptop’s built in display.
Unlike other devices in its class the CalDigit Thunderbolt™ Station features USB 3.0 ports that support full transfer speeds. Other similar devices on the market are limited to 2.5Gbs. The CalDigit Thunderbolt™ Station’s USB 3.0 ports are 5Gbs. Having the ability to add USB 3.0 connectivity to your computer is incredibly useful for users who have a Thunderbolt equipped Mac without USB 3.0 ports, as it opens the door to connecting a whole host of USB 3.0 peripheral devices. The USB 3.0 ports also bus-power external storage devices, and can charge mobile devices.
Top Rated Comments
Great way to sell.
1. The 2011 iMac has thunderbolt 1 only, so thunderbolt 2 dock (whenever they are developed) wouldn't help.
2. The 2011 iMac has USB 2, this will allow me to upgrade to USB 3.
3. The 21.5" 2011 iMac only has one thunderbolt port, so I didn't want something that would force the chain to end.
Basically I am using this to add usb3. The other ports with this device are not needed by me as the iMac already has sound. Ethernet, 2nd screen via Apple TV screen sharing, etc.
The belkin dock only goes 1/2 usb 3 speed, for $100 more, the matrix dock doesn't have 2 thunderbolt, which would end the chain. Both are deal breakers for me.
There are 2 other unreleased products, a kanex thunderbolt to usb 3 (ends chain) and a Sonnet dock that looks very capable but very expensive (although it does have DVD/bluray & internal hard drive support., so the cost is justified for those who truly need all the expansion offered.)
Anyway, although I would prefer a cheaper ($224 with cable) usb 3 upgrade, I went ahead and decided it was worth it.
Letting Americans speak English is like getting a maxxed out MacPro and using it to run Windows Vista ;)