Using an M1 macbook Pro/Air with dock and which one?
Discussion
Haven't quite got around to buying a new M1 macbook yet but just putting finishing touches to shopping list of bits and bobs needed.
90% of the time this will be my other half's work computer. It will have an external monitor, keyboard and mouse so it needs to just sit on the desk with a single usb-c cable into a hub which will have monitor etc plugged into it. I need the keyboard or mouse to wake it up. I assume the wake up aspect is pretty much plug and play?
In terms of hub, I need something that will keep it charged. Plenty of USB sockets. SD card slot. And at least 1x 4k 60hz display output. Any recommendations? I want to get that bit right because they're expensive and it's going to just need to work 100% of the time and I might buy a second one for my Dell laptop if it's good.
90% of the time this will be my other half's work computer. It will have an external monitor, keyboard and mouse so it needs to just sit on the desk with a single usb-c cable into a hub which will have monitor etc plugged into it. I need the keyboard or mouse to wake it up. I assume the wake up aspect is pretty much plug and play?
In terms of hub, I need something that will keep it charged. Plenty of USB sockets. SD card slot. And at least 1x 4k 60hz display output. Any recommendations? I want to get that bit right because they're expensive and it's going to just need to work 100% of the time and I might buy a second one for my Dell laptop if it's good.
Gad-Westy said:
And at least 1x 4k 60hz display output.
The M1 will only drive one external monitor unless you go for a solution like this: https://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/how-connect-two-...babelfish said:
Gad-Westy said:
And at least 1x 4k 60hz display output.
The M1 will only drive one external monitor unless you go for a solution like this: https://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/how-connect-two-...stabilio said:
Gad-Westy said:
Cheers. That one is currently top of the shopping list. Do you use it with an M1 based macbook?
I do indeed and its connected to my big 49" ultrawide monitor via a display port cable as i read that hdmi cables may have issues.I don't have an M1, just the MBP with the touch bar. I have the Caldigit TS3 which I am/was very happy with, but I recently (start of Lockdown 1) purchased the Caldigit USB-C Pro Dock. Why the change? Work from home, Unfortunately I have a Windows machine for work which has USBC but it is not thunderbolt. The TS3 is only Thunderbolt so does not work with my work Windows machine. The USB-C Pro dock works with both my Work machine and my MBP.
Gad-Westy said:
Thanks do you fins the wake up/sleep aspect is seamless? I'd been reading about some issues with monitors not always reconnecting on wake up but wasn't sure how widespread the problem was.
It seems fine to me and really pleased with it. I tend to switch between my PC and Mac tho so i dont just use the external monitor with the mac alone.I have the dock stuck under my desk so can use the ethernet port and just the one cable into the macbook powers/connects it all.
The only thing I found is that i couldn't display the monitor at its native display of 5120x1440 but i think that is more down to the Mac itself rather than the dock.
However, I read about 'SwitchRes X' software that got things at the correct resolution/refresh rate.
Mrs. random_username has a work-supplied 2020 Intel MBP with an i-tec thunderbolt dock with dual monitors, and it's been a very frustrating experience - I'd avoid them if possible:
When connected as you'd 'expect' (one thunderbolt connection from dock to laptop) things would randomly stop working - one monitor would drop out, keyboard would stop working, Mac would go to sleep and refuse to wake etc
Only way we can make it 'reliable' is one monitor driven direct from thunderbolt on the mac, the other from HDMI on the dock, with the Mac PSU plugged direct into the laptop. Now it seems to avoid the 'sleep of death' but will still occasionally need the dock unplugged and replugged on wake as the mouse/keyboard will stop working. When I was trying to figure out what was going on it seems sometimes the Mac will tell all the peripherals to sleep, including the dock which then stops it charging as well.
Overall, it seems that OSX isn't really that geared up for use with the laptop closed on external screens - although the hardware seems more reliable now, there are still random software issues - dock/menu bar will switch from monitor A to B at random and require changing back manually, also if you have the lid shut the microphone is physically disconnected, which means you need an external mic for calls, which doesn't seem to get the same levels of echo cancellation as the built in one...
When connected as you'd 'expect' (one thunderbolt connection from dock to laptop) things would randomly stop working - one monitor would drop out, keyboard would stop working, Mac would go to sleep and refuse to wake etc
Only way we can make it 'reliable' is one monitor driven direct from thunderbolt on the mac, the other from HDMI on the dock, with the Mac PSU plugged direct into the laptop. Now it seems to avoid the 'sleep of death' but will still occasionally need the dock unplugged and replugged on wake as the mouse/keyboard will stop working. When I was trying to figure out what was going on it seems sometimes the Mac will tell all the peripherals to sleep, including the dock which then stops it charging as well.
Overall, it seems that OSX isn't really that geared up for use with the laptop closed on external screens - although the hardware seems more reliable now, there are still random software issues - dock/menu bar will switch from monitor A to B at random and require changing back manually, also if you have the lid shut the microphone is physically disconnected, which means you need an external mic for calls, which doesn't seem to get the same levels of echo cancellation as the built in one...
Thunderbolt docks promised so much, but in reality they're flaky bits of crap. I just about tolerate them because I'm a bit of a nerd. TB3 stuff has barely come down in price either, mainly down to licensing costs.
The Caldigit TS3 is particularly known for being a bit weak, but theres not much else better on the market.
I use a Lenovo TB3 dock with my MacBook Air M1 and it's largely fine, you sometimes have to unplug-plug-unplug-plug to get things working.
The Caldigit TS3 is particularly known for being a bit weak, but theres not much else better on the market.
I use a Lenovo TB3 dock with my MacBook Air M1 and it's largely fine, you sometimes have to unplug-plug-unplug-plug to get things working.
I have a 13" MacBook Pro - Touch Bar that only has USB C.
I have a 34" ultra wide LG with USB C - the laptop plugs in with one cable, charges - displays etc etc. I don't have a lot of desk space so have the computer closed in a bracket on the side of the desk.
To wake it up I press the monitor power button - all works pretty well.
The monitor has USB etc - but I don't need to use them as I have the apple wireless mouse / keyboard that work fine.
I have a 34" ultra wide LG with USB C - the laptop plugs in with one cable, charges - displays etc etc. I don't have a lot of desk space so have the computer closed in a bracket on the side of the desk.
To wake it up I press the monitor power button - all works pretty well.
The monitor has USB etc - but I don't need to use them as I have the apple wireless mouse / keyboard that work fine.
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