Linedock: The Best Cure For Dongle Disease
TLDRThe Linedock is a versatile laptop accessory that combines extra ports, a large battery, an additional hard drive, and active cooling in a single package. Designed for late model MacBook Pro users, it offers significant functionality and portability, despite its bulk and price tag. With its multiple USB connections, SD card reader, display ports, and a 72 watt-hour battery, Linedock extends laptop life by several hours and provides pass-through charging up to 100 watts. Despite initial production delays and some design flaws, the Linedock is recommended for its innovative blend of features.
Takeaways
- 📱 Linedock is a versatile accessory for MacBook Pro users, offering additional ports, a large battery, an extra hard drive, and active cooling.
- 🔋 It features a 72 watt-hour battery, which is 26% larger than the battery in a MacBook Pro and can extend laptop life by three to four hours.
- 💰 The cost of Linedock ($399) includes the value of its components, such as a 256 GB SanDisk SSD and a port extender, which would otherwise cost around $250-$275 individually.
- 🔌 Linedock provides multiple ports including three USB-A, three USB-C, a full-size SD card reader, a mini display port, and an HDMI jack.
- 💻 The device requires at least one USB-C port to function and is currently available only in 13-inch models, not compatible with 15-inch MacBook Pro.
- 🔧 Linedock supports pass-through charging up to 100 watts, ensuring quick charging for the laptop and other devices.
- 🎮 An optional magnetic connector is available, similar to the old MagSafe connectors, but with a weaker magnetic lock and capable of handling 100 watts for both data and charging.
- 🚫 Linedock has faced production delays, with the 15-inch version scheduled to ship in Fall, over a year behind schedule.
- 🛠️ Early batch units had soldering issues affecting the HDMI port, but the company assures these have been resolved for all production models.
- 🌐 Despite the premium price, Linedock's combination of functionality and portability justifies the cost for those looking to streamline their laptop accessories.
Q & A
What is Linedock and what does it offer to MacBook Pro owners?
-Linedock is a device designed to restore the ports that Apple removed from its MacBook Pro models, and it also includes a large battery, an extra hard drive, and active cooling features. It provides additional connectivity options and extended laptop battery life.
What are the available color options for the Linedock's aluminum finish?
-The Linedock comes in two color options: gray and black, both with a matte coating.
How does Linedock ensure a secure connection with the MacBook Pro?
-Linedock uses four internal magnets to guide the computer into place and also has a series of Easter eggs designed by its creators to enhance the user experience.
What is the minimum requirement for a computer to work with Linedock?
-A computer must have at least one USB-C port to work with Linedock.
What happens automatically when Linedock is connected to a compatible device?
-Upon connection, Linedock pops up as an external hard drive, allowing file transfers to the internal Sandisk SSD, and it also starts charging the laptop with its onboard battery.
What is the capacity of Linedock's onboard battery and how does it affect laptop life?
-Linedock's onboard battery has a capacity of 72 watt hours, which is 26% larger than the battery in the tested laptop. It can extend the laptop's life by three to four hours, depending on the number of connected devices.
What are the charging capabilities of Linedock?
-Linedock supports Qualcomm Quick Charge Three and USB Power Delivery Compliance for quick charging. It can also charge the laptop through pass-through charging up to 100 watts.
What types of ports and connectivity options does Linedock offer?
-Linedock provides three USB-A connections, three USB-C, a full-size SD card reader, a mini display port, and an HDMI jack.
What is the magnetic connector accessory for Linedock and how does it function?
-The magnetic connector is an optional accessory designed to prevent trip hazards and save the laptop from accidental disconnections. It supports data transfer and is rated for full 100 watts but has a weaker magnetic lock compared to its chunky size.
What are the issues faced by Linedock in terms of production and delivery?
-Linedock has faced significant delays in production, being over a year late, and the 15-inch version is not set to ship until Fall. There were also early batch issues with soldering that affected the HDMI port's functionality.
How does the cost of Linedock compare to purchasing its components separately?
-The total cost of purchasing the equivalent components separately, such as a 256 GB external drive, a battery pack, and a port extender, ranges from $250 to $275. This means there is a premium of around $125 for the convenience and integration offered by Linedock.
Outlines
💻 Linedock Review: A Comprehensive Overview
This paragraph introduces the Linedock, a device designed to enhance the functionality of late model MacBook Pro laptops by providing additional ports, a large battery, an extra hard drive, and active cooling. Michael Fisher, the reviewer, discusses his experience with the product, noting its similarities to a laptop in appearance and the convenience of its design, which includes magnets to align the computer and Easter eggs left by the creators. The Linedock is compatible with devices that have at least one USB-C port and automatically acts as an external hard drive and a battery charger when connected. It significantly extends the laptop's battery life and offers various ports, including USB-A, USB-C, an SD card reader, a mini display port, and an HDMI jack. The review also mentions the product's crowdfunding origins and the issues faced with its production and delivery, but ultimately recommends it for its functionality and portability, despite the premium price.
🛠️ Enhancing USB-C Capabilities and Sponsorship Acknowledgement
In this paragraph, the focus is on the practical applications of the Linedock for enhancing the capabilities of USB-C laptops in 2018. The reviewer suggests that the Linedock can replace the need for carrying multiple accessories, thereby reducing bulk in one's backpack. Additionally, the video's sponsorship by TunnelBear is acknowledged, a VPN service that allows for secure browsing on public networks with ease and has undergone an independent audit to verify its security claims. The paragraph concludes with a call to action for viewers to share their own USB-C enhancement solutions and to subscribe to the MrMobile YouTube channel for future content.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡MacBook Pro
💡dongles
💡Linedock
💡battery
💡USB-C
💡SSD
💡Qualcomm Quick Charge Three
💡ports
💡active cooling system
💡crowdfunding
💡magnetic connector
Highlights
Linedock is a multifunctional device designed to restore ports and add extra features to late model MacBook Pro laptops.
It includes a large battery, an extra hard drive, and active cooling systems, making it more than just a port extender.
The device's aluminum finish is available in two colors, gray or black, and has a matte coating.
Linedock is easy to attach to the laptop with the help of four internal magnets and a matte coating that allows for a secure grip.
A Huawei Matebook X Pro was used for testing since Linedock currently only offers 13-inch models.
Upon connection, Linedock automatically pops up as an external hard drive and starts charging the laptop.
The built-in battery has a capacity of 72 watt hours, which is 26% larger than the battery in the tested laptop.
Linedock can extend the laptop's life by three to four hours and supports fast charging with Qualcomm Quick Charge Three and USB Power Delivery Compliance.
The device provides numerous ports including three USB-A, three USB-C, a full-size SD card reader, a mini display port, and an HDMI jack.
Linedock comes with a U-line cable for a neat connection between the dock and the PC.
The 15-inch model of Linedock features an active cooling system with fans, a heat pipe, and a heat sink.
An optional magnetic connector is available, designed to prevent trip hazards while transferring data.
Linedock is a product of crowdfunding and has faced production delays, with the 15-inch version shipping in Fall.
Despite the price tag of $399, the combined value of the included features makes Linedock a worthwhile investment for some users.
The total cost of separate components with similar functions would range from $250 to $275, meaning the premium for Linedock is around $125.
The reviewer concludes that Linedock's blend of functionality and portability justifies its price, and considers purchasing the 15-inch model in the future.