End to the dongle circus the OWC USB0-C dock review QF EP93

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In this episode, we review the OWC USB-C dock, in our opinion the ideal office solution for the New MacBook Pro. Annewiek shows you how her workflow has improved immensely and Frank tells you all about his experiences.

With the switch to USB-C and some manufacturers taking away too many ports, there is a serious problem which some people call the “Dongle circus” is this dock the perfect solution for you?

Order this dock online in the Netherlands at www.onlinemacwinkel.nl or surf to B&H link for international customers https://goo.gl/2xa8fF

9 replies
  1. Henning Tietz
    Henning Tietz says:

    Hi Frank,
    thanks for all the great reviews and tutorials!
    Just out of curiosity and for obvious reasons: does the dock charge and power the Wacom Mobilestudio and can you run an HDMI-connected Display from it?

    Thanks!

    • Frank Doorhof
      Frank Doorhof says:

      Annewiek claimed it for her MacBook. I did try the hdmi and that works flawlessly also drives and network.

      Charging I didn’t check and seeing the Wacom needs a high output it’s something I do have to check to make sure. Drop me an email on Monday and I’ll check. We are now leaving for the Belgium show.

  2. Erik
    Erik says:

    Hi Frank, based on your enthusiastic review I immediately ordered it from OWC and had them Fedex it to my wife who happened to be in Washington DC for a 3 day conference. OWC service is always great, it arrived the next day and last night I plugged it in eager to feel that fuzzy warm glow like Annewiek’s… but I got nothing, it did not work, except to power my MacBook Pro ! So early this morning I google this dock and immediately see that “its not compatible with the new 15″ MacBook pro. Annewiek’s is the 13″ so I assumed it would work with the 15″ I confirm it does not and now I see on the OWC site it mentions this in 2 places, once pretty small but I never checked before, I was more interested in the logistics of shipping and delivery making sure it would arrive before she flew back to Dubai.
    It appears OWC are developing a new Thunderbolt 3 Dock with 13 ports which may solve my problem. It even includes a FireWire 800 port for those legacy devices! Anybody in Dubai reading this with a 13” MacBook pro and wants this dock?

    • Frank Doorhof
      Frank Doorhof says:

      Thats bizarre.
      Why wouldn’t it work?
      I can imagine that maybe power doesn’t work on the 15″ but that Ports are not is ridiculous.

      Can you please try to power the MacBook via the normal adaptor and see if the dock works than ?

    • Erik
      Erik says:

      Frank I tried everything, different cables, my 15″ would not recognize the dock, OWC suggest you go ‘About this Mac’ – System Report & select USB… that should show the dock and any peripherals plugged in… this remained blank no matter what I did. OWC in their trouble shooting (manual) stress you must only connect the Dock to the computer with their supplied cable, that Apple cables may not work… So power did work to the 15″, it was charging the Laptop all the time, but nothing plugged in worked. AND OWC state on their site that the dock is NOT COMPATIBLE with the 15″ MacBook Pro. Odd I know. Frank I really appreciate the many reviews that you take the time to do, its invaluable to many of us followers. This is a mystery and I will be contacting OWC directly soon, its still a little early in Illinois (05:25 am) where they are based. You remain an inspiration, I would love to come to Holland and do a 1:1 workshop with you at some point, perhaps I would master the Light meter finally, my L-758DR with a modified PocketWizard Transmitter module that never triggers any strobes like the Profoto B1 and B2’s
      Thats why I need the workshop… the funny thing is having watched many of your behind the scenes or your on the road trips, I feel like I know this place. Sadly its an international flight away, but a trip I will do one day (sooner than later) or I won’t be still using the L-758DR. LOL!

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