Docking Station for the 15-inch MacBook Pro, Current Model ('09-'11)

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 1.2 x 0.8 x 0.6 inches ; 2.1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B004FJJ01W
• Item model number: HD01VB15MBP

By : Henge Docks
Price : $74.95

Product Description

Henge Docks has created the first truly comprehensive docking station solution for Apple's line of notebook computers. This means you can quickly, easily and cleanly incorporate your MacBook computer into a desktop setup or your home theater system, so you get the best features of a laptop, desktop and media center PC all from one computer. Henge Docks patent-pending design doesn't require any hardware, software or settings changes to your computer. In fact, every current MacBook is compatible with our system, right from the factory. Each Henge Dock model is designed for a specific type of MacBook computer. Click your style of MacBook above to select the Henge Dock that is right for you. Included with each dock are a full complement of custom USB, Ethernet, Audio cables and in some models Firewire cables, designed to work with the Henge Dock system. Our MacBook docking system reuses a customer's existing Apple supplied MagSafe power source and Mini-DisplayPort to DVI adapter. If you choose to purchase a spare MagSafe Power Adapter or Apple Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter adapter we recommend you buy only original Henge Dock or Apple accessories to guarantee compatibility. Setting up a Henge Docks unit is straight forward, allowing you to select only the cables you need making docking and undocking the computer as easy as possible. For technical support or to get a copy of our new user guide, please email hengedocks

Technical Details

• 15-inch MacBook Pro
• Aluminum Unibody
• Mid 2009 - Current

Customer Reviews

I was asked to evaluate this product by my IT dept. After two fruitless, frustrating hours of fiddling, I was unable to get all four of power, displayport, and 2x USB connecting consistently enough for the dock to do its thing. There are no ports or openings that help you see whether positive contact is made, whether the power light on the magsafe is lit up, etc. I also found that the two screws on the back of the Macbook facing into the dock were shaving away little white bits of plastic each time I slid it into the dock, and one of them was significantly loosened by this.
It's clear that the company really likes Apple products and emulates them in packaging, simple directions, etc. The product is even a good idea. However, it left my heart filled with deep antipathy rather than love due to terrible execution. A better alternative to the endlessly frustrating setup process: They should have provided a rubberized snap-together frame for all of the ports that you can just fit around the connectors after they're already in the Mac, securing them in the frame with pressure. Then you can just take that frame with the connectors already in it and snap it into the base.
You know what ambergris is?
The Henge Dock is made of ambergris generated by the fail whale.
I asked our IT dept to please take it away, and burn it.

When I was a PC user docks were easy to come by and simple to use. For the MAC, however, it's been a challenge. Most of what is found out there isn't a dock, but a stand and you connect everything directly to your laptop. If you have a lot of peripherals like a monitor, hard drives, etc. it can be cumbersome every time you disconnect. The Henge Dock seemed to be the solution.
When it first came in the mail I was super excited. I opened the box and immediately flinched. I needed to be an engineer to figure this out. All connector wires (minus HDMI cable and Mini Port purchased separately) were included, but it wasn't so simple as looking at the dock and plugging things in. After putting the box under my desk for a week, I finally braved the Henge Dock by reading the manual and slowly put it together. It took about a half an hour to set it up and make sure everything was connected properly. My biggest concern was my HP monitor connection that didn't seem to be working. After another 10 minutes of playing around, the monitor and all peripherals are working flawlessly.
One of the biggest drawbacks of the Henge Dock is that you can't see if your computer is turned on because a) it's in clam shell mode and b) the plastic casing that hides the connectors also hides any lights you may see.
I'm not a fan of the dock being plastic. It doesn't seem that sturdy, but it does the job. I'm also not a fan of screwing things in to keep the connectors in place that often get jostled when removing the dock. I hope the screws hold. So far so good.
Overall, I am ok with this product. Like I said I wanted a true docking station where I could slip my laptop into it and immediately start working like I did with my PC's, rather than having to remember where to hook up all my cables each time. This is truly the best product around for that. I'm surprised there are no other docks around for MAC.
Note: I have a USB hub connected directly connected to the laptop via the USB connector cable. I have a few external hard drives, iPod, phone, card readers, etc. all coming through the USB hub and everything is connected and working properly. I have a Drobo that only wants to works plugged in directly to the laptop via USB.

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