CalDigit today announced that the follow-up to its popular original Thunderbolt Station, the Thunderbolt Station 2, is now available for pre-order with an expected ship date of January 26, 2015.
The new dock will retail for $199.99, but CalDigit is offering a limited pre-order price of $169.99 that runs all the way up to the day before release, January 25. The new station keeps the same functionality of connecting multiple devices with one Thunderbolt cable, but updates it with new Thunderbolt 2 and dual eSATA 6G ports. The Thunderbolt Station 2 also allows users a vertical orientation option the original lacked.
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The Thunderbolt Station 2 also comes with HDMI, three USB 3.0 ports, Gigabit Ethernet, audio in/out ports, the ability to connect high-resolution 4K displays to its HDMI port, and two Thunderbolt 2 ports.
The Thunderbolt™ Station 2 allows users to connect all their devices through a single Thunderbolt™ cable. Featuring dual Thunderbolt™ 2 ports for integrating a 4K workflow, the Thunderbolt™ Station 2 allows users to connect a high-resolution 4K monitor to the HDMI port. This is ideal for professional users who need to connect modern 4K displays to their computers.
“The power of Thunderbolt™ 2 allows the Thunderbolt™ Station 2 to be the central hub of modern 4K workflows. Not only can users connect a 4K monitor, they can also daisy-chain 4K capable devices such as Thunderbolt™ storage for the ultimate 4K workflows”, said Kosta Panagos, Director of Marketing at CalDigit.
The release of the Thunderbolt Station 2 sees CalDigit joining several other dock manufacturers such as Elgato and OWC who have recently caught up to the Thunderbolt 2 standard ports, which were introduced on Macs beginning late last year.
The Thunderbolt Station 2 can be pre-ordered from the CalDigit official website for $169.99 until January 25, 2015, after which it will retail for $199.99.
Top Rated Comments
"Oh did I heart someone say Thunderbolt? Well let me tell you about the OWC etc etc..."
Tiring.
I actually don't care about eSATA... doesn't make sense for most..
OWC has a great dock now with 5 USB 3 ports.. 2 high powered.. MUCH prefer more USB 3 ports over eSATA anyway.. AND includes a FireWire 800 port.. for those of us with legacy FW equipment.
Image (https://eshop.macsales.com/preorder/OWC-Thunderbolt2-Dock/images/ports.jpg)
You can order now and get it in January. I was able to get in on the Dec list.. should be coming anytime now.. Check out full info on OWC's Thunderbolt 2 Dock here... https://eshop.macsales.com/preorder/OWC-Thunderbolt2-Dock/ (https://eshop.macsales.com/preorder/OWC-Thunderbolt2-Dock/)
* (5) USB 3.0 ports - Five USB 3.0 ports add exceptional flexibility to your Mac, including two side-facing, high-powered USB 3.0 ports designed for power hungry devices and tablets.
* (1) FireWire 800 port - Daisy-chain: 63 devices. Connect a wide variety of popular external storage solutions and audio interfaces.
* (2) Thunderbolt 2 ports - Daisy-chain: 5 devices + display Connect up to five Thunderbolt devices plus a display. Dual ports provide up to 20 Gb/s of bandwidth and phenomenal performance.
* (1) HDMI and 4K - With support for resolutions up to 4K via HDMI 1.4b, you can be assured your HDMI capable display, TV, or projector is compatible.
* (1) Gigabit Ethernet - Missing the Ethernet port on your new Air or Retina laptop? This dock has you covered with a full-speed Gigabit Ethernet port that requires no configuration.
* (1) Mic / Line In - Connect a microphone or any other line-in audio source.
* (1) Audio / Line Out - Hook up your favorite headphones, speakers, monitors, or other gear.
Every time MacRumors runs a story on a thunderbolt whatever, some guy from OWC pipes up with this ad.
"Oh did I heart someone say Thunderbolt? Well let me tell you about the OWC etc etc..."
Tiring.
I had the exact same thought.
The post is so polished that it is almost certain that it is an ad in disguise.
I spoke to CalDigit UK on the phone as I had the same question about port multiplier on the eSATA ports, and they said it does support port multiplier.
The from USB 3.0 port also charges devices without being connected to a mac which will be really handy. Great price also @ $169.99.
Unless the website states it, I won't believe it. I've been burned too many times by phone representatives on what a product "should have" vs what it actually does....
Many do not even know technical specifications like port multiplier and will just tell you anything you want to hear to get you off the phone. If they don't put it in writing on their webpage then there is nothing to refer to when I have to send it back because it didin't do what I expected it to (saying "I was told" is never good enough").
I actually don't care about eSATA... doesn't make sense for most..
OWC has a great dock now with 5 USB 3 ports.. 2 high powered.. MUCH prefer more USB 3 ports over eSATA anyway.. AND includes a FireWire 800 port.. for those of us with legacy FW equipment.
Image (https://eshop.macsales.com/preorder/OWC-Thunderbolt2-Dock/images/ports.jpg)
You can order now and get it in January. I was able to get in on the Dec list.. should be coming anytime now.. Check out full info on OWC's Thunderbolt 2 Dock here... https://eshop.macsales.com/preorder/OWC-Thunderbolt2-Dock/ (https://eshop.macsales.com/preorder/OWC-Thunderbolt2-Dock/)
* (5) USB 3.0 ports - Five USB 3.0 ports add exceptional flexibility to your Mac, including two side-facing, high-powered USB 3.0 ports designed for power hungry devices and tablets.
* (1) FireWire 800 port - Daisy-chain: 63 devices. Connect a wide variety of popular external storage solutions and audio interfaces.
* (2) Thunderbolt 2 ports - Daisy-chain: 5 devices + display Connect up to five Thunderbolt devices plus a display. Dual ports provide up to 20 Gb/s of bandwidth and phenomenal performance.
* (1) HDMI and 4K - With support for resolutions up to 4K via HDMI 1.4b, you can be assured your HDMI capable display, TV, or projector is compatible.
* (1) Gigabit Ethernet - Missing the Ethernet port on your new Air or Retina laptop? This dock has you covered with a full-speed Gigabit Ethernet port that requires no configuration.
* (1) Mic / Line In - Connect a microphone or any other line-in audio source.
* (1) Audio / Line Out - Hook up your favorite headphones, speakers, monitors, or other gear.
Problem I have with OWC though is with their claimed speeds...Don't tell me it's a USB 3.0 connection (500MB/s bus speed) but it can only runs at 300MB/s. It's that reason that I don't know that I can trust OWC's enclosures anymore (and I own about 15 of them) with their outdated controllers...
This is also the dock I was waiting for. Would have been perfect if they had swapped out an eSATA for a FireWire 800, but I probably won't need FireWire for much longer. This dock hits all of the items on my list, including price. I'm really conflicted on whether I should get it though. Next autumn I'm probably going to pickup the 5K iMac which I don't think will need one of these. I totally would have bought this in 2012 or 2013 but by now I'm pretty close to getting a desktop anyway. Besides, weren't there some rumors that Thunderbolt 3 50/100Gbps Fiber Optic will be coming out in the next year or two? That should handle additional 5K displays, or perhaps external video cards. Not that I need that but it would be nice to upgrade the graphics card in an iMac down the road.
I actually don't care about eSATA... doesn't make sense for most..Also, what's up with the brushed metal look? Love the vertical form factor but this thing would be hidden away on my desk with that brushed metal, lol.
OWC has a great dock now with 5 USB 3 ports.. 2 high powered.. MUCH prefer more USB 3 ports over eSATA anyway.. AND includes a FireWire 800 port.. for those of us with legacy FW equipment.
You can order now and get it in January. I was able to get in on the Dec list.. should be coming anytime now.. Check out full info on OWC's Thunderbolt 2 Dock here... https://eshop.macsales.com/preorder/OWC-Thunderbolt2-Dock/ (https://eshop.macsales.com/preorder/OWC-Thunderbolt2-Dock/)
* (5) USB 3.0 ports - Five USB 3.0 ports add exceptional flexibility to your Mac, including two side-facing, high-powered USB 3.0 ports designed for power hungry devices and tablets.
* (1) FireWire 800 port - Daisy-chain: 63 devices. Connect a wide variety of popular external storage solutions and audio interfaces.
* (2) Thunderbolt 2 ports - Daisy-chain: 5 devices + display Connect up to five Thunderbolt devices plus a display. Dual ports provide up to 20 Gb/s of bandwidth and phenomenal performance.
* (1) HDMI and 4K - With support for resolutions up to 4K via HDMI 1.4b, you can be assured your HDMI capable display, TV, or projector is compatible.
* (1) Gigabit Ethernet - Missing the Ethernet port on your new Air or Retina laptop? This dock has you covered with a full-speed Gigabit Ethernet port that requires no configuration.
* (1) Mic / Line In - Connect a microphone or any other line-in audio source.
* (1) Audio / Line Out - Hook up your favorite headphones, speakers, monitors, or other gear.
... preordered and received it about three weeks ago. Its performance is flawless to date. We have it almost fully loaded, attaching the following devices:
2x eSata HD casings
2x USB3 Drobo S boxes
1x USB2 3x hub, connecting a Apogee Jam and a LG Bluray burner
1x Gigabit Ethernet Hub
1x headphone
1x Dazzle Hollywood bridge via Thunderbolt > Fw800 > FW400 adapter
It is - by a huge margin - the best thunderbolt dock option to date, regarding performance and price.