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Linedock MacBook dock review


REVIEW – For the past few months, I have been testing and reviewing various PC docks, hoping to find one that captures my enthusiasm and has all of the functionality that I need. The docks generally come in various sizes and mostly look like square black boxes. I was extremely excited when I came across the Linedock and even more excited when I got the opportunity to test and review one.

What is it?

Linedock is a slim and sleek dock that was primarily designed to work with the MacBook Pro and it matches the footprint of the MacBook. It is offered in multiple memory storage configurations and includes a built-in 20,000mAh battery.

What’s in the box


1 x LineDock
1 x USB-C Cable
1 x Instruction Booklet

Design and features

Specifications:

PORTS
3 USB Type C ports – Full Power Delivery 2.0, USB 3.1 Gen 1 (up to 10 Gbps), DisplayPort
USB Type C Voltage – Supports full power delivery: 5V — 3A (USB PD) / 9V — 3A (USB PD) / 15V — 3A (USB PD)
3 USB 3.0 ports – Both Qualcomm QuickCharge 3 (when no laptop connected) and USB 3.0 (5GB/s Data Transfer)
Pass-through charging – Yes
SD Card slot – Supports all SD™ UHS-II card interfaces up to 300MB/s
Multi-devices docking – Supports up to 7 ports simultaneously

DISPLAY SUPPORT
USB Type C Port Video – Supports one 4K Display at 60Hz
HDMI Port Video – Supports HDMI 2.0 with 4K Resolution at 60Hz
MiniDisplayPort Port Video – Supports DisplayPort with 4K Resolution at 60Hz

BATTERY
Power Delivery – Full Power Delivery 2.0
Charging capabilities – 5V, 9V, 15V and 20V
Output – 100W
Battery Nominal Capacity – 20,000 mAh / 71.61 Wh
Output Power – 60W / 100W Pass-Through Charging
Output Voltage – 5V 3A / 9V 3A / 15V 3A / 20V 3A (5A Pass-Through Charging)
Input Power – 10W to 100W via USB Type C
Device Charging – USB Type C
Simultaneously – Charge up to 7 devices at the same time

CHARGING REQUIREMENTS
Side Ports – Can support up to 60W of charging
Central Port – Up to 100W — USB Type C. Linedock can be charged using a regular USB-C laptop charger
Input – Can support up to 100W of charging

WEIGHT AND DIMENSIONS
Measurement – Width 11.97 in (30.41 cm), Height 0.35 in (0.9 cm), Depth 8.36 in (21.24 cm)
Weight – 2 pounds (912g)

On one of the short sides with the accessory ports, there are 2 USB 3.0 ports, the SD card slot, and the display button followed by 10 LEDs each of which represents a 10% charge.


On one of the long sides, there are air vents on either end and in the center, there is the USB-C input power port.


On the long side opposite the side with the input power port, there are air vents on either end.


On the other short side with accessory ports, there is the HDMI port, a Mini DisplayPort, a USB-C 3.0 port and a USB-C port.

Performance

When I first removed the Linedock from its packaging, it revealed a thin, sleek and sexy device. I charged it and then decided as my first test to try it with my iPad Pro 12.9″ (2018) just to see what it would allow and if it would work at all. To my surprise it easily allowed me to mirror the iPad’s display to an external monitor and the iPad photo app even popped up when I attached a USB flash drive. I was not able to import the pictures from the drive, but there may be some app that I can find that will allow me to do so. (TBD)


As it is designed to do, the Linedock worked flawlessly with my MacBook in every way with every accessory that I tried and also with adding an external monitor.


I tried to use the Linedock to attach an external monitor to my HP Windows laptop but it did not work.


Below shows the message that popped up when I attached the Linedock to my Windows laptop.

What I like

  • The sleek and slim design
  • The number of ports and the ability to use a large number of accessories simultaneously
  • The pass-through charging capability
  • The multi-platform adaptability
  • The ability to add storage

What can be improved

  • Greater compatibility so it can be fully functional for multiple platforms
  • Addition of a supporting IOS app

Final thoughts

When I first heard about Linedock I was very excited and eager to get my hands on one. Now that I have, it has not disappointed. It easily allows me to add accessories/peripherals while using my MacBook and has some limited functionality with my iPad. I have seen comments online that indicate that it also works with Windows PCs but I was unable to get it to work for me. Unfortunately, Linedock sent me the model without the internal hard drive storage, so I was unable to test that feature and to measure its performance out of the box. I do plan to add flash storage to this one in the near future. I have been told by Linedock that it is compatible with M2 SATA III storage. I really like this device and everything about its design and function. While is it somewhat heavy for its size, I take with me in my backpack back and forth to work every day. The Linedock gets two thumbs up from me!!

Price: Starting at $299 up to $799 for the 1TB version
Where to buy: Linedock and B&H Photo Video
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Linedock.

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Linedock MacBook dock review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 12, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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Yohann MacBook wood stand review

REVIEW – It should go without saying that I love tech products. But it might surprise some of you to know that I love products made of natural materials like wood and leather as much and sometimes more than products made of synthetic materials. That’s why I like to use handmade accessories with my gadgets. The newest such accessory that I’ve had the opportunity to check out is a wood stand for the MacBook from Yohann.

What is it?

Yohann is a company based in Switzerland that makes sustainably crafted wood stands for MacBooks, iPads, and the Apple Pencil out of solid blocks of Oak and Walnut that are harvested from Italy and then physically disabled people package and ship the stands.

Design and features

I was sent the Oak version of the stand which as you can see, is just gorgeous. The rich golden wood has a strikingly beautiful grain that reminds me of furniture.

Each stand is made of a solid block of wood that is cut and sanded to be smooth with no sharp or rough edges and definitely no splinters to be found.

The stand’s shape has a ledge at the bottom that holds the front edge of the laptop (or tablet) and a backrest that keeps the display at an optimal angle.



The stands are designed to be used with post-2008 Unibody Aluminium MacBook models (MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro) with a screen size of 11 – 15 inches. I tested the Yohann stand with my 12in MacBook and it worked perfectly as you can see from the images above. The stand remains perfectly balanced with the laptop lid closed.


And also works perfectly when the display is opened too. The stand creates a minimalist work setup when used with an external keyboard and mouse like my original Apple wireless keyboard and a Logitech MX Master 2S wireless mouse.

The Yohann stand provides excellent air circulation on all sides so that your laptop won’t overheat.



I’m happy to report that the same Yohann stand works great with my Huawei MediaPad M5 tablet and my Samsung Galaxy Tab S3. The back of the stand even functions as a holder for a wireless keyboard when you’re not using it which is kind of cool.

What I like

  • Beautiful and beautifully made
  • Can be used with MacBooks and tablets

What needs to be improved

  • Price

Final thoughts

The Yohann stand is expertly crafted, works as intended, and looks elegant. I love everything about it except for one thing. It’s expensive. Very expensive. At $159 for the oak version of the stand and $179 for the walnut version, this probably won’t be a spontaneous purchase for most people. But then you have to add an extra $19 to have it shipped from Switzerland to the US and, well… ouch. Is it worth that price when you can buy a plastic or metal stand for much less money? I think anyone interested in buying a Yohann stand has to answer that for themselves because it’s like shopping for a dining room table. You can buy one from Lowes or one from a furniture store. It all depends on the style you prefer and the price you’re willing to pay for that style.

Price: $159.00 – $179.00 depending on wood type
Where to buy: Yohann
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Yohann.

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Yohann MacBook wood stand review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 4, 2018 at 12:00 pm.

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The YOHANN Wooden MacBook stand artfully elevates your laptop

NEWS – I’ve always had a great appreciation for items crafted out of raw materials such as wood. Especially those that are essentially functioning pieces of art we can use in our everyday lives. The YOHANN wooden MacBook Pro and MacBook stand is one of those items.

The stand is sustainably crafted out of a single block of solid wood and is designed to offer stable support for MacBooks of all sizes. It’s even sturdy enough for you to type on the keyboard and use the trackpad. However, to get the optimal benefit from the stand, it’s recommended that you use it with a separate keyboard and mouse.

Because the stand elevates your laptop, it not only helps to reduce neck strain and maintain upright posture it also keeps it cool. And it provides space-saving storage for your MacBook, helping to keep your desktop nice and tidy.

The stand is designed to fit all post-2011 MacBook models (MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro) with a screen size of 11 – 17 inches.

The YOHANN Wooden MacBook Pro and MacBook stand comes in Walnut ($179) or Oak ($159) and is available on their website.

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The YOHANN Wooden MacBook stand artfully elevates your laptop originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 2, 2018 at 12:00 pm.

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Turn your MacBook charger into a Supercharger with the PlugBug Duo

NEWS – I love my MacBook Pro, but because it uses USB-C, it doesn’t charge any of my other gear, like my iPhone X, iPad Pro or wireless headphones. That’s where something like the new PlugBug Duo from Twelve South could come in handy.

The PlugBug adds back two traditional USB charging ports. This little red charging wonder snaps right onto your MacBook power adapter, no more carrying around extra chargers or buying some crazy dongle.

Now you can charge two USB devices, and your MacBook, simultaneously, with one device. And you get the benefit of 2.1A  rapid-charging for all iPhones & iPads.

PlugBug will even fit onto your iPad Pro power adaptor.

The PlugBug Duo is perfect for dorm rooms, coffee shops, and busy airports where available outlets are usually pretty scarce. Now you can charge all your devices before boarding your flight, all from one outlet.

As an added bonus Twelve South has included five plug adapters so you can convert your MacBook power supply to fit outlets in over 150 countries. PlugBug includes adapters for US/Canada/Japan, UK/HongKong/Singapore, Continental Europe, Australia/New Zealand and China.

https://www.amazon.com/Twelve-South-PlugBug-MacBook-adapter/dp/B07GN6Z5KV/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1535061976&sr=8-1&keywords=plugbug&th=1

The Twelve South PlugBug Duo costs $49.99 and is available on Amazon.

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Turn your MacBook charger into a Supercharger with the PlugBug Duo originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 24, 2018 at 8:00 am.

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Make your MacBook stand out in a crowd

Toast is usually known for their beautiful wood cases and covers for laptops, phones, and tablets, but they are offering something different this time.  They have produced beautiful leather covers for 13″ MacBook Air, 13″ MacBook Pro (with or without the touch bar), and the 15″ MacBook Pro (with or without the touch bar).

They start with a beautiful piece of genuine leather, laser-cut it to precisely fit your laptop, then hand-finish the leather to enhance the texture and the color.  They even laser-cut a pattern of tiny perforations on the back side of the cover to prevent trapping air bubbles underneath during application.  You can request they cut out the Apple logo on the top cover, or you can have the cover customized with your artwork or text.  The covers apply with a long-lasting adhesive that removes easily without leaving behind a residue.

Choose from 10 saturated colors, including two metallic colors.  Each top cover is $99.00; add a bottom cover for $60.00  and a trackpad surround for $30.00.  Customize and order your MacBook cover from Toast.

The post Make your MacBook stand out in a crowd appeared first on The Gadgeteer.

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Make your MacBook stand out in a crowd originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 27, 2018 at 8:00 am.

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