OWC 12-Port Thunderbolt 2 Dock - White Docking Station

I've had this dock for almost a year and half and bought it despite mixed reviews. I thought I might be one of the lucky ones; I was not. When it works, it does work well. I bought it mostly to have an Ethernet port, some sort of display port (I'm using HDMI but you could also use the second TB as Mini-DP--just not both at the same time, mind you), and some USB ports to avoid having to plug in and unplug things from my laptop all the time as well as restore some ports that were "missing" from my new MBP, and at the time all TB2 docks were about the same price, and I trusted the OWC brand.Unfortunately, I've had intermittent problems with the dock. Seemingly at random, it will disconnect, thus dropping my display, speakers, Ethernet, and everything else I have plugged into the dock (I won't use external storage on it anymore for this reason). Sometimes it also seems to just drop the display for a few seconds and come back. These problems are usually intermittent, but sometimes they happen over and over to the point where I'll just unplug the dock and try to make that work instead. I've done troubleshooting over e-mail with OWC, who first suggested resetting NVRAM and/or the SMC, trying a different port, and trying a different TB cable (which I had to buy; I was using one of theirs in the first place). None of these worked, or if they helped it was only in the short term. (They also suggested it might be my computer and that I should try a different one, but I only have one TB2-equipped Mac, and given the other reviews I can't imagine this is just me.) They eventually offered me an RMA for a replacement, but I had to pay my own shipping and be without the dock for a week or so, plus I had to do quite a bit of troubleshooting on my own for what (based on other reviews) clearly seems like a problem with their dock.That being said, when the dock does work, it works as expected. It has more USB ports than most docks, and it has separate jacks for audio in/out, which a lot of others combine. It does have high-power USB ports on the side for charging. For what it's worth, it's also fairly aesthetically pleasing aside from the slightly bulky power adapter ("brick in the middle" style, not "wall wart"). I'd give it five stars if it didn't disconnect all the time. You might be luckier than I am, but I'd probably just choose another dock--though there don't seem to be many good options.UPDATE: The warranty was still active (it's more than one year long; yay!), and I did contact OWC for an RMA again as described below. My new unit arrived recently and is slightly different from the old one--the copyright on the box has been updated from 2015 to 2016, and references to "USB 3.0" have changed to "USB 3.1 Gen 1" (the new name for that standard, otherwise the same). I've had the new one for a month now and haven't had any random disconnects. Unfortunately, I get some noise in the speakers (3.5mm audio out on the dock) when some USB devices are plugged in, though it's only noticeable if the computer isn't playing audio. I think this was a problem on the old one, too, and it probably only happens for high-power devices like iPhones and iPads (or maybe it's a matter of having WiFi or cellular radios). I'll still keep one star off for that but now feel comfortable raising the review to four stars because *the random disconnects appear to have stopped*, so they must have fixed the problem. I'm very happy about that.

I like this very much. It's currently working with my mid-2011 MacBook Pro (pre-Retina), on Thunderbolt 1, driving a 1920x1200 (note: >1080p) display via the HDMI port, through a HDMI->DVI-D adaptor cable (note also: get the cable, not the fixed adaptor: less strain on the HDMI port).Don't have any USB3 peripherals, so can't test USB3 speeds, but the USB2 and mouse/KB are working fine. Gigabit Ethernet appears to be working well, Network Utility reports a Gigabit Ethernet connection. Note that your MAC address will change - maybe a router/firewall/software activation concern (though I've had no problem other than DHCP LAN IP reservation needed to be updated - if you don't know what this means, it probably won't be a problem for you).Don't have any way to test out 4K performance or Thunderbolt 2 at the moment, but suffice it to say, the device does work with Thunderbolt 1.Likewise, I don't have any way to test Thunderbolt daisy-chaining. Have no other Thunderbolt peripherals.Firewire 800 appears to work fine - connects and operates with my IcyDOCK drive enclosure, and my NexStar drive toaster-dock. Also appears to work fine with my Focusrite Saffire 14 Firewire 400 audio interface (via 800-400 adapter cable, end of the Firewire chain), though I haven't tested the audio interface extensively yet.You WILL need to buy a cable (and note: you CANNOT buy a "Mini Display Port" cable (which looks very cheap, and will fit the hole). You need a Thunderbolt cable, which is NOT a Mini Display Port cable).The instructions/features say this dock will not work with Windows. I don't want to promise anything on OWC's behalf, but it appeared to work pretty well on Boot Camp and on VMWare Fusion for me, with Windows 8.1. Your mileage may vary. Assume you got away with something if it does work for you.My only two dings about the product:1. The USB interface, and the external monitor ports are not awake and connected when you boot the machine. That means that if you use FileVault 2 to encrypt the disk, you need to view and enter the disk-unlock password on the MacBook Pro screen/keyboard (or, I'm assuming, on a directly-connected USB keyboard/external monitor, for Macs without built-in keyboards and monitors). If your machine and keyboard are accessible, then OK. Mine are. If you thought you'd park the machine out of site, well, that's probably not going to work. The USB keyboard is ready by the time you need to enter OS login credentials.2. the Analog Audio interface. First thing to note: this is an analog audio ONLY interface. Many don't realize, but a lot of the Macs will take a TOSLink connection (with mini-plug adapter) to provide an optical digital audio output. That comes out of the Mac. This interface doesn't have that. What's more, the analog audio interface in this TB dock sounds kind of dead, compared to the MacBook Pro's built-in analog audio interface. It's certainly quieter, but also appears to roll off some high-end, sounds more compressed, not as transparent as the MacBook Pro's analog audio. If you listen to a bunch of music through decent powered speakers plugged into the Mac (as I do), this may be a concern.

Let me say first that this product is wonderful. I have never had two large external monitors before, and it is life changing!! I do a lot of genealogy research, and the ability to look at records on one monitor and enter the data on my software program on the other monitor is great. I was already using a mid-year 2013 13-inch MacBook Air with a Thunderbolt external monitor. I had an old Cinema (minidisplay port monitor) that I was hoping I could also hook up. I read a lot of reviews on docks, etc., and it was really frustrating that the Cinema couldn’t just daisy chain to the Thunderbolt. A couple of the reviews said that a daisy chain could work if there was a Thunderbolt peripheral between the Thunderbolt monitor and the Cinema, e.g., dock or external hard drive. Although this didn’t make much sense to me (I’m not very computer sophisticated), I decided to risk it, so I bought this dock. When it arrived, I was puzzled about the “order” or “sequence” in which to set it all up, so I called OWC support. The man I spoke with on 9/8/17 was very pleasant, but he basically said it couldn’t work. He said I could connect my Thunderbolt monitor to the dock, but to connect an additional non-Thunderbolt monitor, I would have to use the HDMI port. This was not going to help me since the Cinema has only a minidisplay output. I said to the OWC guy, “So basically I’ve spent about $250 on a dock and a cord, and it’s not going to help me at all?” He said, “That’s right. Is there anything else I can help you with, ma’am?” After we hung up, I experimented with the different hook-up configurations. Here is what worked perfectly: The Thunderbolt cable coming out of the Thunderbolt monitor is connect to the single Thunderbolt port on my MacBook Air. The dock is plugged in to a power strip. One Thunderbolt port on the dock is connected to the Cinema monitor. The other Thunderbolt port on the dock is connected to the Thunderbolt port on the back of the Thunderbolt monitor. I would give this product five stars but for the inaccurate tech support from OWC. If you call OWC and they tell you it won’t work, ask for a different tech.

Um mein MBPr 15" auch anständig als Workstation am Schreibtisch nutzen zu können, mit der ganzen Peripherie, musste bei mir ein Thunderbolt 2 Dock her - da wollte ich keine halben Sachen machen. Tätig bin ich im Bereich Fotografie.Nach einer Recherche viel meine Wahl ganz klar auf das OWC Dock, obwohl es teurer als ähnliche Mitbewerberprodukte ist.Es gibt zwar noch nicht soo viel über das OWC Dock im Internet zu lesen, aber es ist das einzige Dock, über das ich bei meiner Recherche nichts negatives gelesen habe. Über die Alternativen bin ich recht schnell über einzelne Meldungen wie "Festplatten werden nicht korrekt ausgeworfen / verlieren die Verbindung, etc.." gestolpert - und darauf habe ich keinen Bock.Ein für mich weiterer wichtiger Punkt und ein Alleinstellungsmerkmal vom OWC Dock: Es verfügt über 5 (davon 2 "high powered") USB Anschlüsse, die meisten anderen Docks verfügen über nur 3 USB Anschlüsse und um alles sauber anschließen zu können brauch ich hier die 5 USB Anschlüsse. Außerdem freu ich mich über den FW800 Anschluss, da gelegentlich noch Althardware betreibe, welche einen FW Anschluss benötigt.Ich habe das Dock jetzt ca. seit einer Woche in Verwendung und bin bis jetzt super happy, einer meiner Besten Käufe ever, alles rennt.Verarbeitung und Machart find ich gut und hochwertig, das Schwarze ist zwar eine Art Plastik welches nach dem Putzen mit einem Tuch gaaaanz feine Kratzer hat (eigentlich nicht sichtbar;), aber das ist mir so was von wurscht, das Ding funktioniert super und sieht gut aus.Externes Netzteil ist hochwertig, Thunderbolt Kabel war aber keines dabei.Externe Festplatten, Monitor, Sound, Netzwerkkabel.... funktioniert alles einwandfrei und vor allem schnell.ein zwei wichtige praktische Hinweise:es gibt auf der OWC Seite ein Driver-Update, damit das laden von bestimmten iPads unterstützt wird, weiß nicht ob der Link zur Downloadseite klappt:[...]Zwei externe Monitore kann man nur anschließen, wenn einer davon ein Thunderbolt Monitor ist, sonst nur ein Monitor über das Dock (entweder HDMI oder Minidisplayport, wenn da auf beiden was hängt, wird der HDMI bevorzugt.)In meinem Fall: ein externer Monitor hängt am Dock (HDMI), der zweite Externe (Haupt)Monitor hängt via Displayport direkt am MBPr.Wenn man am Audioausgang (der super klingt, zumindest mit meinen Grado Kopfhörern hab ich das Gefühl es klingt besser als direkt vom MBP!, das mag ich aber nicht beurteilen eigentlich) Kopfhörer oder eine Anlage hängen hat:Man muss in den Systemeinstellungen unter Ton bei "Ausgabe" auf "USB Audio Codec" umstellen, damit der Sound über das Dock kommt....soo. Mein Fazit, auch wenn das die anderen Docks natürlich nur aus dem Internet kenne:Wenn Thunderbolt 2 Dock, dann das von OWC, für mich jeden Euro wert.

As with all thunderbolt docks, this is on the pricey side. In fact, even when compared to other thunderbolt docks, this is expensive. What you get, however, are more USB ports and FireWire 800. I host a podcast, and in my recording setup I absolutely need a FIreWire 800 port, so the presence of one here was essential. This also contains 5 USB 3.0 posts, two of which are high powered to allow for fast charging and charging of tablets. Most other docks only have two or three, and many do not include high powered options. If you have need for anything mentioned in this paragraph, this dock is your best and only option.There are some downsides to this dock. It does not have eSATA connections, so you cannot plug HDDs and SSDs in at native speeds (you can of course use thunderbolt or USB 3, however). The dock is also enormous. I believe it may be the largest dock of it's kind that is widely available. If portability is an issue for you, this is not the dock to buy.Overall, I am very pleased with this dock. I have had no connection issues whatsoever, and the breadth of ports available makes this very attractive for me. I do not need eSATA and I do not require that it be portable, so this ended up being the best dock for me. It may not be the best one for you, so read other reviews and look at the specs for each dock. There are smaller and cheaper options available that might be better suited for your needs.As far as this docks goes, however, I am very, very happy with it and recommend it to anyone.