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Henge announces its latest Horizontal Dock for MacBooks, loads of ports for connecting your wares
The outfit known for their MacBook docks is up to its old tricks. Henge Docks has outed the Horizontal Dock at CES: a resting spot for MacBook Air and MacBook Pro with Retina display that connects to up to three external displays, six USB 3.0 ports, double audio outputs, Ethernet, an SD card slot and FireWire 800. Got all that? Good. The goods are housed in a solid metal frame with a Kensington security slot for added safeguarding. If all of this sounds too good to resist, options for both of the previously mentioned Apple laptops are up for preorder now for $249 with a Q3 arrival date. A Thunderbolt version is slated to arrive in Q4 of 2013 for $349. %Gallery-175401%
Henge Docks for the MacBook Air hands-on (video)
We were a little giddy when Henge Docks announced their desktop resting spot for the MacBook Pro, and perhaps even more so when they unveiled the MacBook Air model earlier this week. We paid the company a visit on the CES floor to catch a peek at products first-hand. Sure, the white, plastic exterior may a bit off-putting for some but we didn't mind it -- especially for a dock that you can snag for around $50. While the device is pretty straightforward, the rubber padding that hugs the docked laptop provided more security that we'd initially thought. One thing you'll want to keep in mind though: the peripheral does make the USB port on the machine's docked end usable on its backside, but the Thunderbolt socket is reduced to display-only functionality. The outfit assured us that it's working on a solution that maximizes that Intel potential and we're anxious to see that become a reality. An express tour awaits the curious, right after the break.
Henge Docks announces docking stations for MacBook Air, tidies up your desk layout
We were thrilled when Henge Docks unveiled their docking solution for the MacBook fam. Now, those of us who've adopted the thinner sibling can snatch up the same vertical desktop peripheral, as the company has announced docks for both the 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Air. If you recall, the outfit's offerings come with fully integrated Mini Display and USB ports with no need for additional setup and a rubberized cradle to insure a perfect fit. You'll be able to pre-order both models starting today via the source link below for $55 and $60 respectively. But if you're in need of a little more convincing, check out all the details in the PR just past the break.
Henge Docks Clique: A new way to merge your Wireless Keyboard and Magic Trackpad
Many Mac users use a combination of an Apple Wireless Keyboard and a Magic Trackpad for their typing and pointing pleasure. Twelve South came up with a lovely way to merge the two devices into a single unit with the MagicWand (US$29.99). Now Henge Docks has developed a less expensive and more functional device called the Clique ($24.99) that should be a fierce competitor to the MagicWand. Design and Functionality Three minor issues with the MagicWand have been addressed with the Clique. First, I felt that $29.99 was a bit expensive for what is essentially two pieces of plastic and a tiny piece of silicone. Second, if I want to use the keyboard and trackpad in my lap, I'm out of luck with the MagicWand as there's no physical support for those peripherals. Finally, if I'm going to be away from my iMac for a while and wish to turn off the keyboard, I have to take it out of the MagicWand to have access to the power button on the right side. The Clique is actually a thin, bright white plastic rigid tray into which your Apple Wireless Keyboard and Magic Trackpad "click," hence the clever name. When the peripherals are snapped into the Clique, they form a rigid unit that can easily be used in a lap. I found this to be wonderful -- when I'm using the MagicWand, I have to place it onto my desktop and sit closer to the screen of my iMac. Now I'm able to place the keyboard and trackpad on my legs and move back a bit into a much more comfortable position in my chair. %Gallery-141081% Turning off the keyboard or trackpad is also easy. Henge Docks designed a small spring-loaded button into the right side of the Clique that can be depressed to power the trackpad on and off. In addition, there's a small slider underneath the keyboard that is used to turn the keyboard on and off without taking the keyboard out of the Clique. I was a bit concerned that the Clique would be uncomfortable for typing, as it adds a bit of thickness to the keyboard that doesn't exist with the Magic Wand. That concern went away as soon as I started using the Clique -- if you hold your hands in a proper position for typing, that extra 1/16th of an inch doesn't cause any problem. Conclusion I type a lot (I've written well over one million words for TUAW during my three-plus years here), and anything that makes typing and pointing more comfortable gets a thumbs-up from me. The Clique works very well and moves my keyboard and trackpad to a much more comfortable typing position. Now that turning off the keyboard is going to be easier, I'll probably get better life from my batteries. With the help of Henge Docks and the Clique, I think I'll be able to crank out another couple million words without too much damage to my arms and hands. The Clique would also make a wonderful holiday gift for anyone who wants a rigid keyboard/trackpad combo that they can use to make their daily Mac user more comfortable.
TUAW Giveaway: Henge Docks for MacBook / MacBook Pro
A few weeks ago I introduced you to a new line of low-cost docking stations for the MacBook and MacBook Pro from a new company called Henge Docks. Thanks to Henge Docks, I've been able to take a look at the construction of one of these products for the 13" MacBook Pro, and we'll be giving away our review model to a lucky TUAW reader. As I noted in the first post, the Henge Docks aren't made to handle MacBooks with their screens open. Instead, the company chose to focus on using the MacBooks in a vertical docked position with the screen closed. You'd use this in cases where your MacBook is connected to an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse, or where you're using the MacBook as a "media center" to display photos or video, or act as a music server. That being said, the Henge Docks do a good job at a low cost. Rather than create a docking station that required a lot of high-tech connectors and (most likely) approval by a lot of standards organizations, Henge chose to use standard over-the-counter cables and connectors. It's how those cables and connectors are held into the docking station that is the clever idea. Check out the gallery below for a few nice closeups and details of the Henge Dock. %Gallery-92807%
What's up, dock? Henge ships low-cost MacBook docks
I've often heard an excuse from people who refuse to even consider a MacBook or MacBook Pro when they're in the market for a laptop. The story goes like this -- "I have this really cool Dell / Lenovo / Sony / Asus computer and when I get home, I can just pop it into my dock to hook up all the cables!" While docks have been available for Apple laptops, they're usually pretty pricey and not very well marketed. That's all about to change. A newcomer on the scene, Henge Docks, is creating a full line of MacBook docs that are just starting to ship. The first models to receive the docking goodness are the 13" MacBook and MacBook Pro (aluminum unibody), and the rest of the Apple laptop line is available for pre-order. The docks take advantage of Apple's current design trend to put most ports on one side of the MacBook line. Your MacBook fits vertically in the dock, and any cables attach to the dock -- not to your MacBook. In many cases, cables are supplied by Henge, but other wiring (the MagSafe power cable, for example) has to be suppled by the buyer. As I mentioned, the pricing on these docks is great. For the 13" aluminum unibody MacBook, the dock is only $59.95, while the 13" MacBook Pro dock sells for $64.95. Henge is sending us a review model to take a look at, and we plan on giving one or more docks away to lucky readers in the near future.
Henge Docks: finally, a well designed docking station for Apple's MacBook line
We'd love to say that many have tried, but really, the bona fide docking station market dried up years ago in every sector save for enterprise, and while a few companies have served up "universal" alternatives, none of them were particularly well-designed. Out of nowhere, Henge Docks has emerged in order to provide a solution to your MacBook docking woes, and we've got to say -- for a first try, the products being offered up here look mighty fine. Designed to work with most modern MacBooks as well as 13/15/17-inch MacBook Pros, these all-white stands hold your machine vertical while providing seamless access to desk-strapped peripherals (a monitor, iPod dock, mouse, heated USB blanket, etc.) It also uses Apple's own MagSafe adapter, and your optical drive is still flipped out if you need to access it. The 13-inch MBP model is available now for $59.95 to $64.95, while every other flavor is available for pre-order; check out a video after the break if you're having issues pulling the trigger.
