You can get USB-C docks for around $80 or so. But this one seems to use Microsoft docking port. Which has limited use outside of Microsoft Surface Pro's
$80 is too little - docks start at that price for a brick with holes in it. $400 is still too much. If it was going to be that much, they should have simplified the design. I'm sure there are a few artists or C-suite types with loaded Surfaces for whom this will be fine, but I can't imagine there are that many of them.
For that much money, it needs to be truly superlative in added function. At least include the dial, maybe a matching wireless input set, voice query speaker, a little something else.
The idea is great, and I can see MS copying it quite readily in some way, a copy of a copy.
While I feel the price is high, we do live in a time when people drop over $1k on a phone they carry around and expose to potentially fatal damage on a daily basis. Also, the price of a Surface Pro puts it out of reach for a lot of people unwilling or unable to purchase such a system to begin with so those that do buy one are more likely to have disposable income or the buying power of an organizational budget behind them. I'm not arguing that any of those points justifies the price, but it does put the $400 into perspective.
There is a lot of emerging evidence to support that addictive tendencies should be treated as a medical condition, but what does that have to do with a docking station?
Exactly what I was thinking, with TB3 it would had dual 4K monitors plus Ethernet and devices and drives - Charging $400 for USB-C station and only supporting Surface Pro's is a joke.
How many of the commentators a) Have a Surface Pro, and b) Work in the corporate environment this is aimed at?
I do and do - this is just what's needed to leave all the cables tidy at the back of the desk. $400 is not an issue - running a supported corporate surface pro will be about $2k a year. A $400 dock (likely half that when you buy 1000) is nothing if it boosts productivity for the 3 year life of the device. Remember that many corporates have docks that get replaced every model of laptop - those can be $2-300 without the stand component fo this one.
$80? You'll get a USB hub or a brittle piece of plastic for that, It would cost five times that to support it for a year being replaced every 3 months.
Pitty you cannot keep closed type cover attached. Most my colleagues with SPro use it with 2 desktops screens and no Surface screen while docked - apparently it is not a pleasant transition from 24" 1080p screen to 12" Surface screen, even with individual scaling.
I feel like default Surface dock is more convenient. Less space on desk, cheaper. Can be used with Type Cover attached. Front USB ports. It doesn't look that posh, but hey.
We’ve updated our terms. By continuing to use the site and/or by logging into your account, you agree to the Site’s updated Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
16 Comments
Back to Article
fred666 - Monday, December 17, 2018 - link
$400 USD is a joke$80 would have been reasonable
fred666 - Monday, December 17, 2018 - link
They should have made a $80 dock, which saves you $320 for a great monitor so that you don't need to use the small surface monitor while dockedcrimsonson - Monday, December 17, 2018 - link
How did you come up with $80?HStewart - Monday, December 17, 2018 - link
You can get USB-C docks for around $80 or so. But this one seems to use Microsoft docking port. Which has limited use outside of Microsoft Surface Pro'ssmartthanyou - Monday, December 17, 2018 - link
His extensive experience of super sizing fries gives him an excellent background in manufacturing.nico_mach - Monday, December 17, 2018 - link
$80 is too little - docks start at that price for a brick with holes in it. $400 is still too much. If it was going to be that much, they should have simplified the design. I'm sure there are a few artists or C-suite types with loaded Surfaces for whom this will be fine, but I can't imagine there are that many of them.For that much money, it needs to be truly superlative in added function. At least include the dial, maybe a matching wireless input set, voice query speaker, a little something else.
The idea is great, and I can see MS copying it quite readily in some way, a copy of a copy.
PeachNCream - Monday, December 17, 2018 - link
While I feel the price is high, we do live in a time when people drop over $1k on a phone they carry around and expose to potentially fatal damage on a daily basis. Also, the price of a Surface Pro puts it out of reach for a lot of people unwilling or unable to purchase such a system to begin with so those that do buy one are more likely to have disposable income or the buying power of an organizational budget behind them. I'm not arguing that any of those points justifies the price, but it does put the $400 into perspective.woggs - Monday, December 17, 2018 - link
Addiction is a disease. :/PeachNCream - Tuesday, December 18, 2018 - link
There is a lot of emerging evidence to support that addictive tendencies should be treated as a medical condition, but what does that have to do with a docking station?namechamps - Monday, December 17, 2018 - link
Only supports a single 4K60 monitor. Shows the weakness that usb has compared to TB3 when it comes to bandwidth support for docking stations.HStewart - Monday, December 17, 2018 - link
Exactly what I was thinking, with TB3 it would had dual 4K monitors plus Ethernet and devices and drives - Charging $400 for USB-C station and only supporting Surface Pro's is a joke.dontlistentome - Monday, December 17, 2018 - link
How many of the commentators a) Have a Surface Pro, and b) Work in the corporate environment this is aimed at?I do and do - this is just what's needed to leave all the cables tidy at the back of the desk. $400 is not an issue - running a supported corporate surface pro will be about $2k a year. A $400 dock (likely half that when you buy 1000) is nothing if it boosts productivity for the 3 year life of the device. Remember that many corporates have docks that get replaced every model of laptop - those can be $2-300 without the stand component fo this one.
$80? You'll get a USB hub or a brittle piece of plastic for that, It would cost five times that to support it for a year being replaced every 3 months.
Lord of the Bored - Tuesday, December 18, 2018 - link
That is a fair point, but on the other hand your user name is dontlistentome, so why should I listen to you?Icehawk - Tuesday, December 18, 2018 - link
It’s the sad truth - the docks we buy at work start at $280 IIRC. They can charge so much because businesses are fairly price indifferent.Surfaces suck and this dock won’t change that.
nikon133 - Monday, December 17, 2018 - link
Pitty you cannot keep closed type cover attached. Most my colleagues with SPro use it with 2 desktops screens and no Surface screen while docked - apparently it is not a pleasant transition from 24" 1080p screen to 12" Surface screen, even with individual scaling.I feel like default Surface dock is more convenient. Less space on desk, cheaper. Can be used with Type Cover attached. Front USB ports. It doesn't look that posh, but hey.
bigvlada - Tuesday, December 18, 2018 - link
Some ideas should remain in a landfill. Another Apple Duodock descendant.https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9...