satechi’s usb-c slim dock is how the imac shoulda been designed in the first place

the world of mac peripherals has a lot of complete and utter garbage in it, so it’s a breath of aluminum-scented air to see the new usb-c slim dock from satechi. the dock is exactly the same size as apple’s wireless keyboard, so when it’s not in use, your alphanumerics have a sleek metal hammock for some rest and recuperation. more importantly, the dock slides neatly on top of the 24-inch imac’s foot, adding a slew of easy-to-reach features and functionality without ruining the dastardly good looks of your silver-and-glass design masterpiece.it makes so much sense that as soon as i saw it, i sighed in a not entirely safe-for-work way. don’t get me wrong, i applaud apple for its shapely computers, but the company has long been leaning pretty deep into form-over-function territory. the number of times i’ve been swearing to have to crawl behind my computer to plug in a peripheral for a few minutes, then accidentally yank the wrong usb cable out of the back of it when i’m done it’s a gorgeous design and a terrible user experience.i’m a sucker for a tidy desk, and look at it! image credits:satechi.satechi, then, swoops in with a product that just works. it’s exclusively designed for 2021 imac (24-inch) models, and adds extra data storage space and extends the number (and reachability) of the usb ports, all through a single usb-c cable running to the back of your trusty work-steed.
the dock packs ausb-c 3.2 gen 2 data port (with transfer speeds up to 10 gbps). it also has a usb-a 3.2 gen 2 data (with up to 10 gbps), and a couple of slower usb-a 2.0 ports. there’s also microsd and sd card reader slots; perfect for a grumpy-ass journalist or photographer trying to get some work done.another neat trick the usb-c dock has up its sleeve is a tool-free nvme sata ngff enclosure. that’s a lot of alphabet soup, but in a nutshell, it means you can install a small solid state harddrive to extend the storage available on your computer, all at 10 gbps speeds.add a harddrive in your dock? it makes so much sense it hurts. image credits: satechi.the dock costs $150, but the company is running an early-bird special that knocks $30 off the price if you order now. deliveries start now-ish. if i didn’t have a dumb windows box as my work computer, my finger would be twitching over the “add to cart” button right now.