Matrox has released a Thunderbolt docking station that offers DVI output, Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0, USB 2.0, as well as audio input and output jacks. The DS1 has it all, including a super steep price-point of $250.00 USD, making it more prosumer than consumer at this point.
Obviously the docking station is built for people who prefer to use a MacBook Air or Thunderbolt MacBook Pro, but given the ports available on the device, would you go for the docking station or a Thunderbolt Cinema Display? The only real feature I miss on my MacBook Air is the Ethernet connection. I currently own an external audio device for hooking my Macbook Air up to speakers in my office. Tie that in to a Sonos system and you can easily eliminate the audio jack in the Matrox box. Is $250.00 USD worth it for an Ethernet jack? Probably not. If I was purchasing this stuff all over again, I’d just grab a Thunderbolt Cinema Display. The Cinema Display comes with “three USB 2.0 ports, a FireWire 800 port, [and] a Gigabit Ethernet port.” If you find yourself needing a display, as well as access to more ports, it’s probably the way to go considering the price of Thunderbolt docking stations.
