Matrox goes back to the future with DS-1 Thunderbolt Dock—USB 3.0, DVI, GigE for $249

9to5 Staff | Jun 3 2012 - 4:30 pm PT

Do you remember all of those ports you used to see on Macs? DVI, Gig Ethernet (har), and separate analog stereo for in and out? Matrox, a company that used to make mad graphics cards and other video devices, is coming to DubDub with a new $249 piece of kit called the “DS-1.” This box brings you all of those old school ports and even throws in a “superspeed” USB 3.0 port, so you can match the speed of the new MacBooks.

Matrox makes a bunch of other highly rated, high-end Thunderbolt breakout boxes that retail for much more. If you are looking for a (relatively) cheap Thunderbolt dock to hide away from sight and hook up to an old DVI monitor, this may be a good pick up. We should have a review unit to play with next week.

The press release follows:

Matrox Announces Thunderbolt^™ Docking Station at $249

Matrox DS1 Brings Unprecedented Convenience and Connectivity to MacBook and Ultrabook users

TAIPEI — June 4, 2012 — Matrox today introduced Matrox^® DS1^™, a Thunderbolt docking station that brings all the productivity benefits of a desktop computer to MacBook^® and Ultrabook^™ users. From a single Thunderbolt connection, users can add multiple peripherals including a large DVI or HDMI^® display, a full-size keyboard, and a mouse. A gigabit Ethernet port provides connectivity to a wired corporate network, enabling data transfers 18 times faster than Wi-Fi^™. One SuperSpeed USB 3.0 port, two USB 2.0 ports, a microphone input, and a speaker/headphone output are also provided. With its solid aluminum construction, yet sleek design, Matrox DS1 is ideal for office, dorm, or home use.

“Today’s MacBooks and Ultrabooks are powerful enough for most corporate users but their limited connectivity makes them inconvenient, and their small screens and keyboards make them uncomfortable to use in the office all day,” said Alberto Cieri, senior director of sales and marketing at Matrox. “The new Matrox DS1 docking station easily enables the creation of an ergonomic workspace and brings much-needed expandability for printers, scanners, storage, smartphones, optical drives, cameras, flash drives, and other peripherals.”

“Thunderbolt delivers unparalleled performance, flexibility, and simplicity to personal computing,” said Jason Ziller, Intel’s director of Thunderbolt Marketing. “Products like the Matrox DS1 docking station help highlight what Thunderbolt makes possible.”

Matrox DS1 will be showcased at Computex Taipei 2012 in the Intel booth, M0410 – located in the NanGang Exhibition Hall.

Price and availability

Priced at $249 US (€219, £169) not including local taxes and delivery, Matrox DS1 will be available through a worldwide network of authorized dealers beginning in September.

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About Matrox

Matrox is a world leader in graphics, imaging, and video technology providing an extensive array of real-world relevant OEM and end-user solutions to businesses and individuals across a diverse range of professional markets including media and entertainment, finance, digital signage, medical imaging, manufacturing, factory automation, security, government, and enterprise computing.

Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, the privately owned company operates on a global scale with representation and offices in theAmericas, Europe, and Asia. For more information visit www.matrox.com.

Thunderbolt and the Thunderbolt logo are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the US and other countries.

Matrox is a registered trademark and Matrox DS1 is a trademark of Matrox Electronic Systems Ltd.