I have Macbook pro 8,2 that I got October/2011. I went to Korea for a performance, and my old macbook pro’s top board was completely broken. I needed to perform in few days, and the computer was getting old, so I put it into Apple Service, and I as well got the new one.

My finance was not so well, and I was traveling so that I didn’t get the Apple care. Then as you might guess, after 1 year of its use, something is breaking down : USB.

I had few issues with this computer. The first one was the thunderbolt port. I use an external monitor at home, and the screen was flickering sometimes. Strangely it doesn’t happen even once in Linux. So that I know it is the poor apple software issue, and a number of people were complaining. Then there were few updates, the frequency of the flickering was getting less. But still, it’s sometimes flickering.

Since a month ago, the USB ports were a bit weird. One of two ports was occasionally working: meaning, it doesn’t give power to any equipment, and when I pull and plug again, it sometimes worked.

Few days later, this poor one never worked again, and the other one was doing the same as the other: occasionally working.

I was scared that if I wouldn’t have any USB port, it must cause quite a serious issue. I would need to perform with this machine, and I might not be able to plug in any of controller. Well, forget about the performance. I couldn’t even use mouse/keyboard/harddrive/my phone and so on that are just so common and necessary.

Few days later, even after few reboots, it was working rarely. Yes I checked with the Apple Service, who couldn’t find any issue with the hardware, also did enough research. I was not the only person who had the issue. But any solution that people have given didn’t work for me. I needed to find another solution, rather than replacing my top board just because of USBs.

This was what I found. Matrox Docking Station.

Matrox Dock

Yes. It is quite expensive for me when I think of ‘USB.’ but cheaper than replacing the top board.

This machine has 2 USB 2.0, 1 USB 3.0 (yeah! something new is added to my laptop!), 1 ethernet, 1 DVI out, Audio in/out. It is pity that there is no Firewire.

The official price is 250 $. I got in the Netherlands, and it was around 220 euro. I ordered it and received it. Well, yes I spent some money with tears, but now I don’t need to worry about USB anymore. I was quite excited. Opened the box. then SIGH>>>…..

There was no Thunderbolt cable.. man… It was like, as my friend said, you get your phone without a charger.

This was really really disappointing. Most of you know that this cable is quite expensive. I got it from Apple store, (because I couldn’t find anywhere else around this town) and that was 50 euro.. I would have gotten 5 USB hubs with this money..

So yes. I needed to spend even more money to use USB.

I do not, as much as you, want to become a complainer. But I don’t understand, how.. USB can be broken so quickly after just using 1 year, which never has happened to me my entire computer life. (oh yeah.. that’s quite a bit of years. 🙂 )And I don’t think the port is broken. I just think that the power management sucks with this machine. Do I need to spend almost 300 euro to use USB and having one more of Ethernet/Audio ports..? Wait, I got this laptop with money too! How much was that..?

Oh well, there is going to be even more expensive solution for this. The Belkin docking system, which is going to be released soon.

This machine will be 50 something euro more expensive, and probably no thunderbolt cable will be included. However there are two thunderbolt ports together with Firewire. 2 USB 3.0 ports too. So yes it is a bit different. But I think it’s too expensive.

But you know, I thought this is too much for replacing USB anyway. There should be another solution, or maybe I couldn’t find a nicer solution with this laptop.

Oh well, I don’t know if I’d buy another apple stuff again. Because I don’t think I would have prevented this by using differently. If anyone has a better idea of this, please let me know.. !

Good luck with your computers. Treat well, and even after you do and it betrays you, stay calm and meditate. 🙂