So I am looking at the new MacBook Pro retina and non retina. I use my MacBook Pro mostly at work attached to an external, which would use up a thunderbolt connection. So if I get the non Retina MBP I have no thunderbolt really, and if I get the Retina, well I lose out on other things, but have 1 free thunderbolt port. I thought I remembered seeing a thunderbolt adapter that had multiple connections on it, firewire, usb. I cant seem to find anything like that though. Does anyone know of a product like this? Would prefer to have a thunderbolt connection FW800 and a USB, not sure if that would ever really work through one thunderbolt port though

Is this what you're thinking of?

Matrox DS-1 Docking Station (http://www.matrox.com/docking_station/en/ds1/)

There's also this from Belkin which is a bit more expensive but may be more versatile.

Belkin shows off its updated Thunderbolt Express Dock rocking 9 connections for $399 in September | 9to5Mac | Apple Intelligence (http://9to5mac.com/2012/06/05/belkin-shows-off-its-updated-thunderbolt-express-dock-rocking-9-connections-for-399-in-july/)

That is close to what I want, though I need something with FW800. I like that unit as it has a DVI connector so it frees up the other thunderbolt connection, but still need that FW.

The Belkin dock has FW800 but quite pricy!

Belkin upgrades its Thunderbolt Express Dock before it's even available -- Engadget (http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/05/belkin-thunderbolt-express-dock/)

I was editing my post when you replied. The Belkin is the ticket.

The Belkin dock has FW800 but quite pricy!

Belkin upgrades its Thunderbolt Express Dock before it's even available -- Engadget (http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/05/belkin-thunderbolt-express-dock/)

Was just looking at that one. That seems to have it all, just not released yet.

I guess an opposite question is can I get an adapter that goes from firewire 800 to thunderbolt? Would need it for a 24 inch iMac which obviously does not have thunderbolt and would need to potentially connect to a thunderbolt raid.

I guess an opposite question is can I get an adapter that goes from firewire 800 to thunderbolt? Would need it for a 24 inch iMac which obviously does not have thunderbolt and would need to potentially connect to a thunderbolt raid.

Nope.

Thunderbolt requires a connection on the logic board.

Nope.

Thunderbolt requires a connection on the logic board.

I wonder then if I would be able to daisy chain through a docking station. So have the 24 inch iMac run FW 800 into the docking station, that goes through my and eventually to the raid.

I wonder then if I would be able to daisy chain through a docking station. So have the 24 inch iMac run FW 800 into the docking station, that goes through my and eventually to the raid.

Again, no. Thunderbolt doesn't work like that. Neither does FireWire.

So I am looking at the new MacBook Pro retina and non retina. I use my MacBook Pro mostly at work attached to an external, which would use up a thunderbolt connection. So if I get the non Retina MBP I have no thunderbolt really, and if I get the Retina, well I lose out on other things, but have 1 free thunderbolt port.

I thought I remembered seeing a thunderbolt adapter that had multiple connections on it, firewire, usb. I cant seem to find anything like that though. Does anyone know of a product like this? Would prefer to have a thunderbolt connection FW800 and a USB, not sure if that would ever really work through one thunderbolt port though

If I understand correctly, you want to connect a new Macbook Pro Retina to an external Thunderbolt drive, and Firewire & USB.

The Thunderbolt drive should have a pass-thru so you can daisy chain further devices = effectively no loss of Thunderbolt ports

The Macbook Pro Retina has 2 USB ports - same number as current models.

Apple is releasing a Thunderbolt -> Firewire adapter in July, in time for the release of the MacBook Pro Retina. You can plug it in to the Thunderbolt Port of the external drive, or the second Thunderbolt port on the MacBook Pro itself.

Apple (Canada) - MacBook Pro with Retina display - Technical Specifications (http://www.apple.com/ca/macbook-pro/specs/) look at connections.

You don't say how you connect to a LAN, but you might also need a Thunderbolt -> Gigabit ethernet connection if you need greater than Wireless speeds. These are available now: Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter - Apple Store (Canada) (http://store.apple.com/ca/product/MD463ZM/A?fnode=MTY1NDA3Ng)

Seems to me that with the addition of a couple of adapters, you're good to go!

If I understand correctly, you want to connect a new Macbook Pro Retina to an external Thunderbolt drive, and Firewire & USB.

The Thunderbolt drive should have a pass-thru so you can daisy chain further devices = effectively no loss of Thunderbolt ports

The Macbook Pro Retina has 2 USB ports - same number as current models.

Apple is releasing a Thunderbolt -> Firewire adapter in July, in time for the release of the MacBook Pro Retina. You can plug it in to the Thunderbolt Port of the external drive, or the second Thunderbolt port on the MacBook Pro itself.

Apple (Canada) - MacBook Pro with Retina display - Technical Specifications (http://www.apple.com/ca/macbook-pro/specs/) look at connections.

You don't say how you connect to a LAN, but you might also need a Thunderbolt -> Gigabit ethernet connection if you need greater than Wireless speeds. These are available now: Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter - Apple Store (Canada) (http://store.apple.com/ca/product/MD463ZM/A?fnode=MTY1NDA3Ng)

Seems to me that with the addition of a couple of adapters, you're good to go!

I am going to go with this Belkin when it is released in September:
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j164/wonderings/belkin-thunderbolt.jpg

This has every connection I need and then some. I didnt think of it, but I also would not need to use the other thunderbolt connection for my LED screen at work, as it now has HDMI.