Docking Station Buyer's Guide
A docking station can be a great way to increase your productivity and take your laptop to the next level. When you buy the right one, you can make your laptop feel like a brand new computer with more power and versatility.
But you need to make sure you are getting the docking station that will do the most for you at the best price point. The truth is that there are many to choose from these days, and many that simply do not provide the right bang for your buck.
Here is what you should be aware of when you are buying the docking station that will help your laptop soar.
Number Of Ports
Adding additional ports to your laptop is among the chief causes to purchase a laptop docking station. That will not be the case, though, if a laptop docking station bought by you lacks a variety of connectors. Fortunately, since docking stations typically offer a range of ports, you do not need to worry about this too much. Some of the greatest laptop docking stations offer up to 15 connections.
But which connectors should you be looking for when you are shopping for your docking station?
The far more popular connectors include Thunderbolt 3 or 4, DisplayPort, Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI 2.0 or 3.0, USB-C, and an old-fashioned 3.5mm headphone port. A reader for SD and microSD cards is also included.
Do not, however, focus solely on the amount of ports offered, though. It's also crucial to think about whether they meet your individual demands.
For instance, find a docking station with a matching connector if you need to connect your laptop to an external monitor. If not, you can purchase the docking station that has as many ports as feasible only to discover that many of them are incompatible with the devices you now own.
Compatibility
The number of laptop and docking station manufacturers is equal. It's true that not all things are made in the same way and some are better than others and work better with certain devices too. sWhen purchasing a laptop docking station, connectivity as well as compatibility are key factors to take into account.
Remember, a docking station that doesn't work with your laptop is effectively worthless.
The majority of laptop makers now produce their very own docking stations to aid with compatibility difficulties.
While looking for docking stations, you'll discover that exclusive solutions from the computer companies are frequently pricey. And that is for good reason: not only are these assured to work with the manufacturer's laptop series, but they will also provide a thorough experience.
Power Output
The docking station's power output is another typical issue to watch out for. Power outputs will vary between docking stations and you need to ensure that whichever you are buying will work well at your home with the set-up that you have.
The excellent thing here is that since manufacturers frequently include all the power output specifications in the information about the product, it is simpler to determine the needed power output for just about any docking station currently being sold.
You could still purchase a docking station that has a lower power output and keep using your standard laptop adapter if a docking station that comes with a greater power output is pricey.
Price
Of course, this is the biggest sticking point for many people who are looking for a docking station/USB adapter.
The price of these items can vary greatly, with some costing hundreds of dollars. But do you get the best value when you are putting more money into the docking station? Not always. There are many great docking stations that will get the job done without costing you an arm and a leg.
When you are shopping for one, you should truly take any possible purchase and run it through Google to see what the customer reviews say. Other people who have used the product will give you an honest opinion about it and that is really what you should base your own choice off of. Weigh other peoples’ opinions, the price, the versatility, and the number of ports together to make your final choice about the docking station you will take home with you.
