The flexibility to carry your laptop around comes at the price of more stable performance, upgradability, and the ability to connect multiple peripherals without a huge hassle, which is undoubtedly a massive bummer because it means you have to compromise unless you get a laptop docking station.
This brilliant solution provides you with an interface where you can attach multiple devices without compromising portability. In other words, it gives you the freedom to turn your laptop computer into a desktop one whenever you feel like it and wherever convenient.
How Does a Docking Station Work?
A docking station gives you the advantage of connecting several ports as well as peripherals at the same time.
The very first docking stations went by the name of “Port Replicators” because “replicating” is exactly what they did. Before the existence of USB-C ports, laptops had to be thick enough to accommodate USB ports, audio jacks, Ethernet ports, VGA ports, or HDMI ones for external monitor use.
But then, port replicators came to serve as an extension cable for the ports that already exist, yet made them more accessible, convenient to use, and eliminated the desktop clutter you get with a typical setup.
After that, a new generation of docks popped up with a larger number of the same ports, including USB. However, these ones had proprietary connectors and were compatible only with certain laptops.
The Breakthrough In 2008
With the USB 3.0 protocol release in 2008, the bandwidth of USB ports was boosted from 480 Mb/s to 5 Gb/s, which is almost a tenfold increment. With this advancement, docks were no longer only compatible with specific laptops and proprietary ports as USB 3.0 ports were found on the majority of models.
The only issue with this progression was that USB connectors didn’t have native support for video signals, so a USB 3.0 dock would need an internal conversion mechanism, typically a combination of chipsets, drivers, and software, to support them. This software also took up a lot of CPU power, which wasn’t very convenient.
Advancements with Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C
When Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C were introduced in 2015 and 2014, a single USB port was capable of supporting video signals, data, and charging simultaneously.
Not to mention, USB-C connectors spared users from needing a power adapter to operate their docking stations, which meant that docking stations achieved an advantage of portability over desktop computers. Moreover, USB-C options came with a wider compatibility range, making them very versatile.
Why Use a Laptop Docking Station?
If you’re someone who does a lot of work on the go but also likes enjoying extras and using peripherals, you can set up a docking station at home or at the office and enjoy your laptop as a desktop.
Enthusiasts might want to add an external keyboard or mouse for more convenient cursor control than the touchpad, an external monitor for enhanced visuals, an external USB hard drive, a printer, and speakers for superior sound over what the built-in speakers typically have to offer.
Imagine having to connect all of these and then disconnecting them every time you want to make the transition; it’s pretty much a nightmare. Docking stations spare you that effort by creating a space where you simply insert your laptop, and all the peripherals would be connected and ready for use right away.
What Does a Docking Station Do?
If you’re opting for a universal docking station, make sure that you get one that enhances both your audio and photo quality, has plenty of USB hubs, and a Gigabit Ethernet connector to make way for a wired connection. It should also come with audio in/out ports, an AC fitter, and health locks to provide your rig with security and protection. It’s also preferable to get one with a wedge design to allow quick and comfortable typing with a joystick.
What to Consider When Shopping for Docking Stations?
Since you’re just getting introduced to docking stations, it’s important to mention that you have to consider a couple of things when you’re shopping for one.
How Does a Laptop Connect to a Docking Station?
While the vast majority of laptops nowadays would support USB Type-C connectivity, not all of them would provide the same performance. It’s essential to make sure that you’re matching a Thunderbolt PC with a Thunderbolt dock; otherwise, you’d have paid a lot of money for something that doesn’t give you full functionality.
Power Compatibility
Docking stations come with different power delivery options, and some of them may not be powerful enough to keep your laptop up and running. And if you have a laptop with an advanced CPU and a solid GPU, you’ll struggle with this issue.
This is why it’s crucial to match the dock’s power with the laptop in terms of power delivery measured in “watts.”
Availability and Types of Ports
The main advantage of a docking station is the number of ports it offers, and that’s why you should try to maximize those. However, make sure that the ports can deliver the desired functionality you have in mind, as there’s no point getting 10 USB connectors if none can charge your phone or do so at prolonged rates.
Also, make sure that they match the formats you have in mind, as you won’t be able to connect USB-C connectors to USB-A ports.
Video Quality and Visuals
Any docking station would work well with a basic 15-inch monitor with Full HD resolution (1920 x 1080p). However, if you intend to enjoy the high-quality videos of 4K or 5K monitors, you’ll definitely need something more sophisticated.
It’s worth mentioning that refresh rates also make a difference, as some stations might come with a native 60 Hz rate but deteriorate to 30 Hz if configurations are advanced. Of course, this ruins the visual experience for you and renders the docking station useless.
Ergonomics
Make sure that the layout of the docking station matches the setup you already have. Otherwise, you’ll be faced with a lot of inconveniences.
A little similar to a regular desktop PC, a docking station comes with all the ports placed on the back and only a couple of ports in the front to suit a USB flash drive or a smartphone. So, this might make you end up with a specific connector on a side that doesn’t match the port’s placement on the laptop, forcing you to either fiddle with long cables or give up your station altogether.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have a better understanding of what a docking station is and what it does, I’m pretty sure that you’d be considering one if you’re someone that appreciates a reliable setup. With the couple of considerations I’ve mentioned above, you’d be able to land an excellent dock that suits whatever purpose you have in mind.