Docking Stations for Work
Getting a docking station is an excellent idea. It cuts down on the clutter of exposed cables on your desk. On top of giving you a tidy desk that helps with focus, you no longer need to plug in 4, 5, or 6 cables and dismantle your setup every day just to work efficiently with one or two external monitors, a mouse, a keyboard, and so on.
Getting a docking station is an excellent idea.
It cuts down on the clutter of exposed cables on your desk.
On top of giving you a tidy desk that helps with focus, you no longer need to plug in 4, 5, or 6 cables and dismantle your setup every day just to work efficiently with one or two external monitors, a mouse, a keyboard, and so on.
And just like that, in and out of the office in no time with a permanent workstation and a laptop, effortlessly.
So you start your research and realize it’s not as simple as it seems. It all depends on your computer’s specifications and your needs. So we built a flowchart to simplify the information and guide you in buying a docking station.
A bit of vocabulary
Power Delivery: Allows the computer to be powered through the docking station.
Without Power Delivery: 2 cables will be required between the computer and the docking station. One for power and one for data.
Thunderbolt and USB-C: It’s important to understand that even though Thunderbolt technology uses a USB-C type connector, it’s not at all the same technology as a USB-C port. Without getting into the technical details, the key takeaway is that, depending on the computer’s specifications, it will require a docking station that supports either Thunderbolt or USB-C technology.
You can find this information by doing a Google search for your computer model’s specifications and checking the types of connections available. If you have a Lenovo, lucky you, they have a tool specially designed to find accessories compatible with your computer.
Here are the choices recommended by MMO Techno:
$$$ Option A — You have a PC that requires Thunderbolt technology
ThinkPad Universal Thunderbolt Dock or Startech DK30CHDDPPD
$$ Option B — You have a PC that requires USB-C and you want power delivery support
$ Option C — You have a PC that requires USB-C and power delivery isn’t a requirement
$$$ Option D — You have a Mac with the M1 or M2 chip
What to look for: Must have a DisplayLink chip.
Models: MacBook Pro 2020 and up (13in), MacBook Air 2020 and up, Mac Mini 2020 and up, iMac 24in 2020 and up.
Startech DK30C2DPEP or StarTech DK30CHDDPPD
$$$ Option E — You have a Mac with an Intel, M1 Pro, or M1 Max chip
Models: MacBook Pro 14in 2021 and up. (The ones in option D are also compatible, but more expensive.)
StarTech TB3CDK2DHUE , Elgato Thunderbolt 3 or Anker 777
Bonus option — a more affordable alternative: Anker Adapter
MMO’s choice: Targus DOCK190
As always, don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any comments or questions.
The MMO Techno team