docking station – Page 2

IOGear Quantum Thunderbolt 3 Docking Station Pro 85 review

What is it?

The Quantum T3 is a desktop docking station for USB-C computers that adds additional ports and functionality all through a single USB-C connection.

Hardware specs

Front connections: 2 USB ports (USB-A 3.1 and USB-C)
Back connections: Gigabit Ethernet, USB-A 3.1, 3.5mm Audio in, 3.5mm Audio out, 2 USB-C, Displayport and DC power
Dimensions: 22 x 8.1 x 2.5cm
Video capability: DisplayPort 1.2 (up to 4K@60Hz with single video stream), Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C port), up to 5K@60Hz on DP Alt mode with single stream or 4K@60Hz with dual streams

What’s in the box?

Quantum Thunderbolt 3 Docking Station Pro 85
Thunderbolt 3 cable
AC power adapter
Quickstart guide & warranty card

Design and features

The Quantum 3 is a beautiful piece of equipment that looks at home with current computers of the aluminum variety and provides all kinds of connectivity to your USB-C computer at your workstation. The main body is aluminum with plastic used for the inset back connector panel and the end panels which sport a cool repeating triangular relief pattern.

As you can see in the next photo, there are also connections for gigabit ethernet, USB 3.0, microphone, headphones, USB-C, displayport and power.

On the front of the unit there is a pair of connectors, one for USB-C and one for USB 3.0.

Setup

Connect to Quantum 3 to its power supply and then the included USB-C cable to your computer. It’s important to note that the first one with the [ ] around the port has a higher throughput and 85 power supply for connecting to your computer, supporting the other functions through the hub and keeping your computer charged without a separate power cable.

All that’s left is connecting everything else you plan to use. I have an HP Envy ultrawide monitor that I selected specifically because it had USB-C input. What I found in initial use is that some of the other connections through the monitor like standard USB 3.0 accessories, required me to add another cable to my mac which is what I was trying to avoid in the first place.

With the Quantum 3, I connected a DisplayPort cable to the monitor along with a USB 3.0 cable and that’s it. The office I work in is all wifi, so I haven’t had to try the gigabit ethernet yet. Maybe in the new office starting next week.

Performance

It’s really quite amazing how seamless a product can be when it does exactly what it’s supposed to. It’s not like I forget that it’s there, but at the same time, I don’t have to monkey with it. With the connections described above, I’m able to set my Mac down, connect a single USB-C cable and everything just works and my Mac is charging. The headphone amp that’s connected to the monitor with USB works perfectly. The monitor’s built-in pop-up camera works perfectly (previously required an extra cable to the mac). I can go on, but you get the picture.

I’ve got the Quantum 3 tucked into a pocket of my desk riser where I have access to the front two ports should I need them and everything else is out of the way.

What I like

Simple set-up
It just works
Single connection to the computer (including charging!)

What needs to be improved

The cost is pretty steep (but less so when you factor in the cost of buying a second Mac power adapter)

Final thoughts

The Quantum 3 is a docking station that does exactly what it’s intended to do. It’s not inexpensive but is incredibly well made and will likely outlast a couple of laptops. If the idea of a single connection to your computer gets you excited, this is a great solution. I’m at my desk a lot during the day, but it is generally in fits and starts and that means a lot of plugging and unplugging. The Quantum 3 solved that with style and now the power adapter that came with my Mac can stay in my backpack.

Price: $299.95
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by IOGear.

The post IOGear Quantum Thunderbolt 3 Docking Station Pro 85 review appeared first on The Gadgeteer.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: docking station

IOGear Quantum Thunderbolt 3 Docking Station Pro 85 review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 3, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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IOGEAR Compact USB-C Docking Station with PD Pass-Thru review

We recently bought a new Apple MacBook Pro for my wife. It’s a fantastic device, but one of its limitations (I’m sure Apple would say advantages) is that basically the only ports on it are four USB-C ports. I do like USB-C and I’m looking forward to the day when old-school USB is phased out of devices far and wide in favor of USB-C, but until then I thought it would be useful to have a way to connect non-USB-C-cable based peripherals to our new MacBook Pro. The IOGEAR Compact USB-C Docking Station with PD Pass-Thru is one way to address this. Let’s check it out! Gadget on!

What is it?

IOGEAR Compact USB-C Docking Station with PD Pass-Thru is a compact docking station that is intended to effectively turn your laptop into a full-functioning desktop workstation. It includes a total of 10 ports and slots for various cable an memory card types and can also perform pass-through charging of your laptop.

Design and Features

As mentioned above, the IOGEAR Compact USB-C Docking Station with PD Pass-Thru includes the following ports:

USB-C
Memory Card Reader for SD or MicroSD cards
USB 3.0 (Type A)
USB 3.0 (Type A)
USB 3.0 (Type A)
Gigabit Ethernet LAN
HDMI video
Mini DisplayPort video
VGA video
Headset/Microphone jack

Above, the front of the IOGEAR Compact USB-C Docking Station’s packaging. It includes an accurate photo of the product contained inside.

The rear of the IOGEAR Compact USB-C Docking Station’s package includes a detailed list of features include a list of all ports.

One thing I noticed when unboxing the Dock was that the tape seal had already been cut. I wondered if this was evidence that I had not received a new device as a review sample. I wondered this further when the Dock itself seemed to have some cosmetic scuffs on its exterior. In any case, it seemed to function just fine.

Above are the contents of the package, which are also listed below:

IOGEAR Compact USB-C Docking Station
Quick Start Guide booklet
Troubleshooting card

My initial impression of the Dock was that its aluminum case had a look and feel quite similar to an Apple MacBook laptop with its silver, matte-type texture. More detailed on this below.

In the closeup photo above, my wife’s new Apple MacBook Pro is on the left, and the Dock is on the right. As mentioned, both aluminum surfaces are very similar in appearance and texture, though I would note that the MacBook Pro is Space Gray in color; were it the Silver version, I think it would appear to match the Dock almost identically.

Above is a closeup of the USB-C docking interface cable that is intended to be plugged into your laptop. This single cable provides all of the port replication of all peripherals plugged into the Dock.

As seen above, the underside of the Dock includes symbols adjacent to each of the ports to indicate their compatibility.

The underside of the Dock also has a silicone foot at each corner, as shown above, to keep it from sliding around while sitting on your desk or another surface.
The Dock has ports on three sides (the USB-C docking interface cable that plugs into the laptop protrudes from the fourth side). The side depicted above has, from left to right, MicroSD card slot, standard SD card slot, and USB-C port. This single USB-C port is intended to plug your laptop’s power supply into, to enable Power Delivery Charging (PD Pass-Thru) while the Dock is connected to your laptop and in use, with up to 60W of charging power. Also, when you are away from home, the bus-powered Dock does not need a power supply to connect your devices.
The next side of the Dock includes the ports shown above: HDMI video, VGA video, Ethernet LAN and Mini DisplayPort video.
The final side of the Dock includes a headphone/microphone port and three USB 3.0 (Type A) ports. Per the port symbols on the underside of the Dock, the USB 3.0 port to the far right also has a small lightning bolt near the USB port symbol, indicating that this USB port can be used for fast charging of phone, tablet or another device.Above, from left to right I’ve placed a MicroSD memory card, a standard SD memory card, and the laptop’s power supply USB-C cable into the Dock.
Next up, I’ve inserted, from left to right, an HDMI video, a VGA video cable, and an Ethernet LAB cable. The fourth port is a Mini DisplayPort, but I don’t own such a cable to illustrate this, so you’ll have to use your imagination here. The Dock gives the ability to connect two additional monitors (both at 1080p resolution) alongside your laptop’s monitor if using a Windows laptop, or a single additional monitor (at 4k Ultra HD resolution) alongside your laptop’s monitor if using an Apple laptop.
Finally, in the photo above, I’ve inserted an Apple Earpods cable and three old-style USB cables: one for an external hard drive running Apple’s Time Capsule backup software, one for a keyboard and one for an iPhone.

Above, a photo of the Dock connected to our MacBook Pro, and with multiple devices connected to the Dock. The Dock is very compact and easy to use; once all of your peripherals are plugged into the Dock, the Dock’s single USB-C cable is all that is needed to quickly add a significant amount of desktop-like capability to your laptop.

Positives

10 ports and slots allow a variety of peripherals to be connected to your laptop quickly and easily
Pass-through charging allows your laptop to be charged while still utilizing any of the connected peripherals
Slim, compact design that mimics the Apple MacBook in appearance and style

Negatives

None

Final Thoughts

We found the IOGEAR Compact USB-C Docking Station with PD Pass-Thru to be quite useful alongside my wife’s new Apple MacBook Pro. It provides a quick and easy way to attach multiple peripherals with a single USB-C docking interface connection. We were able to routinely connect an external backup hard drive as well as an HD TV as an external monitor and a keyboard on occasion, and all while continuing to charge the laptop’s battery. At around $100, this dock isn’t necessarily cheap, but compared to other, similar docks, it seems to give a lot of features for the price.

Price: $99.99 MSRP
Where to Buy: Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by IOGEAR.

LandingZone 12-inch MacBook docking station review

I’m not a stranger to LandingZone docking stations. I had their 15-inch MacBook Pro docking station on my Julie’s Favorite Gear page for 3 years. But then I downsized from the 15-inch MacBook Pro to a 12-inch MacBook and could no longer use it. To make matters worse, a docking station is a must-have accessory for the 12-inch MacBook because it only has one USB Type-C port that is used for everything. Luckily, LandingZone makes a docking station for Apple’s smallest MacBook. Let’s take a look.

What is it?

It’s a docking station for the 12-inch Apple MacBook (released in 2015 – present) that provides 11 ports and connections to address the fact that the MacBook only has one USB Type-C port that is used for connecting devices and for charging the laptop.

Design and features

The docking station is made of shiny white plastic with two connectors that plug into the MacBook when it’s docked. There’s the USB Type-C connector that plugs into the left side of the laptop and a 3.5mm headphone plug on the right side of the MacBook.

The right side of the docking station slides out to make it easier to position the MacBook in the docking station.

The ports are located on the back edge of the docking station. From left to right, there’s a Kensington security slot that can be used to secure the laptop with a cable, a 3.5mm audio out port, Gigabit Ethernet port, USB 3.1 Type-C high speed charging port, another USB 3.1 Type-C port, 2 USB 2.1 ports (one is a high speed charging port), an HDMI port (that supports 4K monitors at a resolution of 3840 x 2160) and the USB 3.1 Type-C port that charges the MacBook when it’s docked. You’ll need to use your MacBook power adapter for charging.

The docking station is designed so that you can only charge one smart device at a time and it is not recommended to plug in more than two high power or high transfer devices at once like a smartphone and external hard drives.

I’ve been using the LandingZone 12-inch MacBook docking station with an LG 29-inch monitor which plugs into the HDMI port on the back of the dock.

To dock the laptop, you just slide out the right side of the dock.

Then you plug the audio plug on the right side of the docking station into the MacBook’s audio port on the right side and line up the USB Type-C connector on the left side and slide both ends securely in place.

Here is my 12-inch MacBook docked and ready to be used. There’s a small status LED on the left side of the docking station near the USB Type-C port. This LED shows the MacBook’s battery charging status. It will glow yellow while charging and green when the battery is fully charged.

Undocking is just as easy. All you do is press the release lever on the left side of the dock which pushes the MacBook to the right and disengages the USB Type-C connector from the left side of the laptop. You can then slide out the right side of the docking station to unplug the audio connector. The docking and undocking procedure is smooth and easy.

The LandingZone 12-inch MacBook docking station even has a built-in card reader for SD and microSD cards. But from my testing, it looks like you can only use one of the slots at a time. If you have a card in the SD card slot and insert one in the microSD card slot or vice versa, it will automatically eject the other card.

During my testing of the LandingZone 12-inch MacBook docking station, I had no problem using it with a monitor and a USB dongle connected keyboard. I also used the high-speed USB Type-C port to charge my Pixel 2 XL and connected other accessories with no issues.

Final thoughts

I love my 12-inch MacBook but connecting accessories and peripherals is a pain in the rear due to it only having one port. the LandingZone 12-inch MacBook docking station comes to the rescue and solves that issue easily and elegantly. This docking station gets two thumbs up from me and easily earns a spot on my favorite gear page.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by LandingZone. Please visit their site for more info and Amazon to order.

Product Information

Price:	$229.00
Manufacturer:	Landingzone
Retailer:	Amazon
Requirements:	12-inch Apple MacBook 2015 – present
Pros:	Adds multiple ports to the 12" MacBook Easy to use
Cons:	Can only use one of the card reader slots at a time

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: docking station, Macbook accessory

LandingZone 12-inch MacBook docking station review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 7, 2017 at 1:26 pm.

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Samsung Dex Station review

Ever since the first days of the Palm Pilot PDA, I’ve wanted a small handheld device that would function as my phone, my camera, and my desktop computer. One device to rule them all!

Companies like Motorola with their Atrix phone flirted with this concept six years ago, and I’ve even tried turning an Android smartphone into a pseudo computer by connecting a mouse and a keyboard using an OTG adapter. With the right apps, it’s possible to get real work done with this type of setup but working on a phone’s small display is pretty painful.

Samsung has a solution for this. It’s the DeX Station. Verizon Wireless sent me one to test. Let’s check it out.

What is it?

The Samsung DeX Station is a docking station for the Samsung Galaxy S8, S8 Plus, and Note8 smartphones. It allows connection to an HDMI display, a keyboard, mouse, and speakers, to turn the smartphone into a multi-windowed multi-tasking desktop workstation.

What’s in the box?

DeX Station
AC adapter
USB Type C cable

Design and features

The DeX Station is a black plastic module that reminds me of a bulging hockey puck.

The top cover slides open and turns into a backrest for the phone which plugs into the exposed USB Type-C connector.

The lid has a built-in fan that turns on to keep the phone cool when it is working hard from displaying multiple windows and apps.

Verizon sent me a Samsung Galaxy S8 to test with the DeX and it fit in the docking station perfectly. The DeX will also work with the Samsung Galaxy Note8, but it won’t work with other smartphones that have a USB Type-C connector. The DeX Station is only compatible with Samsung Galaxy S8 and newer devices.

Along the base of the DeX, you’ll find two USB 2.0 ports that can be used to connect a keyboard and a mouse. There’s also an Ethernet port if you need a hard wire into your network.

Next to the Ethernet port is an HDMI port and a USB Type-C port which is used with the included AC adapter to power the DeX.

Setup

Hooking up the DeX Station is simple as long as you have a monitor with an HDMI input and an HDMI cable. I connected the DeX to an LG 29″ monitor. I also connected the Samsung Galaxy S8 to a Logitech K780 keyboard using a USB dongle, and I paired a Microsoft Bluetooth mouse to round out the setup.

When connecting the S8 to the DeX connected to the monitor, you’re given the option to mirror the display as shown above.

Or you can go full screen which effectively turns the smartphone into a desktop computer that can multi-task with multi-windows, a taskbar, app shortcuts, etc. The effect is pretty awesome and really made me feel like my one-device-to-rule-them-all gadget daydream had finally come true.

Launching the Chrome browser really feels like you’re surfing on your laptop or desktop and you forget that you’re using a smartphone. You can do multiple things at once like having multiple tabs open in the browser while updating files through the Play store.

My first gotcha was noticing that Gmail through the Chome browser showed the mobile version of the site instead of the desktop version which I prefer.

I tried requesting the desktop version through the browser settings and tried using an incognito window too but didn’t have any luck.

To get around this issue I tried the Samsung browser and discovered that it does allow you to load the desktop version of Gmail. Yay! The desktop version of Gmail lets me have my multiple inboxes and stars just like working on my Mac or Windows machine. This is a big deal for people like me who get eleventy billion emails a day.

Although the DeX desktop doesn’t look like your phone, notifications still come in like normal and can be accessed in a panel on the bottom right corner of the display.

You can also see thumbnails of open apps to easily switch between them.

There’s also a launcher screen with all your installed apps listed for easy launching.

And there’s a nice big settings picker window.

Working through a browser feels very much like you’re working on a laptop or desktop computer. But when you try to use some of your favorite apps, you’ll start running into issues because they probably won’t work in full-screen mode like you’d expect and want with this type of setup.

Examples of this include Words With Friends, which launches in a phone-sized window that cannot be resized.

The Netflix app has the same problem. What’s even worse is that I couldn’t get the Netflix app to load a video. It would stay on the loading screen forever. But if I tried using my iPhone to watch the same video that I was trying to pull up on the S8 connected to the DeX, it popped up just fine when using the same WiFi connection.

The Samsung internet browser usually works the best to go to the web versions of apps and services vs. the mobile apps that you have installed on the phone. So I thought I could get Netflix to work that way, but it just showed a blank black screen.

I also tried the Chrome browser but it would just launch the Netflix app.

Some apps won’t launch at all when connected to the Dex Station like Verizon’s Messages+ app and even worse, the Firefox browser won’t work at all.

However, you can use Samsung’s messages app to send SMS messages while connected to the DeX.

A few other things that I noticed:

Right mouse click is supported with Dex optimized apps.
Double-clicking the mouse to select a word in the Chrome browser in an edit window will not work but it does work in the Samsung browser.
Trying to edit images in Google Photos just brings up a blank black screen.

Who is this product for?

I was excited to try the Samsung DeX Station, but after I used it, I started thinking what I would use it for and came to the conclusion that it would not be useful for someone like me who already has a laptop at work, a laptop at home, and a tablet.

The DeX would be perfect for a minimalist who has no extra room or need for multiple computers but does have an HDMI display, a keyboard, and a mouse to use when a full-screen desktop experience is required.

I can imagine a time in the not too distant future where our smartphones really WILL be our only devices and we’ll have docks like the Samsung DeX Station at our day job and our home.

Final thoughts

I enjoyed using the Samsung Dex Station and am excited for the future of devices like this one. I would happily go down to one device if the OS on that one device was beefed up a little more, all apps took advantage of full-screen mode, and there were docks to turn the phone into a laptop and a tablet too. I think it’s just a matter of time and I can’t wait.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Verizon Wireless. Please visit their site for more info.

Product Information

Price:	$149.99
Manufacturer:	Samsung
Retailer:	Verizon Wireless
Pros:	Easy to use Turns the phone into a desktop computer Multi-window, multi-tasking Phone charges while docked
Cons:	Most apps appear in small phone sized windows that can't be resized Netflix would not work Some apps won't work at all while docked in the DeX

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Android, docking station, HDMI

Samsung Dex Station review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 27, 2017 at 4:04 pm.

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