Laptop Docking station?

vash · vash's Garage

time to get serious working from home.

i have a docking station that came with my HP work laptop. i leave it at my work office where it is hooked up to two monitors. i dont use the laptop monitor.

at home, i just work off the laptop monitor. and frankly, it sucks. my wife feels the same way, so we are thinking we get an extra universal docking station, that is compatible with her DELL, and my HP. then we buy two, monitors to lay in wait.

neither one of us prefer working from home. we go into the office as often as we can. i think we can avoid both of us needing the home work station at the same time.

any suggestions that dont break the bank?

masraum · 12-20-2021, 07:04 AM

Are you talking about having one docking station that works for the Dell and the HP?

Are there universal docking stations (I wouldn't think so).

I think you would either need a docking station for each of your computers, or you may be able get a KVM that would work for both (they are usually just based on ports). I've always only had KVMs that supported one monitor, but I'm sure there are dual monitor KVMs out there. It would probably be dependent on the ports that your monitors and laptops had.
I would assume you should have at least 2 USBs (keyboard and mouse) and then dual video ports (2 input and 2 output).

masraum · 12-20-2021, 07:15 AM

This should get you started.
https://windowsreport.com/kvm-switch-multiple-monitors/ (for information)
With a docking station, you just drop the laptop on the plug and you're good to go. If you want one device for both of your PCs, then like I said, you'll probably have to use a KVM which will require you to plug multiple plugs from the KVM to the laptop each time you connect/disconnect.

Or you could go crazy and get a docking station for each laptop and then connect the docking stations to the KVM. That way you could just drop the laptop on the docking station (not multiple cable connections) but you would only need one keyboard, mouse and 2 monitors.

id10t · 12-20-2021, 07:23 AM

If you don't need true twin monitors you can simply plug in a keyboard, mouse, and second monitor. Or if you like your laptop keyboard and touchpad then just a second monitor.

True docking stations are usually model specific or at the least brand and model class specific since there is no standard on the layout of laptop ports....

Personally I'm not a fan of being able to take work "elsewhere" (ie, vacation) so I have desktop at work and desktop at home and I get to the work machine via VPN (well, ssh tunnel, same thing) and then work on work machine via RDP (well, xfreerdp2 but... again, same thing)

sc_rufctr · 12-20-2021, 07:47 AM

Assuming both laptops have USB-C. There are lots of options.

Google "Universal Laptop Docking Station".

fintstone · fintstone's Garage

I set up the exact same docking station as at work and buy the same laptop as I use at work (for personal work). I do have a wireless mouse and keyboard at home and two larger (27 inch) monitors. I put the same in each vacation home...so I have the same or better productivity as at work. When not working, I can swap the work laptop with mine and use the same setup.

island911 · 12-20-2021, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

Assuming both laptops have USB-C. There are lots of options.

Google "Universal Laptop Docking Station".

This. ^ If your laptops have USB-C charging ports (to charge the laptops) then these likely will be your one-plug docking solution (power plus all of your other comm thru that USB-C)

And skip the dual monitor thing. get a 3k or 4k monitor (30"-42") and be "future-proofed" for a while. - A typical HD monitor is at 2Mpix whereas a 4k is 8Mpix.

Neilk · 12-20-2021, 03:25 PM

Also get a wireless keyboard and mouse with different channels so when you plug into the USB-c dock, you won’t control each other’s laptops. Take a look at the Logitech mk850.

stomachmonkey · 12-20-2021, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neilk

Also get a wireless keyboard and mouse with different channels so when you plug into the USB-c dock, you won’t control each other’s laptops. Take a look at the Logitech mk850.

Concur

I standardized on Logitech keyboards and mice years ago.

Have my permanent Craft keyboards and a couple of lightweight portables.

I only buy and use the MX Master series mice.

Keyboards and mice can be paired with three separate PCs and if you use the unifying dongle will just move from one to the other as you mouse from one monitor to the next.

stomachmonkey · 12-20-2021, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

Assuming both laptops have USB-C. There are lots of options.

Google "Universal Laptop Docking Station".

Yup, small enough to slip in your pocket as well.

Aurel · Aurel's Garage

I asked the IT guy at work to give me an extra docking station for my hp laptop at home. Easy peasy no questions asked.

MBAtarga · 06:04 PM

$50 for this one - my company uses this USB-C hub model for several thousand HP and Dell laptops.
The only complaint I've got is the built in USB-C cable is only about 5 inches long - so it's not even long enough to sit completely behind the laptop with all of the other cables to be out of sight.

https://www.amazon.com/UtechSmart-Ethernet-Charging-Compatible-ChromeBook/dp/B07KYL58Q1/ref=asc_df_B07KYL58Q1/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=320276413343&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9808774758131760837&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9010764&hvtargid=pla-606951907174&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=63869878557&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=320276413343&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9808774758131760837&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9010764&hvtargid=pla-606951907174