I have used other manufacturers' USB docking stations in the past. It was shorter. It feels a bit awkward at first, but it feels less awkward on desktop. Connect your devices, plug in the power and connect your laptop via a USB cable. Install the drivers for the docking station and you're good to go. Some users complain that they now need power and a USB cable instead of an old-school dock connector, but that's a minor complaint.
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