Review on TDisplay Laptop Docking Station: 15-in-1 Triple Display Adapter for MacBook and USB C Laptops, with 2 HDMI, 1 DP, 5 USB 3.0 Ports, Type C PD 3.0, SD/TF Card Reader, Gigabit Ethernet, and Audio by Ivan Gee

c docking station for your pc in this price range just buy this one. The range of functions is better than anything else in this price range. And now even more detailed. Like most of us during the pandemic, I'm working from home most of the time. In my work, I benefit greatly from having multiple monitors. It gives me a headache when I have a whole bunch of USB adapters plugged into my laptop to get more than one external display. And since this is for my laptop, there are usually at least 5 cables to connect when I get home with my laptop (power, HDMI, USB to HDMI converter, mouse and external hub). I wanted something cleaner for my Dell Latitude E5580 running Windows 10, possibly with an option to add a third external monitor, with an option to use it in the future as laptop manufacturers continue to remove ports from laptops. Sign in to the TDisplay dock. First impression: The unpacking process is nothing special. You get the dock itself, a power plug and USB Type-C to USB Type-C cable, and a manual. Tip: Install the Display Link driver package BEFORE connecting it to your computer. The dock is slim and light, about the size of my palm (or about the size of 3-4 decks of cards). Installation: As mentioned before, make sure to install the driver package before plugging it into your computer. It would have saved me a bit of a headache I was having. When you turn on the docking station for the first time, it turns on and then turns off. This confused me before I looked into the manual. The broken English in the manual seemed to indicate that this was expected. I turned it off and then I pressed and held the power button and the little light came on. Also, the fact that this light is a tiny soft white light is a welcome change from the ubiquitous piercing blue light we've found in electronics. From there, it's as easy as just plugging the hub into your laptop's USB Type-C port and adding the devices you use. My specific use case involves 3 monitors and multiple USB devices. For the first time, I can recommend adding monitor connections one at a time, just in case you run into problems. I couldn't see the HDMI-1 at first, but I suspect that was because I was rushing to get things connected with excitement. Advantages: - 3 displays. Not everyone will use this amount, but it's very nice to have everything. Also, HDMI-1 is 4k if you want more pixels. All 3 ports work as expected and even work with a range of adapters (HDMI->DVI, DP->DVI) - Gigabit RJ-45 port. Not useful for everyone, but as manufacturers continue to remove ports, this is no longer enough for many laptops. Works as expected - headphone jack. For the same reason as the RJ-45 connector, I expect it to be removed from laptops in the future. Nice to have. It's not necessary for me at the moment. 100W PD port. I cannot confirm this as my current laptop (Dell Latitude E5580) still has the standard charger. However, that was one of the reasons I bought this dock, unlike others that just transfer everything through the traditional USB Type-A connector. It was a forward-thinking decision, and the company purposely paid a few bucks more for it. 100W should be more than enough for future use to charge a Type-C laptop and power all attached peripherals. SD card and micro SD card reader. It's great, especially the micro SD reader. We've broken all our houses to find that stupid micro SD card to card adapter from your GoPro/phone so you can put something on or take it off. The size. It's nice and small. Given the nice form factor, it shouldn't take up much space. Considering the size, I expected it to get a little warm, especially with all the electrical transformation required to drive 3 displays. It's warm to the touch, but nowhere near as hot as the USB to HDMI converter I've used before. This indicates continued use as cooler electronics tend to last longer. Cons: - USB ports. While all of the included USB ports are USB 3.0 or higher (nice touch), there are only 4 in total, of which 3 are Type A and 1 Type C. I still have to use a hub for the rest of my devices. but I think it's an extreme case. Most people just need to connect a mouse and maybe 1 or 2 other USB devices and maybe charge their phone with it. If I were to make a request here it would be to add one more connector of each type - headphone jack. While I'm glad they include one, I did notice a slight lag in audio playback. Not much, but a little noticeable. I'll fix it if it continues or if I spot it as a habitable item that I end up not noticing. - Strength. Because it uses its own large barrel connector, it takes up space on the power strip. I wonder if the manufacturer could have used the QC connector to supply that 12V, freeing up space on the power strip and making it easier for the customer to replace the plug if it becomes damaged. -Mark. The labels on the back of the device where the displays are located are confusing and misleading. The first HDMI is actually 4K, but it's called DP (DisplayPort) when it's actually HDMI. The second 2 displays are labeled 2K and USB, although they're really just 1080P and HDMI on one and DisplayPort on the other. - Manual. I understand this is an offshore production and the manual is probably a direct translation from another language, but it's a bit hard to understand in English. The manufacturer would do well to correct this version for the English market. - Android. I couldn't get it to work with my Samsung Note 9. It was something I played around with and didn't need. Final Thoughts: This looks like a decently built, engineered, and inexpensive docking station. There are a few features on this station that I don't currently use, but I expect they will all be needed in the future as laptops adapt and change their features. It's small enough to pack up and leave in a laptop bag (except for the power adapter). It's about on par with some of the more established brands. If you're looking at this, you're probably also thinking of something like the Dell VisionTek VT4000. It has more options if you can just live with a 1x4K display instead of the 2 that VisionTek supplies, as well as 4 USB ports (1 type C) as opposed to the 6 VisionTek has (no type). C). If you found this helpful please mark it as such so I know people are really interested in this level of detail and also to make it easier for other people to find this review. I'll update this in 6 months with any glitches or issues I haven't noticed yet, but for now it's definitely meeting my expectations. *Disclaimer: I was contacted about a review of this product. I paid for it with my own money and this review contains my own opinion. I was planning to buy the docking station anyway.*