The Techly Docking Station is a real surprise. We tried it, in fact, to test its qualities in the context of an examination for the best productivity workstation with a laptop, but in fact the stand turned out to be much richer and more versatile than the presentation images let on.
Much more than a Docking Station
What one ends up with is, depending on one’s point of view, a 2-in-1 o one 9-in-1, with all the richness that the promiscuity of the two situations is able to offer. The product, in fact, presents itself first and foremost as an elegant laptop stand, foldable through a solid hinge located on the long side, useful for positioning the laptop according to the angle that is best preferred. The support allows you to bring the display closer to your face (thus being able to maintain a better posture) and facilitate typing, as well as promoting heat dissipation, thus promoting cooling and performance of the device in use.
The body is equipped with various rubber pads that prevent the laptop from slipping and increase the grip on the support surface, so that you can work on a sufficiently solid and stable workstation. The body, in aluminum alloy, is very thin and light, with a closing mechanism that completely eliminates the presence of the support foot and allows everything to be easily stored inside any backpack. The rotation hinge is extremely rigid, showing right from the tactile sensation how the support is able to provide maximum resistance to the weight of the laptop and can therefore guarantee maximum stability even after many hours of work. The device has dimensions equal to 270mm by 240 mm (just under an A4 sheet) for an overall weight that slightly exceeds 500 grams.
9-in-1
The logic of the 2-in-1 lies entirely in the connectors available on the same axis as the opening/closing hinge of the support. This second docking station function, in fact, enriches the support, ensuring that it becomes the added value of your productivity. The 2-in-1 thus automatically becomes a 9-in-1 if only one deepens knowledge of the individual connectors available, each of which is attributed to a specific function and therefore bears a precise utility.
The Docking Station is in fact able to make available:
- 1x Porta USB-C for connecting to a laptop with USB-C or Thunderbolt 3/4
- 1x HDMI (Resolution: 1 monitor – 1x HDMI up to 4K/30Hz)
- 1x RJ45: Gigabit Ethernet port with 10/100/1000 Mbps auto-sensing capability
- 2x USB-A USB3.2: Maximum transmission speed 5 Gbps
- 1x USB-C: Maximum transmission speed (PD100W+USB3.0) 5 Gbps
- 1x slot SD
- 1x slot microSD
- 1x Jack audio 3.5mm combo
The operation is simple: simply connect the laptop to the Docking Station and, completely automatically, it will be like having connected a module for Ethernet connection, an SD and microSD card reader, a USB duplicator, a converter for HDMI and output to a monitor and a cable to translate the USB-C into an audio jack. In short, it’s like enriching any laptop you have in use, especially if it’s the latest generation and therefore often lacks card readers, HDMI outputs or RJ45 connectors (all too bulky to be expected on increasingly thinner laptops). There is no need for support software, no drivers to install, nor any need to check for compatibility: whether you use a MacBook Pro, a Microsoft Surface, a Chromebook, a Lenovo laptop or a Dell multiplication of available ports will be accomplished.
Codenamed “ICA-NTB DOCK91“, the Docking Station is capable of supporting laptops up to 15.6 inches and up to 3kg in weight: it is completely clear, in short, how most of the devices on the market are covered.
But there’s more
If the characteristics of this stand are already ideal for quickly setting up a workstation anywhere and in a few seconds, everything becomes a real never-without again thanks to a feature that distinguishes everything compared to many other traditional stands. The part that encloses the connectors, in fact, can be used as a separate element through a simple maneuver that removes the cylinder from the rest of the stand. By doing so, what you have at your disposal is a real portable Docking Station, ergonomic, small in size and full of options. Once extracted, the standalone body of the Docking Station has a length of 17cm and a diameter that is just over 2cm: it can fit comfortably in any pocket or backpack, in short, even when the stand is not needed, but a Docking Station is nearby it can always prove to be a useful solution for any occasion.
Reinserting the cylinder into the stand is very easy since the attachment is guided by two special lateral inserts: in a second the 2-in-1 stand is reassembled and can once again become the ideal support for your laptop.
The price
When you equip yourself to work with a laptop, whether at your own fixed location or to be able to move the workstation to multiple desks, you quickly realize how necessary it is to enrich the laptop with a multiplicity of necessary external adapters and connectors for every need. For example, you will need an RJ45 connector to connect to a network, or you will need an external card reader to transfer images, finally you will need an adapter to be able to have multiple USB connections available at the same time. All these connectors not only represent a constant hassle of attaching and removing (since not everything can be connected at the same time on the few ports available on a traditional laptop), but also represent expensive accessory costs and additional bulk in the backpack.
That’s why the stand with Docking Station is a solution that allows you to have at the same time many options, reduced costs, lower volume occupied and greater order in daily operations. With just €114 (VAT included) it is possible to have this all-in-one and be able to start working in a new and efficient way. A 50cm USB-C cable is already included in the package: this is the starting point with which to connect the Docking Station to the PC and start the multiplication of utilities and peripherals.
Buy it on Techly
Techly is a reliable online store full of options, with all the best for setting up workstations and every useful option for offices, lighting, PCs, mobile, networking and much more: a “made in Europe” project, in short, capable of offering great opportunities through qualitative products and a simple and safe purchasing process.