The StarTech Twin Laptop computer USB-C KVM Dock doesn’t give away a lot from its identify, nevertheless it’s an impressively helpful docking station for these juggling a number of machines. StarTech’s dock permits you to change host units on the press of a button, reassigning your KVM (keyboard, video, and mouse) to a different machine to hit the bottom operating at a separate workstation.
It’s helpful, nevertheless it’s additionally very area of interest — with this accent probably shining its brightest in an workplace or IT setting. It’s with that objective in thoughts that I can forgive its unassuming appears to be like, however do the remainder of the StarTech Twin Laptop computer USB-C KVM Docking Station’s options show that we shouldn’t choose a dock by its cowl? Let’s discover out.
StarTech Twin-Laptop computer USB-C KVM Dock: Value and availability
The StarTech Twin-Laptop computer USB-C KVM Dock is obtainable for a staggering $314.99 from StarTech’s official web site or a considerably much less mighty $296.76 from Amazon.
Docking stations can get costly, however StarTech’s $366 valuation appears absurdly excessive for what’s on supply. Compared, you would lay your palms on Plugable’s Thunderbolt 4 & USB4 Quad Show Docking Station — which options extra ports at as much as 4 instances the velocity of StarTech’s dock for simply $299.
Whereas its distinctive dual-host design is useful, I’m unsure I (or anybody) can justify such a steep price ticket until it’s an absolute must-have dock for the duty at hand.
StarTech Twin-Laptop computer USB-C KVM Dock: Design
StarTech’s docking station shouldn’t be probably the most appealing-looking accent I’ve come throughout. Its cumbersome, plastic chassis doesn’t encourage a lot awe, that’s for sure. The big fonts labeling the ports, uninspired chassis, and lack of premium polish don’t depart a lot room to reward the docking station. Nevertheless, I do respect the rear-facing host ports and color-accurate USB ports.
If it wasn’t for the truth that USB-C got here out in 2014, I’d have been completely satisfied to imagine this was a tool from 1997 — a minimum of then I might give it some credit score for being silver and never adhering to that terrible 90s tech beige.
For the variety of ports on supply, StarTech’s docking station is pretty massive, measuring 8.8 x 3.5 x 1.6 inches in dimension. That’s a substantial quantity of actual property to take up on a desk — particularly in the event you additionally want to accommodate two laptops facet by facet. Nevertheless, that bulk doesn’t translate into weight (probably because of the plastic construct) with the dock weighing simply 14.2 ounces.
The dock’s gentle weight isn’t the one advantage of its plastic chassis, because it additionally proves to be good at managing the gadget’s general thermals, with vents alongside the dock’s base providing greater than sufficient airflow, too.
Whereas I couldn’t name it premium, that’s to not say the dock’s chassis is by any means low cost. There are some curves and slopes occurring right here with the dock’s corners, and a carved edge across the lip of the lid does encourage a deep curiosity in me to see what occurs if I wedge a screwdriver within the hole and attempt to pop the “lid” off to see inside.
Nevertheless, I’d have a reasonably troublesome time with it, contemplating how sturdy it’s. It could be plastic, nevertheless it’s bend-resistant, providing subsequent to no flex below strain, and more likely to effortlessly survive any knocks or bumps it could encounter at a busy workstation.
StarTech Twin-Laptop computer USB-C KVM Dock: Ports and connectivity
StarTech’s dock can play host to 2 USB-C laptops concurrently with a mixed Energy Supply output of 135W (95W to the energetic host and 45W to the standby host). Whichever gadget is at the moment energetic shall be granted a mixture of 10 USB, show, and audio ports to utilize together with two DisplayPort 1.4 outputs that may help exterior displays at as much as 4K resolutions.
Switching units between main and standby modes is so simple as urgent the “Choose” button on the entrance of the dock— immediately swapping your standby machine in your main together with all 10 ports and show outputs. Let’s check out these ports in additional element.
The entrance of the dock options an array of USB and audio ports together with:
- 1 x Sort-C USB 3.2 Gen 2 port (10Gbps)
- 2 x Sort-A USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (10Gbps)
- 2 x Sort-A USB 2.0 ports (480Mbps)
- 1 x 3.5mm microphone jack
- 1 x 3.5mm headphone jack
Wanting on the rear of the dock, we discover the host, energy, and show ports together with:
- (Host 1) Sort-C USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps, as much as 95W/45W of Energy Supply)
- (Host 2) Sort-C USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps, as much as 95W/45W of Energy Supply)
- (Energy) DC-in (20V, 9A)
- 2 x DisplayPort 1.4 outputs (helps shows as much as 4K@60Hz)
- 1 x Gigabit Ethernet port (RJ45)
StarTech’s dock additionally options two lock slots on the left-hand facet able to housing Kensington, Noble Wedge, and Nano safety locks for elevated desktop safety.
It’s not a horrible number of ports, nevertheless it’s certainly not intensive — missing SD card readers, non-DisplayPort video options, and any front-facing energy supply for charging extra units comparable to a telephone or pill. As soon as once more, the Twin-Laptop computer USB-C dock makes its desired utilization abundantly clear, it’s strictly enterprise on this one. No frills, bells, or whistles.
StarTech Twin-Laptop computer USB-C KVM Dock: Efficiency
If you happen to’re the multi-machine, multitasking type then StarTech’s dock affords the invaluable resolution of a fast change button to shift all of your peripherals and show backwards and forwards with ease — although you will want to do a little bit of prep work first in the event you’re not utilizing a Home windows gadget. Fortunately it is a easy case of navigating to StarTech’s web site and downloading the gadget drivers for a fast set up. After which, you’re good to go!
I’ve been making use of StarTech’s Twin-Laptop computer dock for the higher a part of every week as I juggle backwards and forwards between my work and private laptop computer all through the day. The dock’s main characteristic, permitting me to modify my peripherals backwards and forwards with out twiddling with wires, was a blessing. It supplied me a fast approach to keep on the ball whereas switching between duties and machines with ease.
Nevertheless, I don’t have the most important of desks, and after a short time, I discovered becoming all the pieces on my desk without delay to be extra disturbing than anything. I’d ultimately slip again into the behavior of ditching my mouse and keyboard fully to make use of every laptop computer’s deck as a substitute — immediately diminishing a lot of what made the StarTech dock so helpful.
That being mentioned, I used to be nonetheless capable of make use of the dual-host characteristic to shortly share information between units by making use of exterior storage. Loading information onto a drive and hitting the “Choose” button on the entrance of the dock allowed me to immediately retrieve them onto one other gadget with none trouble. It was fairly speedy too due to the Sort-A USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports on the entrance of the dock.
The actual fact each laptops may very well be charged without delay was one of the vital spectacular options of StarTech’s dock. I used to be free to ditch the charging cables fully, realizing that each my units might stay topped up all through the day. Whereas I would’ve ditched the peripherals, I made loads of use of the dock’s dual-host operate to handle which laptop computer received a large cost enhance at anyone time.
After someway managing to seek out the area on my desk to suit a pair of exterior displays, I used to be lastly capable of take a look at the Twin-Laptop computer dock’s video output. And all the pieces carried out as marketed. Each screens had been capable of output at 4K with refresh charges of 60Hz. There was no lag or interference to be discovered with, both, and switching backwards and forwards between laptops was a speedy course of that hardly registered as a delay in getting issues carried out.
Backside line
StarTech’s Twin-Laptop computer USB-C KVM Dock was a pleasure to make use of, although I wouldn’t have been towards utilizing it at an even bigger desk in an effort to make full use of its multi-host performance — however that’s on me. For the instances I did make use of it, it labored flawlessly and proved to be a very helpful characteristic when managing a full workstation.
The dock’s notable Energy Supply and help for high-resolution exterior shows can be value mentioning. And I’d be remiss to not point out that regardless of the dock’s stable efficiency, it by no means grew to become a sweltering mass of scorching plastic. StarTech’s dock persistently maintained snug temperatures if I ever wanted to seize maintain of it to modify out equipment (which, given its dual-laptop design, wasn’t usually).
Nevertheless, the dock’s largest downfall is in its design and value. For the value of StarTech’s dock, I’d anticipate a a lot quicker and extra premium-built gadget in return. Its restricted port choice, cumbersome design, and USB-C limitations make it a troublesome promote — however to resolve a distinct segment want, it may be the best resolution for some.
