As computer manufacturers continue to streamline devices for portability, consumers who rely on peripheral gear and accessories often find themselves without enough USB or Thunderbolt ports.
Fortunately, docking stations and hubs serve as splitters for your existing ports, so you can plug in all of your external hard drives, USB devices, and other peripherals.
Common Types of Docking Stations and Hubs
The two most common types of docking stations and hubs are bus-powered and AC-powered.
Bus-Powered Docking Stations
Bus-powered docking stations use pass-through power for your devices. Whether you’re using a memory stick, a memory card reader, or a USB keyboard, the docking station’s connection to your computer’s port provides the power for each of your docked devices.
Bus power is far more streamlined and doesn’t require the use of an external outlet. So when you’re working on a laptop in a cafe, your laptop battery provides the power for each of your attached devices.
AC-Powered Hubs
AC-powered stations and hubs use outlet power to provide electricity for your attached devices. That means your peripheral devices won’t drain your laptop battery, and gear that requires lots of power will function as expected.
All of the Ports
Docking stations and hubs are useful accessories to carry because they ensure you have more than enough ports to connect all of your necessary devices. When your laptop only has one or two USB ports, you’ll be happy to have the extra capacity offered by a 4-port, 8-port, or even 10-port hub!
Helpful Features
With the right docking station or hub, you can adapt your existing ports to other varieties like USB-C or DisplayPort. Some hubs have fast-charging ports for topping up your cell-phone battery, illuminated ports for simple connections in darker environments, and switchable ports for expanding your capabilities or swapping out port types.
Leading Brands for Docking Stations and Hubs
If you ever purchased a bargain-brand docking station, you know the frustration of ports inexplicably dying or not recognizing a connected device. While bargain hunting is a natural impulse, it’s always best to plug expensive electronics into approved and vetted docking stations or hubs.
Choosing leading brands like Hyper, Dell, IOGEAR, J5 Create, Moshi, and StarTech ensures your devices receive consistent power for optimal performance. With a range of helpful and well-made docking stations to choose from, it’s easy to find the perfect choice to suit your daily computing needs.
