About 3 weeks ago I got my hands on the Startech 4-in-1 VGA USB Docking Station, a nice looking USB hub, VGA port and sound card. I say nice looking because it’s slim and black and matches the rest of my system, it’s also very easy to hide.
In a day and age where most people use their USB ports not only as a place to plug in their peripherals but a place to charge their phones, bluetooth headsets etc. Six USB ports on the back of the computer just isn’t enough anymore. So products like the Startech 4-in-1 VGA USB Docking Station will give you those extra USB ports.
But it doesn’t end at just the USB ports, you get an mic in and an audio out port for your mic or headphones, ethernet port, and you also get a VGA port to add an additional monitor.
When it came to being a USB port hub it worked great, I actually use it more as a charging station for my multiple smartphones and while connected they sync flawlessly with my system. It just sucks that Microsoft doesn’t allow for more than one phone to sync at a time.
The audio ports also work flawlessly, and when I have a pair of headphones plugged in the speakers go mute which is what they should do. I had an external sound card before that for some reason wouldn’t mute the sound from the speakers and it kind of defeated the purpose of having headphones on. But then again it might of been a Vista bug early on. But both the mic in and audio out ports work great on the Docking station. If you are curious the ports are 3.5mm.
The ethernet port also is great, it works just like any other ethernet port on your computer, and while the USB connection slowed my connection down a bit, it is a nice extra to have.
What impressed me the most was the VGA port, man you can literally add a second monitor with out having to buy a video card. While I wouldn’t game via that VGA port it sure as hell worked great and just for normal use it works great. It supports up to 1600x1200 32bit resolution. I also thought it would be difficult to set up. I don’t know if I got lucky or not but it just worked.
If you are curious how hard it was to set up the docking station, all I really had to do was plug it into the computer. I did have to install drivers but the entire process was painless.
Overall the Docking station is great and we award it our 5 Star Must Have Award.
Comments: (4)
Chris on Wed, Nov 19th, 2008 at 08:16 PM
Interesting device, could use this on my laptop that doesn’t have a VGA port and use it for a projector.
Angelina on Sun, Nov 23rd, 2008 at 04:17 PM
Got a link to purchase this, or for more information?
Chris on Mon, Nov 24th, 2008 at 02:16 PM
I checked newegg didn’t find it but it is at Startech.com
Michael on Mon, Nov 24th, 2008 at 02:17 PM
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