To take advantage of the impressive processing capabilities of laptops available now, there are an amazing number and variety of peripheral devices that can be used to extend the tasks for which they can be used. These include Ultra High Definition Monitors, external storage devices, and a range of cameras, keyboards, mice, and other tools. Although some are connected wirelessly, the vast majority of external devices rely on a wired connection to the laptop.
In most cases, each device has a specialized cable to connect it to the laptop, and depending on its power requirements, it may also require an additional charging cable. For a power user, any configuration that connects them to all the devices they need can quickly create a network of cable clutter. The jumbles of cables and connectors look unprofessional, are hard to maintain, and take up valuable desk space. They can also create IT support challenges to identify the source of problems when connectivity errors occur.
Even a one-person business operating from a spare bedroom needs a technical infrastructure with the flexibility to grow and compete with much larger organizations. And no matter the size of an organization, technology choices need to support users without getting in their way.
With a Kensington Thunderbolt 3 Universal Docking Station, the only cable connected to a user’s laptop is a single Thunderbolt 3 cable. Everything else is connected to one of the ports on the Kensington Thunderbolt 3 Universal Docking Station. This means that cables can be routed and secured to stay out of the way and out of sight to improve both the appearance and the amount of useful space in a workspace.
When a user disconnects their laptop to take it to a meeting, home, or anywhere else, the monitor display, network connections, and other external devices remain securely connected to the Kensington Thunderbolt 3 Universal Docking Station. The next time they, or any other user, connects to the Kensington Thunderbolt 3 Universal Docking Station, the user will have immediate access to every connected external device without needing to waste a lot of time and effort trying to connect every device to the right cable and port connection in the correct sequence.
As the world leader in ergonomics, Kensington optimized the design of the Thunderbolt 3 Universal Docking Station for user comfort and flexibility and offers an option for zero-footprint mounting on the back of any VESA®-compatible external display. This puts the docking station and any cables and connectors out of the way and out of sight, while still giving a user complete access to every device and peripheral they need in order to be fully productive.
This is particularly valuable in environments that demand an ultra-streamlined clean desk environment, and those where desk space is at a premium. With the Kensington Thunderbolt 3 Universal Docking Station mounted to their monitor, a power user only needs space on their desk for their laptop, and every other inch of surface area can be used to make them more productive.
One situation where the advantages of this can be seen is a graphic designer who produces marketing materials in their home office and comes in to the corporate site periodically to collaborate with subject matter experts. The home office is tucked in a corner of the kitchen where clutters of cables would be both an eyesore and a distraction. To create high-quality work, the user has two HD monitors side-by-side so they can study the product and read email and existing collateral on one screen, and see the new product brochure they are designing in flawless detail on the second screen.
When they need to attend conference calls or collaborate by phone with the office, they can use a headset connected to the Kensington Thunderbolt 3 Universal Docking Station to eliminate any distracting background noise that comes from working at home. With the Kensington 3 Universal Docking Station mounted to the back of one of the monitors, all cables and connectors can be hidden behind the monitors to free up more desk surface area as usable workspace.
When the graphic designer comes in to the office, they can use a shared workspace in a collaboration area that has minimal desk area in front of any monitor available on a given day. With a single Thunderbolt 3 cable connected to the Kensington Thunderbolt 3 Universal Docking Station mounted on the back of the monitor, the graphic designer can share their product brochure in full detail and make immediate changes to reflect the comments and feedback of their co-workers. When they are done for the day, the graphic designer simply unplugs the Thunderbolt 3 cable from their laptop and goes home. They do not even need to remember to carry a power cable back and forth with their laptop.
The next blog will explore how the Kensington Thunderbolt 3 Universal Docking Station includes ports that support protocols in addition to Thunderbolt 3 to increase productivity, how it fits into the full suite of Kensington Security products, as well as how multiple Kensington Thunderbolt 3 Universal Docking Stations can be connected in a daisy-chain network for increased connectivity and flexibility.