Best "universal laptop dock"?

[ddrueding]

I have a situation where three different people with three different makes and models of laptops (2 XP, 1 7) will be sharing a desk.

I have limited experience with "universal laptop docks" that are basically USB hubs with integrated sound, NIC, and video. Anyone have a favorite? Tips? Other suggestions?

 

[Mercutio]

I've tried a couple from Belkin that have been less than impressive, but this one from Targus seems interesting, particularly since it has USB3 and HDMI support.

 

[ddrueding]

In my experience the fundamental problem with all of them is that they are separate devices. It doesn't forward the sound from your soundcard, it has another soundcard. Same with video and NIC. This can make settings complicated to get right to start.

 

[CityK]

I'm not clear on the topology you are attempting ... do you mean all three users will be at the desk at the same time? Or are they coming and going, and there would only be one user at the desk at any one time to which you wish to have connected to the docking station? (with this latter case being what I'd assume, as I can't see how you'd accomplish the former (which would lend itself to some sort of network attached solution)).

Here are some links:

• http://plugable.com/products/UD-160-A/
• http://plugable.com/products/UD-3000/
• http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/....detail?GroupID=460&Code=0A33942#.UIKxo9HsF_o
• http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/....detail?GroupID=460&Code=0A33970#.UIKxp9HsF_o
• http://us.toshiba.com/accessory/PA3927U-1PRP
• http://www.targus.com/us/productdet...evel1=products&cp=&bannertxt=Docking Stations
• http://www.targus.com/us/productdet...evel1=products&cp=&bannertxt=Docking Stations

The USB2.0 ones will be DL-165 based for video, whereas the USB3.0 units will all be DL-3xxx for video. (See: http://www.displaylink.com/)

The 3.0 models are interesting to me, but there is currently no Linux support for the DL-3xxx series. Bernie (from Pluggable) had an interesting comment about them too, which provides some food for thought: http://phoronix.com/forums/showthre...Linux-Multi-Seat-Computer&p=261076#post261076

 

[ddrueding]

Yup, multiple users at different times. And some of the laptops are not USB3.0. I ended up getting the Pluggable solution, I hope to get it installed Monday.