[Lex Computer & Tech Group/LCTG] Looking for Docking station

[Robert Primak]

 USB-A is not suitable for a docking station for many reasons. There is not enough power from USB-A. USB-A only handles data and maybe power to some extent. It can't handle sound, power, charging, video, etc. All of which many USB-C ports do handle. 
This is why modern laptops have two USB-C ports. One is for charging, while the other can take on a hub, a dock, or a multi-function dock with its own charging. If you do get a USB-A hub and want to use it with hard drives (not just flash drives), you will need a powered hub with its own plug-in adapter. 
For an older laptop, I would not recommend a dock of any kind. And for USB-A ports, I do not recommend most hubs. Definitely use a self-powered hub for disk drives. 
HDMI can be branched using a hub, but the output may not be suitable for dual-monitor setups. Power and interrupts may not be right for such duplexing from an older laptop with only one HDMI port. The video built in to most older laptops also will not support dual monitors. 
-- Bob Primak 

    On Tuesday, April 25, 2023 at 03:18:18 PM EDT, George Gamota <ggamota at stma-llc.com> wrote:  
 
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Hi

I am looking to buy a docking station to match my laptop. The laptop (it is 4 years old) has no USB-c hubs, only USB-a and HDMI.

Any suggestions? It seems all the docking stations I looked at require a USB-c port.

George
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