Adrian Kingsley-HughesZDNET
One factor that each inventive skilled appears to be craving is extra ports. They wish to package out their system with a plethora of ports to allow them to have a number of shows, SD and microSD card readers, Ethernet, and so many USB-A and USB-C ports that they’re going to by no means must hot-swap a tool.
That is the place docks come into play, and Satechi makes a number of the greatest docks out there.
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A dock that I have been very keen to check is the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Professional. This dock has its personal energy provide and a big selection of ports. It is also been designed with inventive professionals in thoughts.
What number of ports? 16 in all, that is what number of.
ZDNET RECOMMENDS
Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Professional
A professional-grade 16-in-1 powerhouse providing a wealth of connection ports.
Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Professional Dock specs
2x DisplayPort2x HDMI 2.11x Thunderbolt 4 to host1x USB-C 3.2 10Gbps5x USB-A 3.2 (3x 10Gbps, 2x 5Gbps)1x USB 2.0 for charging as much as 7.5WSD and microSD card slots3.5mm Audio Jack In/OutEthernet 2.5GbpsKensington LockDC 20V predominant energy (included)Dimension: 195 x 105 x 47mmWeight: 693 grams
I have been desperate to get my arms on this dock and take a look at it as a result of I come throughout loads of these high-end docks that look good on paper, however fall quick whenever you push them arduous.
I’ve seen docks that appear to work nicely whenever you take a look at the ports singly, however efficiency drops by the ground whenever you connect a number of gadgets to it.
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As an example, I’ve seen docks struggling community dropouts, show points, and gadget disconnections once they’re pushed arduous. I’ve even had some crash and require disconnection from energy to convey them again to life.
Entrance ports on the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Professional.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
Given the pro-grade claims made by Satechi, together with the pro-grade worth, I used to be eager to see how the Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Professional carried out underneath a heavy load.
It carried out flawlessly.
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This is a dock that works simply as nicely with one gadget hooked up because it does with a dozen. I linked displays, exterior drives, and dongles, all whereas pushing loads of knowledge by the Ethernet port, and it did not break a sweat.
And it might maintain this form of workload for hours.
Rear ports on the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Professional.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
This dock has the capability to run as much as 4 shows at 4K 60Hz. However simply because the dock can, does not imply you must, as there are some caveats.
Now, that “as much as” is vital as a result of it does include limitations. Home windows PCs assist as much as 4 screens in prolonged mode as a result of it has assist for Multi-Stream Transport (MST).
For Mac customers, issues are a bit of extra restricted. Macs that assist Single Stream Transport (SST) can output video in prolonged mode to 2 screens and mirror the opposite two. M1 and M2 Macs solely assist one exterior monitor, that means just one single video group can be utilized at a time with output to at least one display in prolonged mode and one display in mirror mode.
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One other function I like about this dock is that it sits properly on a desk. Lots of docks are light-weight, and whereas this itself is not an indication of poor high quality, I discover that after getting a bunch of cables and gadgets hooked up, the dock now not sits on the desk. It is both levitating oddly, held up by the stiffness of the cables, or being dragged round.
This Satechi dock has loads of gravity to it, and its 1.5 kilos of weight mixed with the rubber ft maintain it planted on the desk. I additionally like that its energy is equipped by an influence adapter quite than a mains twine as a result of mains cables will be thick and unyielding.
The load of the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Professional works to its benefit.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
Additionally, having the ability provide separate retains the unit operating cooler. It is a bonus as a result of it not solely stops the dock from roasting your desktop but additionally helps stop pointless thermal put on and tear and instabilities that overheating causes.
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At $350, the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Professional is a dock for professionals needing pro-grade {hardware}, and it is {hardware} that lives as much as that “professional” tag. House customers can get away with the extra modest Satechi Slim Multiport Adapter (which is 30% off proper now) however in the event you depend on your dock and want one thing that is going to carry out reliably it doesn’t matter what you throw at it, that is the dock for you.
The extra I exploit this dock, the extra I really feel that it belongs on each inventive skilled’s desk.
It truly is the dock of my goals.