I'm working from home with a MacBook, but my sister often takes over my desk for her Asus gaming laptop. This constant swapping of power cables, HDMI cords, and USB devices is really annoying! I'm looking for a docking station that can stay on the desk permanently and allows easy switching between macOS and Windows without the hassle of replugging everything. Ideally, it should support dual monitors, charge whichever laptop is connected, and keep our keyboard and mouse always ready to use, no matter who is working. Is there a dock that could meet these needs? I'd really appreciate any recommendations to help me manage the cables and restore my sanity!
5 Answers
I was in the same situation and ended up getting a Tobenone uds033c. It's great! My setup includes a MacBook Air and an Asus TUF Dash F15, and the dock switches between the two seamlessly. Both machines connect to my dual HDMI monitors right away, plus it has plenty of ports and can fast charge my phone or iPad while everything runs. It’s been smooth sailing for me!
Pretty much anything with USB-C will give you universal compatibility. Just double-check that both devices support ALT MODE on their USB-C ports, or you might not get monitor output. Also, MacBooks can be picky with adapters, so look for ones that specifically mention Mac compatibility.
Almost any USB 3.1+ or Thunderbolt dock should work fine. I've been using the Dell WD19 (the non-Thunderbolt one) with both MacBooks and PCs without any issues.
I have a Dell Thunderbolt 4 dock and use it with both a MacBook Pro M1 and a Dell G16 Windows laptop. There are some quirks—like with the Mac, since I use dual monitors, I have to connect my displays through two different cables—but overall, it works well! I just wish the Windows laptop could charge through the dock, but it’s not a dealbreaker.
Two cables are a bit of hassle, but having all displays working is worth it!
I’ve got a Dell dock from work, and it works great for both my work Mac and my old Windows machine. I even plugged in my personal Linux machine successfully. It’s relatively pricey, but it’s well-built and has plenty of ports to keep everything connected.
That sounds awesome! Glad to hear it works well without drama.