#CDOCK N TALK HOW TO#

For most users, however, this is just confusing: cables and devices that fit into the plug may or may not work.

You could argue that this is a good thing, because it makes the USB-C port flexible. There’s a lot of stuff a USB-C port might offer in addition to USB itself, and figuring out which devices and adapters work is entirely up to you. If you plan on connecting external displays to your laptop, you need to know which alternate mode your device supports and buy a display, or an adapter, that supports that mode. Your laptop has DisplayPort if there’s a D-Shaped icon next to your USB-C port, but it also might have it and not have that icon. There’s also DisplayPort, which is bundled with ThunderBolt 3 but also offered independently on some devices. There are a few other alternative modes: HDMI and MHL, for example, both allow certain kinds of displays to be connected. But only devices built to be compatible with Thunderbolt 3 can get those speeds, and even then only if you have a Thunderbolt 3 compatible cable. Thunderbolt 3, for example, is a collaboration between Intel and Apple that offers transfer speeds of 40 gbps-four times faster than the USB 3.1 standard-and support for two 4K displays connected to a single port. The complexity here is introduced by alternative modes, which use the USB-C form factor to offer additional features. If you need to use them for anything else, like connecting devices or transferring data, they will either not work, or will be extremely slow. And most of the cables on the market support USB 2.0 rather than USB 3.0 or 3.1.Įditor’s Note: we can’t overstate that last bit enough-most of the USB-C cables on the market are USB 2.0 rather than 3.1 because they are only designed for charging. That’s not quite how USB-C is: adapters and cables may or may not work, depending on what features your device offers. With USB-A, things were relatively simple: basically anything you could plug in would work.

#CDOCK N TALK HOW TO#

RELATED: Watch Out: How to Buy a USB Type-C Cable That Won't Damage Your Devices Not All USB-C Ports Are The Same Assuming a cable is fine because it fits is not good enough anymore-check out resources like to ensure your cable won’t cause any problems. But it’s important to keep in mind that not all USB-C cables are created equally, and it’s up to you as a consumer to make sure what you’re buying is compatible with your device. My colleague Chris outlined how to buy a USB-C cable that won’t damage your devices, so I won’t re-hash that too much here. The trouble is, it can be really hard figuring out which cables are good and which are not, unless you’re buying from a reliable vendor that provides good technical specifications. Explore the selection at Targus today.Now, to be fair, properly-made cables can have resistors inline to prevent this from happening. With our industry-leading warranty and Targus Advantage Rewards program to receive additional perks and discounts, we make shopping for mobile tech easy. Regardless of which USB-C docking station you choose, you can count on quality. This dock allows you to charge your smartphone, supports video conferencing using your front- or rear-facing camera, and features additional HDMI, USB, SD card, and Ethernet ports. For easy smartphone integration with your dock, check out our Universal USB-C Phone Dock. We have USB-C docks for all of your business, school, or travel needs. With docks having ethernet jacks, 4K video output, USB-A ports, and more, you can turn a simple laptop into a powerful workstation, complete with a keyboard, mouse, and monitor.Īre you starting your day at one office, attending a meeting at a second, and working from home in the evening? A USB-C docking station gives you the flexibility to connect your laptop to external monitors and peripherals with one single cable - making it easy for you to get work done. That’s why we have a range of USB-C docks with a variety of features that can turn your single USB-C port into many different ports. We work hard to make sure our products drive productivity and make the complex simple. Browse our selection to find the perfect solution for your needs and expand the functionality of your devices today. Luckily, you can turn one port into many with a USB-C docking station. USB-C Docking Stations For All of Your Tech NeedsĪs laptops transition to slimmer designs, they're eliminating the essential ports necessary to connect key peripherals.

Cdock n talk