Daily life can be full of fluctuation and change these days, with multiple computers and laptops involved for many. For me, that includes a work laptop, my personal laptop and desktop (recently including the NUC Enthusiast), and occasionally my tablet running DeX.
What is it.
The DS-6000 is an easy station that can handle a lot. There’s a single USB-C cable to connect to your target devices, be it a laptop, desktop or tablet.
From a connection point of view, stacks are recommended. There are three HDMI ports on the back of the dock, with the ability for all three working 4K monitors. To ensure your device is connected to the outside world, there’s a gigabit Ethernet port as well as three USB 3 ports and a power port.
The important point here is that you get a 130W AC power adapter in the box. This is more than enough to power any current laptop through the Thunderbolt port while providing video output to your displays.
On the front, there’s one USB A (3.0) port and two USB-C ports, providing enough power to charge phones and wearables, or simply to connect other external devices.
Setup and Use
I’ve had docking stations in the past that required driver installation, special software, or other configuration. That’s just not the case with this unit, at least on Windows, and you just have to turn it on.
On multiple laptops and, as previously mentioned, the NUC 12 Enthusiast I recently had on the test bench, this just worked. I was getting full resolution throughput with no frame lag or any other performance based issues that can occur with lower quality docks.
It’s one connection and you’re all set.
This was especially useful given that some cars (supporting USB-C charging) have specific charging options. Having a port that can provide power means you can leave your own charger in your bag; easing the risk of leaving it at home when you’re on the go.
While I was testing the DS-6000, I rewired my desktop to have mouse and keyboard cables ready, as well as an easy-to-access charging port for USB-C devices.
What is the result?
The simple fact is that docking stations either work for you or they don’t. I’ve used a few of these that have worked well over time, but this one really hits the mark.
Having one cable to connect to any device (besides being a docking station point) makes the day easier. Adding front ports, using devices like hardware authentication key is not easy even if you have limited ports on your laptop.
The supplied AC adapter provides enough power to charge any device I’ve thrown at it, and there’s not even the faintest hint of video lag.
If you need a station in your life, this one is especially impressive in a crowded market. I would not hesitate to recommend it and can honestly say this is worth the $189.00 asking price.
Disclosure statement
After inspection, the product was not requested for return.