Best Laptop Docking Stations
Features two graphics ports: an HDMI port and a DVI-I port with VGA adapter for mirroring/extending your Windows desktop to external monitors, a Gigabit Ethernet port, audio input/output, two USB 3.0 ports, and four USB 2.0 ports. An HDMI and a DVI port for connecting two external monitors and support for resolutions up to 2560×1440* (HDMI only) and DVI / VGA up to 1920×1200 (DVI-to-VGA adapter also included) An RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet network port (also supports 10/100 Ethernet) External headphone/speaker output jack and a microphone line-in Two USB 3.0 ports for accessories (such as an external hard drive or another USB graphics adapter) Four USB 2.0 ports (great for legacy devices such as keyboards, mice and printers). 2560x1440 output requires current DisplayLink drivers and attached monitor must natively support 2560x1440 via HDMI input (most 2560x1600 monitors do not support 2560x1440). Monitor Compatibility Supports a single HDMI display up to 2560x1440@50Hz, or dual 1920x1080 displays @60Hz DVI dual-link connection not supported. In the Box The Plugable UD-3900 comes with a UL certified 5V/4A (20W) power adapter (US AC Wall Outlet Plug, 100-240V 50/60Hz); a USB 3.0 Type-A male to Type-B male cable (USB 2.0 compatible); a passive DVI-to-VGA port adapter; a quick-install guide; and a drivers CD. USB 2.0 backwards compatibility, plug and play, devices can be hot-swapped, supports USB over-current protection). HDMI port supports resolutions up to 2560x1440* and DVI/VGA port supports display resolutions up to 2048x1152 / 1920x1200; wired Ethernet port supports 10/100/1000Mbps speeds. 2560x1440 output requires current DisplayLink drivers and attached monitor must natively support 2560x1440 via HDMI input.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"A big bump in CPU use is also noted when this happens. - Youtube drops many, many frames in 720p, and there is compression applied. For regular Excel, and Word, this may prove ideal, but I think I will return the device, and make do with a regular USB 3.0 dock with a USB sound card, and Ethernet adapter, with the penalty of having to plug one additional thing in every time (the HDMI port on my laptop). I was also able to watch Youtube videos without dropped frames in HD."
"Plugged into this docking station I have two external widescreen monitors (one running HDMI to HDMI, the other DVI to DVI, both at 1920x1080 - no discernible difference between the two monitors), wired ethernet, another USB 2.0 4-port hub to connect non-power-sucking peripherals (keyboard, mouse, card reader), audio out, and a USB 3.0 card reader."
"I recently bought a Surface Pro 2 (running Windows 8.1) with the hopes of using it as my daily driver. The Surface's lack of ports is a real problem when used as a desktop machine especially to a guy like me that measures his manliness by the number of monitors he's using. There is the official Surface Deck, which is a sexy piece of machinery, don't get me wrong, but it's $200, not available right now, and itself has frustrating ports. Even with the incredibly snappy Amazon Prime shipping Plugable sent me an email before I got the unit with a link to the latest drivers and contact information in case I had problems. The additional USB ports were very handy and the added network speed of the UD-3900's Gb Ethernet jack was extra icing on the cake. The UD-3900 was sending all its audio through the crappy, tinny little speakers on the monitor I had hooked up via HDMI."
"I use this unit as a docking port for my wall mounted flat screen tv and my receiver and stereo system."
Compatible With Surface Pro 3, Surface Pro 4, Surface Book, Surface Pro, and Surface Laptop.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I must admit that I was leery at first reading all the of the negative reviews, but I really needed the option of a dock and I couldn't help but think that Microsoft, while not infallible, wouldn't put out a product so inferior as described by others. Passive don't have the electronics built into the cord and the signal gets lost and compromised creating a failure."
"Tested many adapters and only Fosmon brand worked every time (VGA - Fosmon HD1826 Mini DisplayPort (Thunderbolt) to VGA Male to Female Adapter, White, or DVI - http://www.amazon.com/Fosmon-HD1823-DisplayPort-Thunderbolt-Adapter/dp/B0056403DE). as long as they keep the main charging port the same, even if it's a larger Surface. - No mouse lag at all (if you have ever tried a dock that connects through USB and noticed the mouse-lag, you know how annoying that can be)! - Screen occasionally will flicker very briefly if you unplug and replug from USB ports. It's possible the issues will get fixed down the road as Microsoft does release firmware updates through Windows 10 for the dock. I'm on the Insider Preview Edition that is testing the new scaling features and it works fantastic!"
"I'm taking half a point because sometimes my displays aren't detected, even though everything is properly connected (sometimes I'll switch the cables and the same output will work on the other monitor)other times it will detect them and connect but displays at extremely low res, I'm also taking another half star because the connector is so large that it blocks another port on my Surface Book making it impossible to connect a third external display without additional devices."
"The only issue I have with the dock is that for some reason it doesn't want to shutdown or restart. If I 'log off' first, then shutdown or restart, works fine."
"One monitor is configured portrait (90 degree rotation), and everything is remembered perfectly on reconnect."
Does not support ThinkPad T460p quad-core models with discrete graphics.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"A solid dock with all the connections you need."
"Encountered a couple of problems with external displays (both HP -- 27in LED and 24 in LCD connected thru DP): 1) External LED monitor (HP 27 in) flickering a couple hrs after hookup.I installed the dock firmware update and it seemed to go away. 2) The HP Display Assistant software cannot seem to "connect" to the two external displays, so I am unable to tune these using the HP software."
"easy to use and let me connect 2 additional monitors with no issues."
"Well made, works perfectly."
"Does What I needed it to do!"
"Fits."
Best Laptop Docking Stations
Features two graphics ports: an HDMI port and a DVI-I port with VGA adapter for mirroring/extending your Windows desktop to external monitors, a Gigabit Ethernet port, audio input/output, two USB 3.0 ports, and four USB 2.0 ports. An HDMI and a DVI port for connecting two external monitors and support for resolutions up to 2560×1440* (HDMI only) and DVI / VGA up to 1920×1200 (DVI-to-VGA adapter also included) An RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet network port (also supports 10/100 Ethernet) External headphone/speaker output jack and a microphone line-in Two USB 3.0 ports for accessories (such as an external hard drive or another USB graphics adapter) Four USB 2.0 ports (great for legacy devices such as keyboards, mice and printers). 2560x1440 output requires current DisplayLink drivers and attached monitor must natively support 2560x1440 via HDMI input (most 2560x1600 monitors do not support 2560x1440). Monitor Compatibility Supports a single HDMI display up to 2560x1440@50Hz, or dual 1920x1080 displays @60Hz DVI dual-link connection not supported. In the Box The Plugable UD-3900 comes with a UL certified 5V/4A (20W) power adapter (US AC Wall Outlet Plug, 100-240V 50/60Hz); a USB 3.0 Type-A male to Type-B male cable (USB 2.0 compatible); a passive DVI-to-VGA port adapter; a quick-install guide; and a drivers CD. USB 2.0 backwards compatibility, plug and play, devices can be hot-swapped, supports USB over-current protection). HDMI port supports resolutions up to 2560x1440* and DVI/VGA port supports display resolutions up to 2048x1152 / 1920x1200; wired Ethernet port supports 10/100/1000Mbps speeds. 2560x1440 output requires current DisplayLink drivers and attached monitor must natively support 2560x1440 via HDMI input.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"A big bump in CPU use is also noted when this happens. - Youtube drops many, many frames in 720p, and there is compression applied. For regular Excel, and Word, this may prove ideal, but I think I will return the device, and make do with a regular USB 3.0 dock with a USB sound card, and Ethernet adapter, with the penalty of having to plug one additional thing in every time (the HDMI port on my laptop). I was also able to watch Youtube videos without dropped frames in HD."
"Plugged into this docking station I have two external widescreen monitors (one running HDMI to HDMI, the other DVI to DVI, both at 1920x1080 - no discernible difference between the two monitors), wired ethernet, another USB 2.0 4-port hub to connect non-power-sucking peripherals (keyboard, mouse, card reader), audio out, and a USB 3.0 card reader."
"I recently bought a Surface Pro 2 (running Windows 8.1) with the hopes of using it as my daily driver. The Surface's lack of ports is a real problem when used as a desktop machine especially to a guy like me that measures his manliness by the number of monitors he's using. There is the official Surface Deck, which is a sexy piece of machinery, don't get me wrong, but it's $200, not available right now, and itself has frustrating ports. Even with the incredibly snappy Amazon Prime shipping Plugable sent me an email before I got the unit with a link to the latest drivers and contact information in case I had problems. The additional USB ports were very handy and the added network speed of the UD-3900's Gb Ethernet jack was extra icing on the cake. The UD-3900 was sending all its audio through the crappy, tinny little speakers on the monitor I had hooked up via HDMI."
"I use this unit as a docking port for my wall mounted flat screen tv and my receiver and stereo system."
Best Laptop Stands
mStand raises the screen 5.9 inches (150 mm) to meet the user's eye level, thus promoting better posture, while its tilt design brings the screen closer for easier viewing. Also fits most 14" standard PC and 15" widescreen PC with depths not more than 10.4 inches. Compatible with Apple Macbook Pro, Macbook Air and other laptops with depths less than 10.4 inches.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I added a bluray drive and USB/card reader port to the underside... so it is more of a utility dock now."
"Not only is this stand stylish (it seem like something Apple would make), but it is at a great height and incline for typing, and there is plenty of space underneath my laptop to store my external hard drive... the cat also likes to lay under there."
"I work from home and revamped my Macbook Pro into what now feels like a desktop."
"I saw many of the reviews who had used this with a 15" laptop, and wondered how well it would work with my 17" MBP. The unit positions the laptop's screen to a height that works perfectly with my other external monitors."
"I was hesitant to spend over $40 on a stand, but given the reviews of other less expensive stands, I decided to purchase this. I use this with the new 15" MBP and there's no problem keeping it sturdy even when I type on the laptop."
"I use it not for a laptop, but for a large iPad and attached keyboard – the superb Brydge BRY6002 12.9 - Wireless Keyboard - Bluetooth 3.0, Space Gray."
"The result is that I have to keep my wrists and forearms on the keyboard to keep the laptop in place, which I imagine would not be comfortable if I had to do a lot of "typing"."
"It has a wide base with rubber cushions on the bottom so it won’t scratch anything plus it keeps it in place."
Best Laptop Mounts
mStand raises the screen 5.9 inches (150 mm) to meet the user's eye level, thus promoting better posture, while its tilt design brings the screen closer for easier viewing. Also fits most 14" standard PC and 15" widescreen PC with depths not more than 10.4 inches. Compatible with Apple Macbook Pro, Macbook Air and other laptops with depths less than 10.4 inches.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I added a bluray drive and USB/card reader port to the underside... so it is more of a utility dock now."
"Not only is this stand stylish (it seem like something Apple would make), but it is at a great height and incline for typing, and there is plenty of space underneath my laptop to store my external hard drive... the cat also likes to lay under there."
"I work from home and revamped my Macbook Pro into what now feels like a desktop."
"I use it with a wireless keyboard, and so the screen is up in my face where I can see it well, and the keyboard in down below where I can type easily without tiring my wrists. I am a coffee drinker, and I have always been worried about knocking my cup over into my computer. With the stand, my computer sits above the desk top where I put my coffee, and the keyboard is on s shell below and out of the way."
"I saw many of the reviews who had used this with a 15" laptop, and wondered how well it would work with my 17" MBP. The unit positions the laptop's screen to a height that works perfectly with my other external monitors."
"I was hesitant to spend over $40 on a stand, but given the reviews of other less expensive stands, I decided to purchase this. I use this with the new 15" MBP and there's no problem keeping it sturdy even when I type on the laptop."
"I thought I wouldn't like this stand but I decided to purchase it anyways owing to the thousands of 5-star customer reviews. The rubber pieces on the surface not only prevent my MacBook Pro 15" from sliding, but also stop the stand from scratching the base of the Mac. If you don't like the height you can also go buy the Rain Design iLevel 2 Adjustable Height Notebook Stand (Patented) which is by the same company but is adjustable."
Best Laptop Skins & Decals
Best choice for laptop, graffiti, vintage, decal, skateboard, car, bumper, hover board, snowboard, helmet, luggage, trunk. Size of the stickers: 2.5-4.5 inch, 100 pcs no-duplicate stickers.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I actually love these stickers though."
"I got 100 stickers without the sticky stuff on the back, and don't think I'm stupid because me and my family ripped up at least 10 of the stickers trying to take of what usually is a light film on the back of stickers but we found that they were only pieces of paper."
"Love it!"
"So many awesome stickers!"
"These are freaking awesome!"
"I chose my favorite bands out of the stickers I got but now I've found out about a lot of other bands which will probably end up on my laptop eventually too."
"I put some on a lot of my stuff like my two guitars and my waterbottle, and my laptop."
"I teach high school and the kids fought over these."
Best Laptop Security Locks
Flexible Compared The Bodyguard cable is more flexible than normal cable. Thickness Compared The cable of our computer lock is thicker 30% than ordinary cable. Pull open the lock ring, insert the lock to the computer lock hole and push the locking ring. In addition to securing a notebook or laptop, it may be used with a notebook, LCD screen, plasma screen, projector and will fit any device that has compatible security slot.It is kindly warned that if you purchase the product from other stores which is not genuine, we will take no responsibility.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Maybe it wont stop a professional thief, but it will make petty criminals think twice about trying to steal a laptop if they see the lock is hooked up."
"This is definitely handy if I am in a coffee shop,and need to leave my laptop on the table for a short time,e g. fetching something from the counter."
"I don't leave my laptop for long while using it, but when I do have to run to the bathroom or coffee shop in the library, my mind is at ease."
"If you use your computer in a public place like a library or coffee shop you naturally don't want to have to pack it all up when you need to leave for a few minutes to use the restroom or retrieve a book. In a public place that could be a bit tricky - maybe the back of a chair?"
"Sturdy thick black security cable.The materials and built quality is very good.There are 10,000 possible combinations to deter the possible thief.The cable itself is pretty strong and would take quite some time to cut."
"I prefer this to the key lock version the company I work for supplied. Easy to set up and my laptop didn't get stolen even though I left it out on a desk in our room the whole time during our week-long stay."
"This combination works well, is easy to set up, and fits perfectly into my laptop."
"Bought this to give me a wee piece of mind having bought a new DELL Studio Laptop."
Best Laptop Batteries
MacBook Pro 13-inch 2009 Version: (MB990LL/A, A1278, MacBookPro5,5) - only for Mid 2009 version. (MB991LL/A, A1278, MacBookPro5,5) - only for Mid 2009 version. Grade A Li-Polymer cells mitigate the risk of battery leakage and maximize output stability.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This battery has thus far been an outstanding purchase. In less than 30 minutes the new battery was installed and operational."
"The battery i replaced was the original that came with the laptop and that lasted 7 years and upon replacement, it was performing at 58% according to the battery health 2 App."
"Perfect match for the original and the little screw drivers saved me a trip to the garage tool box for my jewelers set."
"Works great!"
"Order for my Mac Book Pro that is 5 years old."
"The original battery lasted me for 7 years but in the end only was good for maybe 1.5-2 hours of work."
"I bought this battery to replace the original in my late 2011 Macbook Pro (13")."
"Received quickly and it powered right up!"
Best Laptop Screen Filters
3M Privacy Filters keep confidential information private. You see clearly while onlookers see black.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"To install is straight-forward: carefully peel back the blue stickers that actually contain a clear contact surface and apply them to four points as indicated on the instructions (one each of the corners), then carefully apply it to your monitor."
"I realized the value of these filters when I could read a row-mate's laptop during a flight years ago."
"The filter came in a plastic & in perfect shape and it came with the little stickies to hold the filter in place. I have perfect vision and this definitely affects it."
"Fit's perfect and the sticky tabs holding it in place have allowed my to remove and replace several time so far."
"I wasn't in love with the screen, but it got the job done."
"I can switch between the glossy and the matte side based on my needs since it's not attached too so maybe I didn't need to take the star off after all."
"I've been using 3M privacy screens for years on a 13.3" screen, so will admit I had high expectations with this new one for my 14" screen."
"Product is advertised as having a gold and black side, which is even written on my box instructions stating to turn to either the gold or black side depending on preference."
Best Laptop Screen Protectors
Whether you're working in an open office floorplan, on a plane, on a train, or at a coffee shop, viewers from either side of your laptop will see a darkened screen, helping keep your information secure and out of sight. You see clearly while onlookers see black.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Very little screen distortion once I got this on my MacBook Air (late 2014) 13" laptop. I first used the little tabs that you stick to the sides so that you can slide the screen saver on and off. (And if you buy this product and see little horizontal lines running across your screen - you bought the wrong one."
"Get a clean piece of paper and drop it down between the screen and the protector. Press gently against the screen protector and pull the paper up."
"Installation of these particular screens do require some patience as you need to make sure everything is perfectly clean, no dust, and a steady hand to apply the transparent double sided adhesive strips that hold the screen to your macbook display. I thought the color might look a little odd on a macbook but actually the gold tint is very cool, and (I think) the privacy screening is actually more effective than with the black version."
"I miss having a brighter more beautiful screen, but I never take mine off."
"Bottom line - effective enough if you require privacy but not as good as other thicker filters you can use on larger laptops."
"Macbook 15" viewed at over 45 degree angle in low-lit conditions screen's dim but not private."
"So depends on the definition of fit, one can say this one is too small or exact fit."
"After I installing the filter on my Mackbook Pro 13" with Retina (Early 2015) nothing changed, everyone in the room was able to see and read everything on my screen no matter where they stood."
Best Laptop Replacement Screens
Screen shipped will be Brand New and either the part number listed in the title or one fully compatible. Enter your model number to make sure this fits.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Replacement hints. Pry away front plastic screen bezel. (The bottom of the bezel also has double sided tape adhesive to help it stay flush in addition to the plastic tabs. The yellow tape will pull the retaining lever up and unlock the cable. One gotcha that sometimes gets me - I sometimes forget to remove the protective plastic before getting the bezel back on."
"The connector is a tiny bit tricky (there's a thin metal latch you have to lift before sliding the connector out) but it wasn't difficult since I knew it was there. Tablet and smartphone makers would make a much more loyal customer out of me if their screens were similarly simple to replace!"
"This screen works!"
"The only thing I would advise anyone to do is make sure you keep track of the screws and that you have not only the correct size screen (this one was correct for my Samsung Chromebook), but also the correct size mini-phillips head screwdriver."
"My stock Chromebook screen ended up shorting out on the day that I needed it the most."
"To me it was important I get a quality replacement and was surprised to find one at the price I paid of only about $45. Then I noticed the red dotted letter and number. Then laughed as I realized I hadn't removed the screen protector that comes with the product. I saw online all these ideas about what it was and then thought I know it is nothing more than a very fine cover to for the screen in transport."
Best Laptop Cooling Pads & External Fans
Ergonomic Comfort With the help of ergonomic design and the 2 adjustable height setting, the HAVIT laptop cooler provides you with the most relaxing incline angle for all-day viewing and tying. Superior Cooling, Whisper Quiet Three large 110mm fans provide superior airflow at whisper quiet noise levels, spinning at just over 1,000 RPM. Full 1 Year Manufacturer's Warranty All HAVIT products are built to the highest quality standards and we stand behind our products with a full 1 year manufacturer's warranty. [Optimized for Laptop Carrying]: The high-quality multi-directional metal mesh provides your laptop with a wear-resisting and stable laptop carrying surface.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"does a great job of cooling my older hp that has a bad fan in it, it no longer gets hot."
"I love that they've added a USB pass-through port so I don't have to sacrifice a port for the cooler for low-power devices like flash drives and dongles (don't try to use the pass-through port for high-power devices like external drives; they won't get enough power)."
"days with a lot of graphics, and unable to function without a good cooling pad. With a bad experience of another similar model from Amazon, I recently purchased (it worked great for one month and five days and died). This time, I ordered from Havit, while waiting on getting my problems resolved with the other vendor. For those of you who want to know the difference between this model and the other vendor listed on Amazon, selling the same product. As with the other vendor, will keep my review updated, to see if this one lasts longer than the other one I purchased on Amazon."
"Also a note that if you're laptop is shut off and not plugged in to charge and this cooler is still plugged in and on, it will continue to work because it will just drain whatever your laptop battery has left so I recommend turning it off right when you shut down your laptop or else you will forget!"
"The laptop sits on it perfectly fine and doesn't slip at all (Laptop has rubber pads on the bottom) and the stand the cooler has is nice but easy to accidentally knock back down."
"The fans (3, strategically placed) are so quiet it's hard to tell they're even running, especially under the usual sounds of computer usage. An extra feature which I have come to enjoy quite a bit is the dim blue LED lights accompanying the fans. They provide just enough illumination to see what you're doing away from the computer light, but not bright enough to distract or effect your vision, even while working in pitch black conditions."
Best Laptop Chargers & Adapters
High Quality Made out of durable aluminum alloy, the mini adapter comes in 2 colors to match the new MacBook 12-inch. Heat-resisting aluminum connector assures a long working life of the cable. Super Fast Data Sync and Charging Speed Use it to charge up your phone and other standard USB devices or transfer data at USB 3.0 Super Speed (up to 5Gbps). [Aluminum Body USB C Adapter] : High quality Aluminum Body, A minimalist solution for using Micro USB cables with USB-C phones, tablets and laptops.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Over the years I've accumulated so many micro usb cables to use at work, in the car, and every other room in my house."
"The interference appears to be caused by a slight power leakage at the adapter since the cable was used with my prior cellphone which did not require the adapter without any static interference."
"They attach & stay connected very well to the cord, no loss in charge speed."
"I bought this so I can use my old micro USB wires with my new USB C phone, works good."
"We had charge cables in our vehicles, travel trailer, office and various rooms at home."
"The two silver adapters worked but the two gray one's did NOT work."
"We recently upgraded our cell phones to LG from Samsung."
"They do not charge devices properly."
Best Lap Desks
The premium dual bolster cushions are filled with micro-beads to create a stable work surface and the new airflow channel reduces unwanted heat from the laptop. Media slot holds your cell phone and helps organize your work surface.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"My old lap desk could barely fit my chromebook and was always at risk of falling off."
"This is exactly what we needed."
"The top has just the right of grip so your laptop won't slide and the mouse pad area is made of a soft felt material so it doesn't scratch up my mouse."
"My 17in laptop fits on it perfectly and I love the dedicated area for the mouse."
"Wonderful desk, sits perfectly on the lap, no stress put on my legs, I'm able to work on it for long periods of time without problem."
"My boyfriend LOVES this."
"even with the little bump on bottom end to keep laptop on lapdesk, it does work well with me."
"I decided to put some extra money out so I can find a lap desk that has a mouse pad."
Best Laptop Bags, Cases & Sleeves
Style: 1-Pack |. Size: 15.6 Inch |. Configuration: Bag. Accessory storage pockets for portable mouse, iPod, cell phone and pens.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Some reviewers have said the plastic snaps break on the shoulder strap, so I don't know if I'd carry my heavy 17" laptop in it, but as a briefcase it seems sturdy enough if not overloaded."
"I got it as a computer bag, but have ended up carrying it every day like a messenger bag, even whem I'm not using a computer. I've looked at canvas messenger bags, but most don't have any padding... which I do want for when carrying a computer and this has it."
"This laptop case is a great case!"
"I fit my 14 inch chromebook and 10 inch tablet in the big and smaller pockets respectively, both which are tucked inside neoprene sleeves."
"I'm quite happy with this bag."
"The case was great and fit my Toshiba Satellite snug and securely. "Nah, that's just a once in a blue moon scenario" I told myself after reading it. I shuddered the same phrase as I watched the case fall corner first. Opened the bag to find my 850 dollar laptop with a dented frame and shattered screen."
"The combination of these two problems has led to my laptop suffering corner damage from falling onto pavement when I picked up my bag by the strap, and it decided to let go."
"The clips are also a little awkward, and were partially responsible for the accident that broke my laptop screen. However when I got to work and pulled it out the corner of my touchscreen had cracked pretty badly."