Ángel Jiménez from Luis USA
USA
Updated Wednesday, March 20, 2024-23:42
Although desktop computers still exist (and are a highly sought-after format for certain uses), for a long time now, in most homes and offices,
the laptop is what rules.
It offers the advantage of being easily transportable and "disappearing" when not in use.
When the integrated screen becomes too small, it is best to connect an external monitor.
It is something that can be done many times using a single cable, but what happens when you also have to connect other peripherals?
The usual thing is to go to
a dock or concentrator,
a small box that multiplies the available ports and that can be permanently installed, for example, in a workstation.
The latest one that Logitech has launched not only fulfills that function, but it is also
a powerful speaker and microphone,
traditionally weak points in portable equipment.
I have been able to use it for the last month and it is
easy to install,
it has
enough ports
and allows you to configure an elegant workstation,
without cables in sight
and ready to receive the connection of a laptop with
a single cable
thanks to the fact that the dock can Provide up to 100W charging via USB-C connection.
Once connected, Logi Dock offers two USB-A ports, two USB-C ports on the back and one more on the side and two monitor connections (Displayport and HDMI).
There is also a button that allows you
to pair the dock via Bluetooth
with another device, which may seem strange but it has a reason.
This dock is not only a port hub but also includes an internal speaker with quite good sound quality.
It can be used as
a wireless speaker
for your phone, for example, or simply to listen to music from your connected laptop in higher quality.
With two 55 mm drivers, the sound is clear and the bass is powerful.
Better sound is not the only advantage of this hub.
It also has
six microphones with ambient noise cancellation
spread across the surface and several buttons to control video calls, including two to mute the microphones or cut off the webcam signal.
For those who work remotely and have to attend several virtual meetings daily (of which there are many of us today), Logi Dock offers
good call control.
It is compatible with practically all video conferencing systems (Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, etc...) and as expected it pairs well with the brand's webcams, although it is not necessary to use them.
A curious detail is that the Logi Dock also has a
small ambient light
at the bottom that can be helpful in knowing if the microphone is active or muted, although it can also be distracting on some occasions (it is possible to turn it off).
A software created by Logitech, Tune, helps
to synchronize the calendar
and easily manage the different devices, but it is not essential to use the device, although some of the more advanced functions are lost.
The only negative point that I have found this month is the
absence of an Ethernet port for a wired network or headphone output,
which are usually common in other concert organizers.
USB-C connections support the USB 3.1 standard but are not compatible with Thunderbolt or USB 4.0, which substantially improves connection bandwidth.
It is not a problem in most scenarios in which it will be used but they would have made the Logi Dock an even more interesting accessory.
For those looking for a simple solution for a work table in the office or at home, in any case, it is a great option, especially if a good part of the day is spent in video conferences and remote meetings.
The price, yes, is somewhat high.
It costs
519 euros,
much more than the concentrators (without speakers and other advanced features) that are usually common in these scenarios.