STACK #224 June 2023

FEATURE TECH

HOME EXTRA S

HANDY OFFICE

A plethora of ports Tired of plugging and unplugging when switching USB peripherals from your laptop or desktop? A docking station is the solution to constant connection, offering the convenience of multiple ports – including USB, HDMI, and more – to connect a monitor, SSD drive, headset, phone, keyboard, and mouse, all at once. Docking stations connect to an external power supply, which will also conveniently keep your laptop charged. ALOGIC UNIVERSAL TRIPLE 4K DOCKING STATION WITH 100W POWER DELIVERY USB-C hubs are give you a greater number of ports for peripherals, as well as fast data transfer. These mini workstations can include connections for USB-A 3.0, Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI, and even an SD card reader. powered by a laptop or desktop and also THE ABC OF USB The Universal Serial Bus (USB) has revolutionised universal connection. But not all USB ports are the same, so what do those extra letters mean? USB-A The original USB connection for devices, and the non-reversible one we always inevitably insert the wrong way first. USB-B A square-shaped design commonly used to connect printers and external hard drives. USB-C A truly universal connector that is quickly becoming the industry standard. It can transmit power and data at high speeds using a single cable – and perhaps best of all it’s reversible!

The first USB connector, 1.0, was released in January 1996, but it wasn't until USB 1.1 followed in September 1998 that the specification became widely used. DYK?

From storage and charging solutions to USB hubs and ergonomic comfort, expand and complement your workspace with these practical accessories. Words Bec Summer

Storage solutions A laptop can only hold so much, so having a portable storage device on hand to back up files, important documents, photos and video is a must. Portable solid-state drives (SSD) and USB flash drives are simple data-saving solutions with ample storage space – SSDs can generally hold up to 2TB, and USBs up to 512GB. Consider how much you want to back up, save or transfer, and always choose one with slightly more capacity than you need.

Power up Portable power banks are basically high-capacity batteries that can deliver several full charges – or a handy top-up – when levels are low, and some feature multiple ports for conveniently charging several devices at once.

CYGNETT CHARGE UP PRO SERIES 25K LAPTOP POWER BANK GaN chargers are a revolutionary bit of fast-charging tech that will get you back up to full power in no time at all. They’re more energy efficient and safer than traditional chargers, packing a lot of power albeit without warming up, and are available in single or multiport.

SAMSUNG T7 PORTABLE SSD (1TB)

SEAGATE ONE TOUCH PORTABLE SSD (500GB)

SANDISK ULTRA SHIFT USB 3.0 FLASH DRIVE (128GB)

ALOGIC FUSION CORE 5-IN-1 USB-C HUB

CYGNETT POWERMAXX 70W GaN WALL CHARGER

KENSINGTON ERGOSOFT MOUSEPAD

Ergonomic ease A comfortable ergonomic workspace can decrease strain, promote good posture, and increase productivity. Don’t hunch over your laptop when you can elevate it on a stand, and say goodbye to painful mouse-wrist with support from a gel-cushioned pad or mouse mat.

BONELK ELEVATE LAPTOP STAND

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