Customer reviews from startech.com
Startech - StarTech.com DK30CHHPD Dual HDMI USB-C Dock, 60W PD, GbE, 3x USB-A, 1080p, Mac/Windows
Average customer rating
4
(1 Review)
Rating breakdown 1 review
5 Stars
0
4 Stars
1
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Star
0
Customer Reviews for Startech - StarTech.com DK30CHHPD Dual HDMI USB-C Dock, 60W PD, GbE, 3x USB-A, 1080p, Mac/Windows
Customer Rating
4
ALMOST PERFECT -- only missing EDID emulation
on December 5, 2023
Posted by: Gecko
This device is a rarity in this field. It addresses a very common scenario -- two computers that need to share two external monitors and various peripherals. And it achieves that aim very well. It has all the necessary ports that can be shared by both computers -- Ethernet, extra USB 2.0, 3.0 and USB-C ports, speaker and mic connections -- and USB-C connections for the host computers, which also charge your laptops if you use straight USB-C to USB-C cables. The ONLY feature they failed to include is EDID emulation, which keeps the disconnected computer thinking it's still displaying on the external monitors in order to preserve application positions across the extended desktop. So if you've got your desktop extended across two screens with multiple applications -- with some on one screen, and some on the other -- when you switch to the other laptop, you'll hear the disconnection/reconnection tones and all your applications will be sent over to the main display (identified as #1) by your computer. When you switch back to it later, you'll have to move all your applications around again. At this price point, this is a disappointment, as I would expect it to address such a basic issue when it comes to using two external monitors. If it was a matter of cost, I think anyone that's willing to pay this kind of money for a KVM switch/dock would gladly pay a bit more and just have it deliver the extra feature.
As for what makes this device a rarity, it's that it has a nice "symmetrical" setup -- meaning one type of input (USB-C) for the hosts and one type of output (DisplayPort), plus fully shared connections (Ethernet, USB). Other similar KVM docks have a mish-mosh of ports (e.g., one display with HDMI, the other DP), some don't share the Ethernet connection, some don't share all the USB ports, some provide charging on only one USB-C port, etc. So in this sense, this device is a masterpiece.
There is currently no device that can be added to this setup to provide EDID emulation, so we'll have to live with it. However, they have a free software that allows your device to rearrange your applications to the positions they were when you switch back to that machine. But it still has to go through the reconnection and rearrangement, so that takes a few seconds. I would rate it 5 stars otherwise, but because of it lacks emulation, I can only give it 4.
Written by a customer while visiting startech.com
