I am looking to set up my corporate office with four sets of:
Staff have a mix of laptops (Surface, Lenovo etc) but all have USB C. How on earth do I go about setting this up for a reasonable price (ideally refurbished) that I know will work once plugged in?
I can't seem to find bundles and the many different models (especially docks) are confusing me.
Thanks!
OP, perhaps you need to get someone to do it who knows enough about it to not be confused by it all.
Agreed, if he doesnt know what a few cables are then how is he going to set up the rest of the environment with users, security, software requirements etc.
I am surprised with the lack of AI use here…
Dell USB-C docking stations just work. Can find them second hand if on a budget.
Call computer supply companies and see if you can get a deal on 8x 32” monitors.
FB sounds like what you want to check out for refurbished stuff.
One really big monitor can be better than multiple smaller ones.
This really depends on what you are doing. I work in a lot of text based command consoles so for me more three smaller monitors 1080p make sense. If you're an accountant and working on large spreadsheets then a larger single wide screen so you can get more columns in makes more sense.
Depends how big, I'd say two 27" 1440p monitors is my minimum, and dual 32" is ideal, If I was going a single for work it'd have to be an Ultrawide 38-40" or it just wouldn't be particularly useful.
I'm not sure what you are asking here, but generally everything is pretty much compatible with everything else. Monitors will be display port or HDMI, docks will have both. USB-C docks will connect to any windows device with a usbc port. You might have to install displaylink drivers.
If you are not an IT person then pay someone who is, because if you dont know how to plug in a few cables then you definitely dont know how to set up the rest of an IT environment..
Most USB-C docks require Intel chips.
That is very much not true unless it is a Thunderbolt Dock. Even then, modern AMD laptops often have USB C 4.0 ports which are Thunderbolt Compatible.
My couple year old AMD laptop still works with my Dell USB C dock from 2016.
There are the occasional budget laptops (though this was an issue a few years ago more than now), both Intel and Amd where the USB C ports are purely data and don't support USB C PD (for charging) or Displayport Alt Mode (for video), but that isn't common these days.
Even if the case, I doubt this guy is going to randomly have refurbed AMD devices. But yeah, he still needs to go to an IT professional regardless, for the rest of the network/UAC side of things.
Corporate office. Wants 4 monitors to look like boss man. On tight budget if looking at refurbished. Staff have own laptops, and assuming then no real IT. Hmmmm…..
What could go wrong!
Hell, we can write him out the media release for the inevitable data breach right now to help him out.
I'm thinking more boiler room/'tipster' influencer
First you need a list of what devices everybody has, to make sure they are fully USB C Compatible. You want devices that support USB C PD as well as Displayport Alt Mode.
Second, what size screens do you want? I'm a bigger is better, but for office use, you would likely want to find something that is IPS, 300nits and 60hz should be fine, so nothing fancy is needed. I recommend nothing smaller than 27" as it really does make a difference and the price difference between a 24" and 27" monitor is marginal these days. In my office we primarily run dual 60hz 1440P LG 32" monitors, but most offices run smaller than that.
Regarding monitor arms, you want two single arms not one double, we initially purchased doubles and now use singles as it just provides more flexibility in positioning, especially if against a wall. I have nothing but good things to say about North Bayou arms.
https://www.amazon.com.au/stores/NBNorthBayou/page/8740DAB9-…
When it gets to the Hub it depends whether all devices support USB C Displayport Alt mode, as if they don't, you will need a dock that relies on Displaylink, which is essentially a USB based video card and far less performant. Once you have identified this, find a dock with outputs suitable to the monitors you have chosen.
For an example spec out assuming the devices all support USB C PD and Displayport Alt Mode
Monitors - 2x 27" 1440p IPS monitors - https://amzn.asia/d/6Q4AOxT
Arm - 2x NB F80 Monitor Arms - https://amzn.asia/d/7TL4jMg
Dock - https://amzn.asia/d/grGbbf7
From there you would likely need a USB C Power adaptor capable of 100w, as well as 2x HDMI cables long enough to make cable management tidy. Amazon has just been used as an example.
If a lot of the stuff I have listed is confusing, then I recommend finding someone with more IT expertise to arrange it as you will otherwise likely run into trouble.
We use the Lenovo USB-C docks for our staff. Easy to get used or refurbished. Heaps of them on marketplace from former WFH setups. Just make sure you get the right power brick with it, heaps of used ones only have the dock itself. We use them for our staff at the office and they work great, but I'd suggest a firmware update when you get one. The Lenovo USB-C dock has 3 monitor ports 2 x DiisplayPort & 1 X HDMI but only 2 can be used at once, if you want three monitors on the dock then the Lenovo Thunderbolt dock will support that. We bought a Alogic MX2 dock which works fine but it's power button only switches the dock on or off, where the power button on the Lenovo dock turns on the laptop so you don't have to open the lid to turn the laptop on, great if you just want to use external monitors. With USB-C docks pay attention to the USB-C port that needs to be used on the dock itself, if you use the wrong port it won't give the laptop enough power, single biggest issue we have for a USB-C dock that goes to some ones house for their home office setup.
Number of monitors and size I always find varies depending on the job role and personal preference. A lot of admin & HR staff like just one, finance guys like bigger higher wide resolutions so they can get more columns & rows for their spreadsheets on the display. I'm a IT guy who mostly works in text consoles so I prefer triple 24" monitors but only 1080p so the text doesn't get too small.
Is there a reason you are trying to DIY and not pay a professional?
I'd honestly be inclined to suggest getting something like Lenovo monitors with built in docking stations. Then all it is, is one cable. Staff with surface might need to BYO charger. No idea if the surface can do USB C charging these days.
You'll want proper monitor arms as well. Not just desk stands.
You would need to daisy chain the monitors assuming they support it if going this route.
You find the product you want to use, you buy 4 (or 8 for the stands/monitors). Rinse and repeat.
When it all arrives, you put it together.