Most homes have more than two computers.  One of them is the desktop that the family keeps most of their important information on, and any given number of laptops that belong to the rest of family.  So what this amounts to is a lot of information being scattered about on several locations.

This can be a problem when the user of a laptop wants to use it as a desktop, which is why StarTech.com invented the USB Docking Station with VGA.  This docking station is a tiny little black box measuring at 3/4 by 8 inches that allows for connecting to a VGA monitor with a maximum resolution of 1600 x 1200 at 32 bits and 1920 x 1200 at 16 bits. All that is required of the user to connect his or her laptop with the VGA port.  It also includes a RJ45 network port, as well as dual 3.5 mm phono audio ports.  Another feature is the handy USB ports. 

There are about four of them.  This way, the user can keep a printer, scanner, webcam, or other USB power accessory on their laptop, and be able to access them from the laptop with one simple clicked connection.  Considering that most laptops (and, for that matter, desktops) usually don’t come with near enough USB ports, it is good to have several of these handy for all sorts of situations, like downloading pictures from a camera, for instance.    

The 4-in-1 USB VGA Adapter has to be hooked up with an AC cord for power.  It then requires special software from the included CD Rom.  I have to admit that I had a hard time working it the first time, but the company was very good at helping me with finding the proper drivers, which are readily available at the company site.  The VGA Adapter worked immediately with my laptop, but my desktop, which is about four years old, needed a little bit of calibrating.

You should be able to purchase the StarTech 4-in-1 USB VGA Adapter and Docking Station from the StarTech.com site for about $129.99.  I believe that it only comes in black. 

You may not have heard of StarTech.com, but they make a lot of different desktop and laptop stations, such as the 6-in-1 USB 2.0 Laptop Docking Station with Port Replicator and the 5 in 1 USB 2.0 Notebook Docking Station and Port Replicator.  They also sell a diversity of cables.