Kensington, a leading maker of desktop computing and mobility solutions, has new connectivity, input, and data protection solutions in its line-up, including some very capable docking stations, an advanced precision trackball, and innovative privacy screen filters for monitors and laptops.
For IT or business professionals, demanding creatives or high-intensity gamers, whether at home, in the office or on the go, they’re worth a look for personal or gift-giving reasons.
Thunderbolt Docking
Kensington’s new EQ Pro Thunderbolt 5 Docking Stations give a boost to media expansion, connectivity options, and high-power charging capability for the worlds of both Mac (MacBook M-Series Pro/Max models) and Windows (high-performance workstations and gaming laptops) computers.
With fast connection speeds up to 80Gbps (up to 120Gbps with Kensington’s Bandwidth Boost feature), this small docking station has a big nineteen different connection and port options.
Kensington’s new EQ Pro Thunderbolt 5 Docking Stations give a boost to media expansion, connectivity options, and high-power charging capability for the worlds of both Mac and Windows computers. All images supplied.
You can connect high-end 4K or 8K monitors and get top visual quality and smooth multitasking; three 4K monitors @ 144Hz or two 8K monitors @ 60Hz for Windows laptops (up to two 6K monitors @ 60Hz for MacBook models with M-Series Pro and Max chipsets).
The device also widens your media access and storage expansion choices with a secure PCIe M.2 SSD slot ‘under the hood’ and three CF/SD/Micro SD 4.0 spots (I like the CompactFlash slot, great for fast media transfers from the newest digital cameras and/or digital audio recorders; it also supports data transfer in various industrial applications).
Altogether, these docking stations have three Thunderbolt downstream ports, one Thunderbolt host, four USB-A 3.2 Gen2 10Gbps ports, two USB-C Gen2 10Gbps ports, three CF/SD/Micro SD 4.0 slots, four audio options, one secure PCIe M.2 SSD slot, and a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port.
Kensington’s Thunderbolt 5 Dock with supplied power and connection cables.
The plug-and-play docks are ready to go out of the box, but there are customizable features available via two programmable hotkeys and free Kensington Konnect software; Windows users get quick access to workspace applications and productivity commands, MacOS users can configure the buttons to back up iPhone photos and videos, activate Focus Mode, or for other workflow functions.
Up to 140 W power delivery in the single-cable Thunderbolt 5 solution comes via support for USB PD3.1, the latest USB power delivery specification, while Kensington’s KonstantCharge enables connected devices to charge even when the laptop is undocked, the manufacturer describes.
Privacy Preserving
Kensington, a division of consumer product manufacturer Acco Brands, has also recently introduced new privacy screen filters, calling them a way to protect both your eyes and your data (from the eyes of others).
While limiting the computer viewing angle to ±30º, sensitive on-screen information is protected from prying eyes, and Kensington says its new High Clarity, Eyesafe Blue Light, and EQ Privacy Screen Filters for laptops and monitors still let up to 78% of light through for good colour and image detail. Yet the screens also limit potentially harmful blue light (by up to 28%, the manufacturer reports, on the Eyesafe screen; Kensington’s EQ Privacy Screen filters up to 52% of blue light) to ease eye strain and promote better sleep.
Assembled in the United States, made from post-consumer recycled content, Kensington screens have a two-year limited warranty.
Mouse Expertise
When moving the mouse means getting premium performance and precise control, as many creative professionals (like sound engineers and audio editors, high-end photographers and graphic designers) require, Kensington’s new Expert Mouse delivers, building on the company’s previous op-
The TB800 EQ Trackball has a dedicated scroll ring around the base of the trackball, and additional vertically oriented scroll wheels on either side.
tical tracking devices with additional scroll wheels, faster polling rates, customization capabilities and comfort considerations.
The TB800 EQ Trackball maintains its predecessor’s dedicated scroll ring around the base of the trackball, while adding two additional vertically oriented scroll wheels, one on either side. All three scroll rings can be toggled or disabled depending on user needs and comforts, and there are four programmable buttons to bring greater customization and personalization to the tracking device.
The main scroll ring can be switched between line-by-line and smooth scrolling, while the two side scrolls provide horizontal scrolling and zooming (with a handy disable switch nearby if needed).
The unit’s large (55mm) tracking ball provides highly accurate and responsive tracking while at the same time keeping hand and wrist movements to a minimum. Easily set-up for left- or right-handed users, the device operates in less desk space than a traditional mouse, again minimizing arm movements.
An adjustable polling rate – how often the mouse reports input/activity to the computer – means the user can set standard rates, like 125 Hz, to reduce power consumption, or choose much higher rates of 1,000 Hz (1 kHz) or faster. The performance gains are valuable in gaming and other applications where fast response times and smooth cursor movements are needed.
Conveniently, with its wired and wireless connections, the trackball can be set up and used with up to four computers or tablets without re-pairing every time (the trackball has two wireless Bluetooth connections, one wireless 2.4GHz connection with government-grade 128-bit AES encryption, and one wired USB-C connection).
Kensington says the rechargeable battery will keep the device powered for up to four months, adding that it can connect to devices wirelessly over Bluetooth or using an included 2.4GHz USB dongle, but there’s a USB-C charging cable as well.
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