Targus Universal Dual Video Laptop Docking Station with Charging Power, Audio, DVI/VGA/HDMI Connectivity, 2 USB 3.0 Ports, & 4 USB 2.0 Ports for PC, Mac, & Android (ACP71USZ)

With some trepidation, I ordered this docking station to use with my new HP Envy m6-1125dx 64-bit Windows 8 laptop. After using business laptops with custom-made docking stations for years, I hadn't thought too much about the process of finding a docking station for this consumer laptop.As it turned out, it took a bit of a search. I learned about the latest generation of "universal" docking stations which are made possible by USB 3.0, as I understand it. Two reps at HP's Boise Sales Office (who were great, by the way) told me that the Targus ACP71USZ would work with my laptop (which has a USB 3.0 port), in spite of a review to the contrary on the HP website page describing the unit. In fact, they said, the Targus unit was connected to the same laptop in the "playpen" in their office, and they could vouch for the fact that it worked.So, I ordered it from Amazon. When it arrived, I followed advice others had offered in other reviews: (1) update your USB 3.0 host controller driver (mine was current); (2) download the latest drivers from Targus or Displaylink (ignore the CD that comes with the unit). Turns out DisplayLink had a newer version than Targus itself did, so I downloaded and installed it before connecting the unit to my laptop.Contrary to other reviews, the docking station DID have a power tip to fit my laptop, which was a relief, so the laptop charges when it's connected to the dock. Everything else (wireless keyboard and mouse, audio, printer) is powered through the USB 3.0 cable which connects to the dock. Once connected, the laptop recognized the dock, and everything worked just as I hoped, with no noticeable loss in performance!I like the fact that the docking station will accommodate any laptop for which there is a power tip, so this should be the last docking station I need to buy. The unit itself is very well made, and reflects a nice design. It even fits nicely within my monitor stand! Finding the power tips is a bit tricky (the HP reps were helpful here too); you flip up a door on top of the unit to reveal a compartment with 8 different tips.All in all, armed with the advice from previous reviewers and the HP reps, it was a piece of cake, proving it pays to do your research, I guess. Judging from the reviews, I guess the ACP71USZ will work with some laptops and not others, and in the final analysis there is really only one way to find out: order it from a store with a reasonable return policy and try it out!UPDATE: A little more than a year later, and the Targus unit is still going strong, with no problems over the past year. My Windows 8 computer recognizes it as part of the system, and even tells me when firmware updates are available, which was unexpected! This little unit still gets five stars from me!UPDATE 10/06/14: After working perfectly for 1.5 years, my external monitor (attached to the dock) stopped working. Attaching the monitor directly to the computer revealed that the monitor was working just fine. A visit to the Targus web site showed the same driver already installed. On a hunch, I visited the DisplayLink (whose logo appears on the product) web site and found a new driver. Installed it; problem solved. Lesson here: check BOTH the Targus and DisplayLink web sites for driver updates. By the way, tried running "Update Driver" from inside Device Manager, and it pointed me toward the Targus site, but NOT the DisplayLink site.UPDATE 01/18/16 Two years now, and aside from the driver lesson learned that I described in the previous update, it's been nothing but smooth sailing with this well-designed little dock! I'd still give it five stars! The dock is on my mind currently because up until now I've used a 24" external LED monitor, and my laptop monitor as needed. Now I'm thinking of adding a second 24" monitor, using the Targus dock. I'm not entirely sure of the best way to do that, since my current monitor uses an HDMI cable, and there is only one HDMI port on the dock. I'm sure a little study will turn up the answer to the cabling question.

Everything worked right out of the box. I have a Windows 7 Toshiba Ultrabook and it automatically installed all of the displaylink drivers and everything ran the first time. I used the hdmi and dvi cables to my two external devices and all worked well.I then removed the hdmi cable and put it back on my tv so I needed to convert the hdmi to dvi which worked great. I then needed to convert the dvi to vga which also worked great.I even connected the power adapter to the laptop and it now replaced my Toshiba AC adapter and made it a spare which is nice.Advantages1. Flat unit so it fits under my riser nicely.2. I now have a spare AC adapter since I use the power adapter that came with it3. I now have three monitors ( 1 laptop, 2 external )4. The ability to use straight hdmi, dvi and or convert hdmi, dvi, vga came in handy5. I now use a gb ethernet cable always plugged into the Targus which is still faster then my draft N wifi nic6. The screen resolutions were auto detected ( by Windows 7 ) but played nicely with the Targus7. I plugged in my Logitech unifying adapter into the Targus to use my wireless keyboard and mouse which saves me a usb port on my laptop.8. I plugged in my external dvd drive into one of the usb 2.0 ports and it worked great to install Windows 8 into a vm.Cons1. Unit is a little bigger then I had hoped but minor2. With Ultrabooks becoming more popular, additonal manufacturer tips would make senseAll in All, I have had a perfect experience, recommend it.

I bought this power model (ACP71USZ) and it's smaller brother (ACP70USZ) in 2013, and am now revisiting this model as the younger brother's video ports have stopped working. I even upgraded the driver from DisplayLink, which actually solved it!.. until this week when once again, "no signal detected." Boo to the little brother (ACP70USZ), but this power model (ACP71USZ) has remained just as stable as it was when I bought it.(ACP71USZ) While the power head works for the computer I had at the time, it's Lenovo head doesn't fit my work computer so it's definitely unfortunate for those without compatible equipment but it has been a tremendous benefit for my laptop over the many years. The design is also superior, as it's does a good job at holding my PC in place while working, as well as allowing me to shift it with ease when I need to. I look at the newer models and cant help but wonder if they are as smooth and easy to access as this model has been.The possibility of using a different computer and it not being compatible is a definite reason to pause if this is the main allure, as is was for me, but I haven't had a single problem with this in close to six years and I'm very likely to get this again if my incoming computer is compatible with the power model (ACP71USZ) I already have.