Kensington SD6000 Surface Go Docking Station review: Max productivity on a mini PC

Kensington SD6000 Surface Go Docking Station Source: Daniel Rubino/Windows Fundamental

Update: Microsoft has since released Surface Become 2. Because aught has inverse with that device regarding size and ports, it works just besides as Surface Become 1 with this Kensington dock.

Kensington is no stranger to making high-quality business-focused laptop and PC accessories. My review of the SD7000 Surface Pro docking station demonstrated how the Surface Pro could become a mini Surface Studio in what is undoubtedly ane of the coolest accessories bachelor.

This time information technology is the Microsoft Surface Go and Surface Go 2 that gets the docking treatment with the SD6000. I've spent the last few weeks using it and here is why it's splendid, and who should buy it.

Make the Go for Pros

Surface Go Docking Station

Kensington SD6000 Surface Go Docking Station

Pros:

Excellent, sturdy design
Enough of port expansion options
Perfect for businesses

Cons:

Expensive
Not ideal for casual consumers

SD6000 Surface Become Docking Station – Who is this for?

Kensington SD6000 Surface Go Docking Station Source: Windows Central

When first appear, the $350 SD6000 Surface Become Docking Station was mocked as being unrealistically besides expensive. That would exist authentic if this were being marketed every bit a direct consumer device, simply it is geared towards "B2B" (business to business concern) users instead.

Kensington sees this being sold – likely in more substantial quantities – to companies for various professional use cases where a Windows 10 PC is necessitated, e.grand.:

Point-of-sale locations
Check-in counters (similar at hotel or eating house)
Mobile carts
Store kiosks
Education environments
Briefing rooms

Of course, anyone with the cash and desire can too purchase it direct too. Past connecting information technology up to multiple monitors with a full desktop keyboard and mouse, the Surface Go could rapidly become your primary estimator – if y'all're OK with the somewhat bloodless Intel Pentium processor.

SD6000 Surface Go Docking Station – What is it?

Kensington SD6000 Surface Go Docking Station Source: Windows Central

The SD6000 Surface Go Docking Station is a high-end, rugged port-expanding dock station. The system is congenital to let the Surface Get act as the main PC or connect to extra monitors or projectors.

Users tin can lock-down the Surface Go using Kensington's K62918WW or K63251M keying solutions, or even add a privacy screen.

In that location is a massive amount of connectivity options that the SD6000 delivers, including:

4x USB-A 3.1 ports (5V/0.9A)
1x USB-C 3.1 port for information synchronization (5V/3A)
3.5mm philharmonic audio jack
Gigabit Ethernet port
HDMI out and DisplayPort++ (Unmarried 4K @ 60Hz; Dual 4K @ 30Hz)
Surface Pen magnet mount

The organisation is powered past a standard Surface Dock AC power plug at 90 watt (included in the box).

While the SD6000 doesn't quite have the fancy hinge as the Surface Pro's SD7000 dock, it does allow the Surface Go to be tilted at various angles with ease. The Surface Become can and then be locked into the dock, and the dock itself cabled to a desk so that nothing can be stolen.

Although it is unlikely for public use, at that place is fifty-fifty a magnetic side mount to hold a Surface Pen when not in use. Such a scenario is amend for personal or part use than a public kiosk since in that location is no way to lock down the Surface Pen (unless you exercise a mucilage-concatenation).

Kensington SD6000 Surface Go Docking Station Source: Windows Key

Information technology's a solid, beefy dock also that weighs a massive 5.55 pounds (2.5kg). That weight is due to the rigid construction, but too likely added so that the dock doesn't slide effectually (rubber anxiety also help it grip).

Kensington offers a 3-twelvemonth warranty on the SD6000, which is ideal for businesses and enterprise usage.

SD6000 Surface Go Docking Station – Verdict

Kensington SD6000 Surface Go Docking Station Source: Daniel Rubino/Windows Key

In using the SD6000 Surface Get Docking Station for the last few weeks, it'due south hard not to capeesh it. Connecting an external display (upwardly to 4K) with a full mouse and keyboard makes it an exciting "all-in-one" PC solution for some users who swear by the Surface Go. Adding Ethernet to the back along with four USB Blazon-A ports (and a Blazon-C 1) gives space expansion possibilities.

For hotels, restaurants, stores, and businesses apply the SD6000 seems like an excellent (and really the simply) selection. The quality and heft of the SD6000 are substantial, and for those businesses that need a small-scale, touch-screen Windows 10 PC out in the open, this dock checks all the right boxes.

Should a regular consumer buy information technology? It's hard to justify the $350, merely if you are actually fixated on just using the Surface Become all the time, and so it is fantastic. Slide the Surface Go into and close the latch (which houses the Surface Connect), and you now have a total-PC setup. By using Windows 10's native screen expansion ability, you lot could employ a large 4K display and withal ink and depict on the Surface Go.

While we don't have any information on a Surface Become 2 yet, my guess is Kensington would non release this were the Surface Go 2'due south pattern to brand it obsolete (information technology's one reason Microsoft keeps the Surface Pro line so consistent), but just time will tell.

Overall, Kensington continues to impress with these "made for" Surface accessories. They let businesses deploy Surface Go and Surface Pro for professional markets, and they're essential to accept as options. That and the Kensington proper name makes this easy to recommend the SD6000 Surface Go Docking Station to businesses who need such a solution.

Surface Go Docking Station

Kensington Surface Become Docking Station

This docking station adds a plethora of ports to your Surface Go and makes information technology easy to connect to a desktop setup. It features a hinge that allows you to use the device comfortably at dissimilar angles.

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An internet connection will soon be required when setting up Windows 11 Pro

UH OH

An internet connexion will soon be required when setting up Windows 11 Pro

Microsoft has announced that afterward this year, users will be required to connect to the internet and sign-in with a Microsoft Account during the out of box setup feel on Windows eleven Pro. Microsoft has already been enforcing this requirement on Windows 11 Home since launch concluding October, and Windows eleven Pro is now expected to follow suit soon.