As a seasoned professional who has attended countless meetings and conferences, I find myself constantly seeking tools that can streamline my workflow and enhance my productivity. The HiDock H1 seems to be a unique product that caters to my needs, but let me tell you, it’s not for everyone.
A docking station is something that I can’t work without, and it’s the laptop accessory I recommend to anyone who regularly enjoys using external monitors and their favorite laptop accessories. I’ve reviewed plenty of laptop docking stations over the years, but HiDock’s H1 is the first, as far as I know, to advertise itself as powered by GPT-4o.
The primary AI model introduced by ChatGPT in May is called GPT-4o. This model boasts enhanced abilities for handling text, images, and audio, as well as superior performance. However, one might wonder how it could be compatible with a USB-C docking station, an item typically just offering various ports and charging power?
What piqued my curiosity when HiDock announced they had review units available after their successful Kickstarter campaign, was whether this docking station with AI would prove to be more than just a trend-driven product with questionable AI capabilities. Given my familiarity with standard docking stations, I’m curious to understand if and how AI enhances its usefulness for professionals in a meaningful way.
For several weeks now, I’ve put the HiDock H1 to the test, evaluating its efficiency as a docking station, while also understanding the role and placement of its artificial intelligence component.
HiDock H1: Price and availability
HiDock’s H1 product initially started as a crowdfunding project on Kickstarter, but it’s now available directly from the official HiDock website.
In that location, you can discover the HiDock H1 available in Slate Gray and Platinum Gray hues; the Slate Gray model retails at $279, while the Platinum Gray costs $299. Personally, I own the Platinum version, yet I’m unsure if I would opt for the extra $20 if I were making the purchase myself.
HiDock offers an H1E variant in black, priced starting at $229. This model comes with a more limited number of ports and reduced charging capabilities, but it could be suitable for your specific needs.
HiDock H1: What I like
As a researcher, I find myself captivated by the design of the HiDock H1, which evokes a sense of ’70s and ’80s sci-fi aesthetics, where technology was still bulky yet refined with sleek lines that hinted at a more advanced future. The retro-futuristic charm it exudes on my desk is undeniable, featuring a large square speaker angled forward, four tactile buttons, an oversized slider, and a dial adorned with an LED light. Although it occupies slightly more space than the CalDigit TS4 I typically utilize, its robust base and two grippy feet ensure stability on my desk surface.
As a researcher, I found the device at the back of the dock equipped with a variety of connectivity options. There are dual HDMI 2.0 ports, USB-A and USB-C 3.2 (Gen 2), a single USB-A 3.1 (Gen 1), and a 2.5GbE LAN connection for fast networking. Additionally, it has a power hookup for the 150W AC adapter, and a host USB-C port for upstream connection to my laptop. When connected, it can provide charging up to 100W, suitable for most laptops without a dedicated GPU. Notably, it handled my daily driver with an RTX 4050 laptop graphics card effortlessly.
I love the retro-futuristic look on my desk.
On the left side of the dock lies an additional USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, offering 18W of charging capacity, along with UHS-II microSD and SD 4.0 card readers, and a Bluetooth pairing button. In total, there are nine ports available (excluding the host upstream USB-C output), ensuring versatility for various scenarios. Typically, I have utilized this dock to link a webcam, wired internet, wireless mouse, and an external monitor.
The performance of the dock’s external display relies heavily on the hardware in your Windows computer, and for optimal results, newer devices are recommended. At best, you can expect to connect two 4K displays, each with a 60Hz refresh rate, using the two HDMI ports. I’ve primarily used it with my ultrawide monitor (3440×1440) at a 100Hz refresh rate without any problems.
As a tech enthusiast, I just put my SD cards through a quick speed test. The full-sized reader blew me away with its read speed of 259.7MB/s and write speed of 158.5MB/s. On the other hand, the microSD card reader delivered the same zippy read speed but slowed down to 145.6MB/s in write mode. It’s important to note that trying to use both slots concurrently will cause a bottleneck on the controller, so it’s best to stick with using one slot at a time.
In modern laptops, it’s becoming less common to find an RJ45 Ethernet port. Therefore, having it included in the dock is greatly valued. While Wi-Fi technology advances with each new version (currently at Wi-Fi 7), a significant number of users still opt for the speed and stability provided by a 2.5Gb Ethernet connection.
This speaker positioned at the front performs well in terms of sound quality, making it an excellent accessory for desktops missing speakers. Its audio performance is similar to that of affordable monitor’s built-in speakers. I found no problems when listening to music, but remember to keep the noise cancellation slider fully off to prevent any loss of instrument sounds. In most applications, voices were clear, though they became slightly tinny during Google Meet calls, which seems more related to the platform itself rather than the dock.
HiDock assures you that the information you provide is safeguarded using 256-bit AES encryption, meaning it won’t be accessible or understandable to others without the correct key. Furthermore, he guarantees that this data will not be utilized for training any artificial intelligence models. This promise can certainly ease concerns for those hesitant about sharing sensitive discussion transcripts.
HiDock H1: What I don’t like
Attempting to plug in the dock to an HP laptop for the first time caused some other drivers to get nuked immediately. It took a system restart to regain functionality and going forward; the dock worked perfectly. A hiccup or two when testing new docks isn’t uncommon. The HiDock H1 worked flawlessly from the start with Acer and Lenovo laptops.
The HiDock H1 functions exceptionally as a dock, yet its AI integration falls short of my expectations. Upon closer inspection, it’s clear that the HiDock H1 is essentially a stylish USB-C dock equipped with audio features and decorative knobs and buttons. However, the AI functionalities are distinctly separate, accessible via a web application linked to ChatGPT. This app handles your recordings by transcribing them, providing summaries, and enabling speaker tagging.
The HiDock H1 functions exceptionally well as a docking station, yet its artificial intelligence features didn’t quite meet my expectations.
The cost to access the docking station’s hardware is quite limiting, and most of the advanced AI functionalities are only accessible with a subscription to their premium plans.
Our fundamental plans offer up to 10 minutes of recording per gathering, with a limit of 30 saved notes in total. Transcription is provided for free, although the AI-generated summary may be shortened. With this plan, a smartphone manages all operations; a desktop computer can only view mobile-taken notes. You don’t need the H1 dock to utilize our service.
The next step up is a standard membership that unlocks desktop use when you own the H1 dock. You can collect an unlimited amount of notes, each up to four hours long, and summaries are basic.
Hello! I’ve been given a Pro subscription to experiment with all its features by HiNote, which typically isn’t an affordable option. The premium version offers integration with Google Docs, OneNote, and Notion, along with the ability to share content directly onto linked social media platforms. Additionally, it enhances the AI-generated summary, a feature that I find quite effective. The summaries can be translated into 24 distinct languages, but the original transcripts retain their original language.
For 20 hours (1,200 minutes) of recording time, you can expect to pay about $13, while 200 hours (12,000 minutes) costs about $120. If you’re buying this dock, you’re no doubt interested in taking advantage of the AI capabilities, so you’ll want to factor in the extra Pro membership price in the total cost. There are plenty of great docking stations without AI on the market that cost less, so be sure the H1 can do exactly what you want.
The recording from our chat with Ben Wilson was mostly accurate, but it was challenging to distinguish between us due to our contrasting accents and tones. However, the summary, crucial details, outline, and action points were all spot on. I’m particularly fond of the feature that allows me to mark important sentences during a meeting or call by pressing the HiDock button on the dock.
It took approximately 4 minutes and 15 seconds to transcribe and upload a 30-minute meeting – not a long time at all. HiDock provides 32GB of storage for your notes, with the added benefit of allowing you to download and save the files on your local device.
As a devoted user, I’ve found a handy feature on this dock that I simply love: the Bi-Directional Noise Cancellation (BNC). It’s easy to tweak with the red slider right on the dock surface. This marvelous tool helps eliminate background noise from both ends of my calls, ensuring crystal-clear conversations. Even though I’ve been sitting in a tranquil room, there have been times when my voice seemed to vanish or grow faint during calls, as my colleagues have pointed out. But with this BNC feature, those issues are now history!
In summary, this device comes equipped with a magnetically attachable earpiece and charging cradle for those moments when you prefer not to use the main speaker from the dock. However, it’s worth noting that some users might find it uncomfortable to wear, as I personally struggled to keep it in place on my ear after trying it a couple of times. You may have a different experience, but I ended up setting it aside for a more comfortable option.
HiDock H1: Competition
From a tech lover’s perspective, it seems that HiDock’s H1 stands alone with its unique blend of distinctive features among docking stations I’ve encountered. That said, it’s important to note that there are numerous excellent docking solutions and standalone AI transcription services available in the market.
If you’d like a Thunderbolt dock, the CalDigit TS4 remains the hardware to beat. It’s pricey at about $380, but it’s the ultimate dock for TB4 and USB4 laptops. It’s the dock I use every day.
Additionally, you can find the Kensington SD5750T Thunderbolt 4 dock for approximately $149. This dock is nearly as good as the CalDigit TS4, and its price is quite competitive. While it doesn’t come with a built-in microphone and speaker, many individuals already have some sort of audio equipment at their disposal.
Some of my team members prefer to utilize Otter as their AI transcription tool during meetings, and it appears to perform quite efficiently in most cases. For just $8.33 per month, you receive 1,200 minutes monthly with a maximum of 90 minutes per individual meeting. If you desire more functionality, there’s an option for the Business plan at $20 per month, offering 6,000 monthly minutes, a four-hour limit on meetings, and additional features.
Rev offers an alternative AI transcription service that operates on a pay-per-use basis. While costs can add up with regular usage, it could be the ideal pick for those who only require occasional meeting transcriptions or transcribing services.
HiDock H1: Should you buy it?
✅ You should buy this if…
- You attend or host frequent meetings, online or in person, where a transcript and summary are useful.
- You need a USB-C docking station with a generous selection of ports and respectable charging abilities.
- You like the retro-futuristic speakerphone look with a large button, large speaker, and dial.
❌ You should not buy this if…
- You don’t expect to use the AI recording and transcription service very often.
- You don’t want to spend extra on minutes when you’ve already dropped nearly $300 on the hardware.
- You want a Thunderbolt 4 dock for less money.
The HiDock H1 is intriguing in theory, but I have reservations about its marketing strategy. Unlike what the name implies, it doesn’t actually come equipped with an AI assistant. Instead, it functions as a USB-C dock that features a speaker and microphone. It has access to transcription and summary services provided by GPT-4o through a web application.
This USB-C dock delivers reliable performance, offering a versatile array of nine connective ports suitable for various tasks. Its internal speaker provides decent sound quality for music and voice playback, while its vintage design adds an appealing touch.
However, most people aren’t going to spend $279, especially since there are some great Thunderbolt 4 docks available for nearly half the price. Sure, you get some entry-level transcription services with the H1, but for the real AI stuff, you’re looking at paying extra for set amounts of minutes.
If you prefer to have all components such as the speaker, microphone, control buttons, earbuds, and smart app integrated together, it might cost you more compared to purchasing a more potent standalone dock and comparable AI services at a lower price.
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2024-09-18 17:09