Laptop/Desktop/Dual Monitor Solution

Just got a new job, and they're giving me a Dell XPS 12 to use at work and remotely. I have an iMac and Macbook at home, so I'm considering getting rid of everything Apple and going with a new PC with dual monitors, and attach a docking station. I need a PC at home so laptop/docking station alone won't work (others use desktop).

1) If desktop is connected to monitors, and I also connect the monitors to docking station, how do I switch monitors for laptop use when I have the laptop connected to docking station?
2) Is there some kind of adapter/switch that would let me switch all the peripherals (keyboard/mouse/monitors) from desktop mode to laptop/docking station?
3) I plan to get a desktop with high end video card (maybe dual)...I know the laptop won't be able to drive the monitors with same resolution as desktop, but will switching from desktop to laptop create any resolution probs or will the monitors just default to laptop's display settings?

Thanks for any advice!

 

Use the monitor OSD to switch if it has multiple inputs or buy a switch.

You could have all the usb into a (usb3) hub and move a single usb cable over and use the switch as above.

The computers will remember each monitor and restore settings as they are plugged in. Monitors just follow whatever the gpu says.

 

It sounds like you are looking for a KVM switch?

Unless you are driving something like multiple 4K screens, the laptop should be able to display at the same resolutions as your desktop. Whether it can game or do other graphics intensive tasks fluidly at those resolutions is another question.

 

1. This can be either automatic (usually not smart enough) or via monitor's own menu system.
2. A KVM switch would pass thru keyboard, mouse and video but those might not support high resolutions you would need. A simpler USB switch would probably do better job, then monitors would be directly connected to the PC and docking station.
3. Unless you are aiming for dual 2560x1440 or something more exotic, there should not be any problems

I have dual 1920x1200 monitors at work, running my laptop with docking station and a desktop PC.
Monitors have dual inputs, so I have them directly connected to both PC and docking station. However I do use dual kb/mouse (I may also have third monitor and a 4-port KVM switch that I use to connect client computers and my test rig to the 3rd monitor using my PC kb/mouse). Simpler than it sounds

 

Rather than a hardware KVM switch, you may be able to use something like Mouse Without Borders (a utility developed and released by the Microsoft Garage). I typically use it with my laptop next to my desktop monitor, but it should work in this case, assuming both machines are on and connected to both monitors.