Simplecom

Simplecom, stocked in full

Simplecom is an Australian brand of computer connectivity hardware, and Shoppers Spot is listed on the company's own Where to Buy page as a retailer of its products. The range here covers USB-C docking stations and hubs, SSD and hard drive enclosures, HDMI and DisplayPort cables, KVM switches, card readers, wireless adapters and desktop audio. Prices are in Australian dollars.

Docking stations, hubs and adapters

The largest part of the range. Multiport USB-C adapters that add HDMI, Ethernet, card slots and USB-A to a laptop with one cable; powered USB 3.0 hubs with individual switches; and adjustable aluminium laptop stands with a docking station built into the base. Dual-monitor docks in the range drive two 4K displays, and several carry USB-C Power Delivery so the laptop charges through the same connection.

Drive enclosures and internal expansion

Enclosures for 2.5-inch SATA drives, M.2 SATA, M.2 NVMe and dual-protocol M.2, in tool-free aluminium housings, plus dual-bay 3.5-inch RAID enclosures for desktop backup. On the inside, M.2 to PCIe expansion cards with aluminium heatsinks, and separate heatsinks with thermal pads for a bare drive.

Choosing one

Two things decide it, and getting either wrong means the drive will not fit or will not reach its speed. First, M.2 NVMe and M.2 SATA are not interchangeable even though the cards look alike - check which your drive is, or choose a dual-protocol enclosure that takes both. Second, the USB generation sets the ceiling: USB 3.2 Gen 1 is 5Gbps and Gen 2 is 10Gbps, and a fast NVMe drive in a 5Gbps enclosure is limited by the enclosure, not the drive.

Switches, capture and display

KVM switches for running two computers from one keyboard, mouse and monitor; bi-directional HDMI and USB switches for sharing a display or a device between two inputs; HDMI audio extractors with optical SPDIF and ARC; and a USB capture card for recording or streaming an HDMI source. HDMI 2.1 models in the range carry 8K at 60Hz, and HDMI 2.0 models 4K at 60Hz.

Wireless, charging and desk audio

Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E USB adapters, including dual-band and tri-band models and a Wi-Fi 6 with Bluetooth 5.3 combo, for putting current wireless into an older desktop. GaN wall chargers from 35W to 100W with USB-C and USB-A ports - GaN is what lets a high-wattage charger stay small enough to travel with. Plus USB condenser and desktop microphones and a plug-and-play USB soundbar.

Cables and card readers

USB-C, HDMI, DisplayPort and Ethernet cables in fixed lengths, USB-C to Lightning and USB-A to USB-C leads, and multi-slot card readers covering SD, microSD, CF, CFast, XD and Memory Stick - useful where a camera or drone card has to come off in the field.

Delivery is 3 to 5 business days Australia-wide with tracking, and returns are accepted within 30 days.