Technology centrino notebooks with effective and reasonably priced docking solutions

[stoic]

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so as i further refine my next computer purchase, i've decided that the best thing would be a centrino notebook that i can set in a docking station and hookup to external HD, monitor, dvd/rw, etc.

does anyone here have experience with these docking units? i like the ibm stuff but it's just so expensive that i'm wondering if there are any more reasonably priced solutions out there?


thanks a ton,

S

 

[flighterdoc]

so as i further refine my next computer purchase, i've decided that the best thing would be a centrino notebook that i can set in a docking station and hookup to external HD, monitor, dvd/rw, etc.

does anyone here have experience with these docking units? i like the ibm stuff but it's just so expensive that i'm wondering if there are any more reasonably priced solutions out there?


thanks a ton,

S

True docking stations are terribly expensive. If you don't mind hooking up a few wires, just use the regular ports on the laptop. Right now for instance, I have a combination USB hub/keyboard/mouse hub hooked up to my laptop, along with speakers and a 19" flatscreen. I have to unplug 4 wires total (VGA, power, speaker, USB) to disconnect everything, including my wireless keyboard/trackball, printer, external HD, etc. The hub cost me something like $25, much better than a dedicated docking station (that may not be useable on your next machine).

 

[stoic]

True docking stations are terribly expensive. If you don't mind hooking up a few wires, just use the regular ports on the laptop. Right now for instance, I have a combination USB hub/keyboard/mouse hub hooked up to my laptop, along with speakers and a 19" flatscreen. I have to unplug 4 wires total (VGA, power, speaker, USB) to disconnect everything, including my wireless keyboard/trackball, printer, external HD, etc. The hub cost me something like $25, much better than a dedicated docking station (that may not be useable on your next machine).

so how do you organize this stuff so you still have tidy desk space? my ocd-ness would not like a notebook and monitor and keyboard and mouse all sitting out on my desk.

what about a more generic port replicator? are there significant disadvantages to using one instead of a docking station? this idea of simple connectivity sounds nice... i've tired of messing with my mouse//printer/speakers/webcam/pda up evertime i move my computer.

 

[flighterdoc]

so how do you organize this stuff so you still have tidy desk space? my ocd-ness would not like a notebook and monitor and keyboard and mouse all sitting out on my desk.

what about a more generic port replicator? are there significant disadvantages to using one instead of a docking station? this idea of simple connectivity sounds nice... i've tired of messing with my mouse//printer/speakers/webcam/pda up evertime i move my computer.

For around $100 you can get a generic port replicator, with video, speakers, etc that plugs into a USB port. They're OK, but I went with the cheap version because it doesn't bother me to have all the stuff on the desk. I have a very, very large desk - executive office type with side return and a credenza, so I have lots of room. But, you can dress the cables so you only have a couple showing, and velcro cable ties are cheap at Staples - 50 for ten bucks or something (pick the color you like).

BTW, I have had friends who insisted on using plastic cable ties on ALL their cables to make everything nice and neat. Really bad idea when something breaks, and it annoys whoever has to fix it. The ethernet spec (802.11) also specifies thou shalt not wrap a tight tie around your ethernet cable.