Laptop Docking Stations - Using your Laptop as a Desktop

Laptop docking stations come in all shapes and forms, they are often referred to as docks, or laptop port replicators, and they allow a laptop computer to be used pretty much the same as a desktop.

A good laptop dock should have the following.

As you can see in the image of an IBM Thinkpad docking station, all the cables fit tidily.

Note the dual graphic outputs, VGA and DVI, also notice the kensington lock on the right and the keys on the left which can be used to secure the laptop and docking station

Extra USB ports – usually from 4 to 6
Dual Video Outputs to support dual screen functionality (most will have a single VGA and DVI ports)
Its own power socket
Parallel and Serial ports (these are getting rarer though as USB takes over completely)
Extra USB Ports

as we have found many to provide inadequate power to ports such as USB

Parallel and Serial ports
Many laptop docking stations also have these types of older ports in addition to USB, Video etc; this is very useful for older printers or serial devices. We do however expect this to change as Parallel and Serial connection become obsolete.

One of the more common docking stations, for a Dell Latitude.

Again note the dual graphic outputs, Ethernet port, Serial ATA ports, 5 USB ports and audio ports, all in a relatively small unit

As you can see above a laptop dock gives us access to many more features than just the laptop itself

Most laptop seem to come with between 1 and 4 USB ports, most docking stations come with around 6, plus you can also use the ports on the laptop in addition to this if needed.

Dual Video Outputs
One of the big limitations of just about every laptop is the limit of 1 external screen, many docking stations come with 2 video outputs which means you can display an image across 2 external monitors.

Its Own Power Socket
Just about every laptop docking station should be self powered rather than powered from the laptop, if not steer clear of this type of laptop dock,

The purpose of laptop docking stations is simply to expand on a laptops capabilities,

by giving extra ports and enabling all connections to run from the dock itself meaning that you don’t have to remove a multitude of connections when you need to use it purely as a laptop,

its just a question of pushing the little button on the dock and ejecting the laptop, nothing else to unplug,

Then its just a question of doing the reverse when you want to use it again as a desktop computer.

Of course you can’t get a specific laptop dock for every laptop, but just check around and you will find that most of them do have a compatible docking station available.

It’s also worth checking generic types of docking station, but check compatibility first.

The prices of docking stations does differ greatly, but over the last few years as they have become more common in both home and work environments the prices have come down greatly.

Need a hand setting up dual monitors from your laptop dock ?

For more on laptop docking stations and how they can help look after your computer

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