subject: Choosing the right Docking Station for your Laptop [print this page] Choosing the right Docking Station for your Laptop
Stands, Docking Stations and Port Replicators What Is The Difference?
Let's start by getting some terminology straight. Various terms such as Laptop Stand, Docking Station and Port Replicator are sometimes used universally in one capacity or another. To be clear here is the way I define them:
Laptop stands
Laptop stands are exactly what they sound like, a stand that you can set your laptop on. They are normally angled so that the back of the laptop is higher than the front similar to the effect you get from the legs on a keyboard. This angling is important because the less you have to extend your wrists to reach the keys, the less chance of discomfort.
The impetus behind a laptop stand is to minimize overheating. As I once read re: laptops; "You don't use them on your lap if you want to have kids."
Most laptop stands portable devices, they collapse, fold up, and can stow easily inside a carrying case.
Docking Stations
If you have a dedicated place for using your laptop, you may want to upgrade from a stand to a docking station. Stands support a laptop while a docking station is more elaborate. They feature ports for an external monitor, mouse, keyboard, as well as Ethernet, phone, and USB ports. The docking stations are definitely a step up and its reflected in the price. Where a stand can be found for $20 or less, you'll be hard pressed to find a good docking station for less than $100. For some examples of Docking Stations try Googling "HP XB 3000" or "HP XB 4000".
Port Replicators
Port replicators take the port replication features of a docking station and offer it as a standalone package. They feature attachment points for an external monitor, mouse, and keyboard, as well as Ethernet, phone, and USB ports. HP made a number of Port replicators including the KN744 that also powers the laptop. This was a good end run solution to power laptops that has lost their AC port ability as it ran off the #2 or #3 Port. However in recent years HP stopped including the large ports on its laptops removing the KN744 laptop power option. However, all is not lost as there is still a number of Universal Port Replicators such as the HP VY843AA which will run on any laptop with a USB port. While it won't power up the laptop, the ports are replicated using the USB port.
For additional information try visiting www.inandoutcomputers.com and search any of the above SKU numbers.
