Mon Oct 22, 2012, 10:49 AM

Tell me about PC laptop docks, please.

Caution: My questions are always wordy. I like to give a lot of info up front.

BACKSTORY/CONTEXT

My computer infrastructure is aging. My old desktop is running very slow for browsing and I don't want to try upgrading RAM as 184 pin is hard to find in 2G per stick configs and it's old. Did I say it's old? I'm tired of rebuilding/upgrading it.

I do have several laptops but none of my laptops have a port on the bottom for a dock. So I would like to just replace this one desktop with an Emachines E725 that works well but has a bad display lamp (for this model you have to replace the lamp and screen at the same time).

HERE COMES THE QUESTION

So I google on a hunch and find things called USB docks. But I want one that will allow control of the laptop with the laptop closed because the display does not work. So why leave it open to take up space and gather dust when I can keep it closed and put it in a rack on the side of the desk, right? I want a USB dock that works like a dock for Dell office laptops with the connectors on the bottom (which mine does not have). Does such a thing exist?

7 replies, 506 views

Reply to this thread

Always highlight: 10 newest replies | Replies posted after I mark a forum

Replies to this discussion thread

7 replies	Author	Time	Post
Tell me about PC laptop docks, please. (Original post)	Gold Metal Flake	Oct 2012	OP
There are, but..	sir pball	Oct 2012	#1
Yeah, I can just plug in a monitor and use it, it's just that the dead LCD is in the way.	Gold Metal Flake	Oct 2012	#2
You can't get it to run with the lid closed?	sir pball	Oct 2012	#4
Have not tried.	Gold Metal Flake	Oct 2012	#5
What OS you running?	sir pball	Oct 2012	#6
Seven. nm	Gold Metal Flake	Oct 2012	#7
IMHO...	discntnt_irny_srcsm	Oct 2012	#3

Response to Gold Metal Flake (Original post)

Mon Oct 22, 2012, 11:12 AM

sir pball (1,152 posts)

1. There are, but..

..they're usually subpar. Every universal dock I found has pretty horrid video since it's apparently getting it over USB which is entirely suboptimal. Since you don't plan on actually moving the laptop, it would probably be easier, cheaper, and all-round better to just buy some kind of stand to prop it up and out of the way and then directly plug in video and I/O.

Dock:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&N=-1&isNodeId=1&Description=laptop+docking+station&x=0&y=0

Reply to this post

Response to sir pball (Reply #1)

Mon Oct 22, 2012, 11:20 AM

Gold Metal Flake (13,776 posts)

2. Yeah, I can just plug in a monitor and use it, it's just that the dead LCD is in the way.

I could also leave it open and put it in a rack in the side of the desk and plug a monitor, keyboard and mouse into it and get on with using it. It's in a small room, no traffic so the laptop would be safe.

The above would work, it just messes with my sense of order. Eventually I will find a smoking deal on a desktop. I'm watching Fat Wallet for one.

Reply to this post

Response to Gold Metal Flake (Reply #2)

Tue Oct 23, 2012, 11:41 AM

sir pball (1,152 posts)

4. You can't get it to run with the lid closed?

Every laptop I've owned has some setting or workaround to enable the external monitor port to stay live when the lid is closed, some are as simple as changing the power settings to not sleep when closed.

Reply to this post

Response to sir pball (Reply #4)

Wed Oct 24, 2012, 04:50 PM

Gold Metal Flake (13,776 posts)

5. Have not tried.

If I can get it to run when closed and start up with a keyboard command I will be in clover.

Reply to this post

Response to Gold Metal Flake (Reply #5)

Thu Oct 25, 2012, 12:21 AM

sir pball (1,152 posts)

6. What OS you running?

I think Windows has a "do nothing" (keep running normally) option for lid closed in the power management settings. Don't know about Linuxes specifically but I'd imagine it's in the same vein; when my AspireOne ran Ubuntu it had that particular setting in Power Management. Now with PC-BSD it never sleeps, sometimes incomplete hardware support is a feature not a bug

Reply to this post

Response to sir pball (Reply #6)

Thu Oct 25, 2012, 03:37 PM

Gold Metal Flake (13,776 posts)

7. Seven. nm

Reply to this post

Response to Gold Metal Flake (Original post)

Mon Oct 22, 2012, 01:40 PM

discntnt_irny_srcsm (5,667 posts)

3. IMHO...

...your Emachines E725 can be connected via its VGA port to a standard monitor. If you have a USB mouse and keyboard to use. Just plug everything in and it should all work fine.

I concur with sir pball's opinion of USB docks.
If you're looking for a low priced notebook and docking station: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834310733&name=Laptops-Notebooks

Reply to this post

Computer Help and Support (Group)