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570

Docking Station for Vostro

570 points posted to Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Latitude products, Vostro products by coachcg 07/21/07

Vostro looks like a good system and has some strengths over Latitude like the enhanced integrated sound, longer battery life, and better screen option, but lacks docking capability. So I went with Latitude, but I could really use those features mentioned. Could Dell look into adding those options to Latitude notebooks or adding a docking option to Vostro?

jorge
07/22/07		 Just buy a desktop and quit trying to make your laptops be desktops.
brickout
07/27/07		 I agree that ALL Dell laptops should have a docking station. I simply will never buy a laptop without a dock, and I like the Vostro. I nearly pulled the trigger on one before I saw that it lacks a station. Hopefully one is in the works and the laptop was market ready a little quicker than the dock.
joshuacl
08/03/07		 If dell added a docking station port and a gig Ethernet connection to the Vostro. What would be the point of having the line? It will cost more and be pretty much a Latitude.
nicopoon
08/29/07		 likewise. especially when you need DVI and the notebook only has VGA out
davidshq
08/31/07		 Must have a docking station.
foo_
09/24/07		 Ditto on the above. I believe all laptops should have a docking station capability.
blue_ridge
10/23/07		 My four year old Sony Vaio is dying. I've loved it but decided I needed a new computer. I want what are often called "Desktop Replacements." I.e., for the most part it does stay on my desktop hooked to a much larger monitor and many other peripherals. However, I want to be able to take it from room to room when I want to, and on the road. I visit my daughter in the mountains quite a bit, but need to work there during the day. I DO NOT want to have to mess with two computers, a notebook and a desktop, from both a cost and synchronization standpoint. This is why I want a laptop NOT a desktop as some others have suggested.

However, very common points of failure on Laptops are either the hinges (and connections within) or the connectors (from constantly plugging/unplugging). And even though I'm getting a 17" screen, I want larger on a day to day basis. Put this together with not wanting to hassle with plugging/unplugging more than ONE cord when I move from desktop based to portable and ..... drum roll please ....... voila, you need a docking station.

In fact the three most important things I was after in a laptop were a 17" monitor, a 10 numeric pad, and a docking station. That is why I ordered a customized HP dv9500t. However, HP has now sent me four straight defective computers since August. They do not seem to understand why they all had the same corrupted files, inability to use the restore disk, and system mismatches, even straight out of the box and after trying various permutations of Vista operating systems and restore disks.

So, I decided to buy my first Dell ever due to the feedback I'd gotten on Dell's relatively fast delivery of a customized computer, and 1 day extended service options. Not near as "sexy" as all the other computers I was looking at but at least I could get a 10 key and a 17" monitor. But then I discover - NO DOCKING station.

Given my desperation, I decided to proceed with the purchase anyway. And I'm hoping that perhaps there will be improvements to quasi solutions such as Toshiba's DynaDock which will allow them to be somewhat better than they are now. But I know that every day I have this Dell I'm going to be frustrated that it doesn't have a docking station. AND, I will be spending my time looking for another computer that does have a true docking station. I don't know what I may find, but for me to consider another Dell no matter how good this one turns out, will only happen if absolutely no one else has a docking station when it's time for me to buy another laptop.

Oh yes - And I want a flat type docking station, not one that holds the notebook up. I want to slide the whole out of the way underneath my monitor stand.
coachcg
10/30/07		 Attention all - started a new post under "Combined Docking Station Wish List" to try and consolidate requests from my post here and other posts along the same line.
bioanarchism
May 3		 A docking station would be nice because the last thing I need is to rip out the connecting interfaces on my Vostro.

The repeated act of plugging in and out is only going to wear out the interfacing connectors, and the last thing I need is to turn in my notebook for scrap/repair just because I can't connect my mobile hard drive to my notebook.

perhaps a workaround for the first slew of Vostro notebooks could be achieved? i wouldn't mind sending in my notebook for some cosmetic/functionality makeovers. it would be nice for a docking station.
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