Do you have an e-port or e-port plus replicator? Do you like it?

Thinking about getting one to go with my m4500 which is on order. Reviews seem ok though some complain it's bulky and other complained the release mechanism wasn't great. Worst was that someone said their comp wouldn't boot when docked.

Can anyone share experience and/or high res pics of what one looks like?

Thanks for any help!

 

Well the advanced port replicator/plus is a must if you plan on running two monitors via DVI or Display Port and offers better connectivity.

The standard replicator is fine if you are running one display and dont have a ton of accessories.

The construction is good, we have over 100 docks deployed now for e-series and none have failed.

The Advanced dock is larger but not crazy.
(See pictures)

The negatives are if you are using display port, there are some serious bugs with docking/undocking resolution sync using dual monitors and even single displays. I had to go back to DVI on the M6500, M6400 and E6400. Expect the same from the M4500.

Also if you use multiple docking stations you may have odd resolution change issues where it does not switch to the default when in and out of the dock.

But if you are using 1 dock, with DVI or VGA you will literally have problems 1 in 50 docks.

Nothing a reboot usually does not fix.

Attached are pics.

 

Thanks so much that's very helpful. I can't thank you enough for the pics.

Some more q's if I can trouble you!
1) I plan to use the laptop monitor and an external monitor. Your pic shows it closed but I assume you can dual desktop with the laptop notebook being one of them and an external (DVI or VGA) being the second
2) Are all the "e-ports" the same. Dell is always so confusing. They have this one and this one. Dells customer service tells me I need the first one because the second one is for 17" notebooks only. Based on the pics you have, why does it make a difference what the width of the laptop is? Also the first one has a 130 watt and the second a larger 210 watt. Why?
3) How is the eject? You press that button and it pushes up on the laptop to break it free?
4) How is cooling? It doesn't look like it interferes much but it also does get the bottom off the ground

Anything else I should know. I hate to ask questions about something so simple but Dell makes everything SUCH a pain. Thanks again so much for your help.

 

I have one of each type of dock, the advanced for home, and a regular for contracting onsite. Maybe I can answer your questions?

1) Yes, you can use the laptop display and one external display. Or you can close the lid and use two external displays. However you can NOT use more then two displays (i.e. laptop display + 2 external displays) as the internal display card only supports a max of 2. Its weird because the Windows "display properties" window will properly detect all three displays, you just can't enable more then two.

2) Their are two styles of E-ports - Basic and Advanced. However I think I know what you mean by your question... all the "Advanced" E-Ports are the same... so are all the "Basic" E-Ports. What is different is the power adapters for them. That is the difference in the part numbers - which adapter is included. I have a M6500, which means I need a beefy 230W brick power adapter for both my E-Port basic and E-Port Advanced. An M4500 would probably get by with less (I think the 130? Or the 90? I donno). Also, the beefy power adapters are backwards compatible with less power hungry notebooks -- your M4500 could dock into my 230W powered dock. However this doesn't work the other way... if I don't have a powerful enough adapter, my M6500 will complain that it can't charge the battery and will run at reduced performance. However it will still work otherwise.

3) Yes, you push the button and it pops upward. It could be better but it gets the job done. Actually the system is really nice if you have a CRT stand, as the button the the CRT stand triggers the disconnecter lever on the dock. This wasn't the case on the older D-Port series, where I had to reach all the way into the back to undock.

My big complaint focuses on the "docking".... it would be nice if there was a better guide to dock the unit, I have to find the "sweet spot" in the middle before pushing it down into the connector. There is no guide. It also could just be the fact that I have an M6500, which is a big beefy notebook. The older D-port replicator I had with a smaller Latitude D830 was much easier to dock.

4) Seems good on cooling, haven't had any issues. There are gaps along the back and the bottom between the dock and the notebook that provide sufficient airflow. These gaps are "designed" into the way the notebook fits.

Overall I noticed the same issues every now and then on my dock with video not connecting. Nothing a reboot or resolution change can't fix.

Also wish I could run 3 monitors natively, but I bought one of those DisplayLink USB adapters for a third monitor, and that seems to work ok for my needs.

 

gripper, thanks for all the thorough answers! I think I was just getting confused because the dell rep led me to believe that the second link was for 17" laptop somehow because of the size.

Let me ask this, is the power adapter you use with the e-port the same size you would use for the laptop. The M4500 is spec'd for a 130 watt adapter, so would a doc w/130w adapter be the way to go?

 

merlin,

Yup, the power adapter used for the notebook is the same model power adapter used for the dock (or vice-versa... it is the same).

And it looks like the 130W would be the model to get for your M4500.

Just to give you an idea at the power adapter interchangeability... Dell also makes a "slim" model 230W power adapter (sold as an upgrade to the M6500). This is because the 230W "normal" adapter (which is also the one included with my dock) is literally the same dimensions of a standard masonry brick!

However due to a shipping snafu on the upgraded accessory, I just so happened to end up with an extra "slim" 230W power adapter. And that is the one I have plugged into my e-port advanced replicator because it fits better under my desk then the "brick" -- which I slide under the nightstand in the bedroom.

 

The regular e-port will support two monitors just fine, just has to be one VGA and one DVI or displayport. IE there are only one of each type connector but you can use 2 of them for dual monitors.

 

Are you sure it is 230W? I thought 130W was standard with the docking stations.

John

 

Just thought I'd add my (very short) comments.

I have an E6400 and an E-port which I use to drive one external monitor through DVI. I have also used the VGA of the dock. Both interfaces work well with no problems.

Although occasionally I also use the laptop screen (BTW, although others have already answered, I confirm it is possible), mostly I use only the external screen.

The standard E-port has 6 USB ports of which one is also eSATA, if I recall correctly. 3 are behind and 3 are on the left side of the dock. Add this to the laptop for 10 total USB ports, 2 of which are eSATA. More than enough for anyone, I'd say.

The undocking mechanism makes a noise which is louder than I'd expect, but I've inspected all the relevant latches and contact surfaces and no scratches, dents or whatever are present, neither on the laptop nor on the dock. So, as said previously, it gets the job done.

The dock also has output and input sound jacks. I use it with a simple 2.0 set and it works well. When docked the external speakers get the sound, when undocked the laptop speakers get the sound. Never tried plugging in both the dock and the laptop output jacks.

I have tried docking and undocking while hibernated or sleeping, and no problems arise. The only noticeable thing is that it takes a while (a few seconds) before all the external USB hardware (keyboard and mouse) is recognized.

Finally, my father has two advanced E-ports (one at home, one at work), each of which drives two monitors through DVI. He reports no problems with them.

EDIT -- one thing that might concern potential buyers: both docks will fit the laptop whether you have a flush battery (4-cell or 6-cell) or an extended battery (9-cell). Both the basic and the advanced docks have a plastic part that can be extended or retracted to make it the "right" size.

 

This unit seems to indicate that it comes with a 210W adapter.

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/...etail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04&sku=430-3312