All-in-One for a Ultraportable

After using a Acer Travelmate laptop for 8 years I have recently bought a ultraportable with the following specification:

Windows 7
3rd generation Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-3317U Processor + Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000
4GB DDR3 System Memory (1 Dimm)
128GB (Solid State Drive Flash Module)
10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN
Intel 802.11a/b/g/n WLAN and Bluetooth(R)
4 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
1 SuperSpeed USB 3.0; 1 USB 2.0; 1 HDMI; 1 headphone-out/microphone-in combo
Multi-format digital media card reader
13.3-inch diagonal High Definition BrightView LED- backlit Display (1366 x 768)
Backlit keypad
HP TrueVision HD Webcam
Beats Audio


I wish to invest in either a custom built or readily available accessory box with components that when connected to my laptop will make up a complete desktop. I have plans for a home office and Im not into gaming but occasionally work on photoshop/coreldraw/editing videos to make marketing stuff. Primarily it is browsing with at times 160+ tabs open, emailing, developing websites etc. Love listening to music while working or relaxing.

It would be great if you guys can suggest stuff that could go into a box and all the components can connect to my laptop through a single usb cable or wireless.

If theres a all - in- one box readily available then please do let me know.

 

You could always go for a USB3.0 docking station where you can plug, your peripherals including keyboard, mouse, headphones/speakers. The problem is that video over USB, even 3.0 isn't optimal and it will do static images just fine, but you may get some stuttering with videos.

You could always go for plugging the monitor separately and have the rest plugged in a USB hub.

If your laptop has a docking port, a docking station would give you the best solution, but I seriously doubt that it has one.

 

Its a HP spectre XT and dont have compatible docking stations hence my post to build one..Most docking stations listed on amazon have plenty of ports but dont have a HDD and dvd writer included.Dont want too many boxes so if everything can be consolidated into one box will be a dream come true.

Wish to limit cables all over the place and hence also looking for a wireless option.

 

Nothing will turn a thin & light into a full-feature desktop. If you want that, buy a desktop or a high-end dockable notebook.

USB3.0 dock as mentioned by Tijo is your best bet, though again as he mentioned it will be better to plug the display directly into the HDMI/DP port of your notebook and not that of the dock.

 

Ok I may look silly asking this question. Im not a tech guy so need to get this clarified. Is it possible that all the components that come in a usb 3.0 dock can be bought and configured in a external enclosure with a 2 TB 7200 RPM HDD and dvd writer and this box could be configured on the wireless network so that my laptop can access the HDD??

Amazon.com: Toshiba Dynadock Docking Station (PA3927U1PRP): Electronics


Amazon.com: Lenovo ThinkPad USB 3.0 Docking Station (0A33970): Electronics

Which of these is better for my requirement?

Is it possible that the components in the above devices can be bought and consolidated into a micro pc kinda enclosure with HDD and DVD writer?

 

Is the HP xb4 Notebook Media Docking Station or the xb3000 Notebook Expansion Base Docking station compatible with HP Spectre XT ultraportable?

 

All USB3.0 docking stations are pretty much the same. And no, you can't put the docking station on a wireless LAN. Ultimately, the elegance you're looking for requires a notebook that you can dock - e.g. the Elitebook series.

 

I looked at it and no since it doesn't look like it has the port to connect the docking station, if you have no port for a dock, then a dock will not work aside from the mentioned USB 3.0 docks. Wireless doesn't have the bandwidth required to accomodate the connectivity options on a dock. A proof of concept using very high frequencies for short range was demonstrated this year at CES: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gw9Nx_1Pns. It has the same throughput as USB3.0, theoretically at least, but it will be a while until we see that kind of product on the market, if they make it to market at all.

I understand that you are trying to reduce cable clutter, but with the laptop you have, your best bet is a USB 3.0 dock with an external drive and an external optical drive attached to it using short cable. You could make some sort of sheld to hold them close together and the shorter cables would reduce the clutter. Use some sort of cable management, zipties or something more elegant. The bottom line is that with the laptop you have, you will have to deal with connecting at least two devices: the USB dock and the monitor. You will also have to deal with the cables of any peripherals you connect to the dock such as the external drive and optical drive. If you want the external to hold data and not programs, you could always move some part of the "cable issue" to your router by using a NAS instead.

HP does have a USB3.0 dock that resembles the docking stations you linked: http://www.shopping.hp.com/en_US/ho...d-Stands/VY847AA?HP-USB-Media-Docking-Station and a USB 3.0 port replicator: http://www.shopping.hp.com/en_US/ho...and-Stands/H2L61AA?HP-USB-3.0-Port-Replicator.

Docking stations for consumer notebooks were rare a few years ago and they pretty much went the way of the dodo since then (save a few rare exceptions, i.e. some Sony Vaios).

Ultimately, you will not find an integrated solution with optical and hard drive right now, the most elegant solution is a port replicator, but as Vogelbung and I pointed, you will only have those for business notebooks and they are manufacturer specific. You would need an HP elitebook with HP dock, Dell Precision or Latitude with Dell dock or a Lenovo Thinkpad (not all may have a docking port) with a Lenovo dock.

 

Thanks Tijo for the detailed explanation. Please do let me know if I could connect either of the below products:

1) Amazon.com: Apricorn Aegis NetDock Ultrabook Docking Station with Dual Layer DVD Burner and 4-Port USB 2.0 Hub AND-DVDRW (Red): Electronics

2) Amazon.com: Velocity Micro Vmultra Drive External Peripheral (Vmultradrive 102): Computers & Accessories


to this replicator

3) Amazon.com: HP USB 3.0 Port Replicator Docking Station (H1L08AA#ABA): Computers & Accessories


and then have just one USB cable from the replicator connect to my laptop?