Dockingstation / Portreplicator m17x R3

Hey guys,

A friend will buy a R3 soon, and hes thinking on getting a dockingstation for his R3. Due to the fact that the R3 has no connectors and the like on the bottom (like Lenovo Thinkpads), how comfortable a those devices really? He gave me two links:

KENSINGTON TECHNOLOGY GROUP Kensington Notebook Universal Dock : Notebook-Zubehör | Dell Deutschland

TARGUS Targus USB2.0 Docking Station mit Video - Docking Station : Notebook-Zubehör | Dell Deutschland

Does anybody have experience with those? I wonder how many cables need to be plugged in when returning to the desk. One for power (plugged into the R3 itself) and a USB? How is it possible to get a descent 3d performance when the video out goes through USB (as it seems)?

 

Get a cooler.

There are some that can even hold an HDD.

 

Do you have an example? Hows the cooler connected to the alienware?

 

Look for the Zalman ZM-NC2500 Plus. Not sure if that is what you are looking for.

 

what ports are you looking for? the r3 comes with 2x usb 2.0 ports, 2x usb 3.0 ports and 1x combo esta/usb2.0 port. plus a mini dp, hdmi in, hdmi out and a standard vga connection.

thats seriously alot of connections.

 

^^ what he said ^^^ docking stations were used on seriously older laptops so as to save room on the chassis from so many connections. They usually used a proprietary port on the back of the laptop to distribute multiple ports on the back of a docking station to one port on the laptop. They're really pointless on todays laptops since today's laptops come with a plethora of connections already anyway.

 

Thanks for posting my problem, Chillcut.

The Zalman ZM won´t help, sorry, i need more ports!

Maybe it´s a bit easier, when i explain from the start...
I want a desktop replacement. I do have other hardware here, which i think i definetly need. When connecting all that stuff to the Laptop, i have lots of cables on both sides and when looking at that, it tends to make me unhappy.
I really do want a neat workingspace, so one USB alone is always better than the variety of six or seven cables.
Plus: My Wife can use the dock to connect her laptop as well, for a quick print, for saving data, ... whatever.

So, does someone have any experience with the Kensington Dock? Expecially the video performance via USB?

 

I'm a DIY kind of guy who DIYs in order to save money. I created my own notebook dock station by flipping a mesh letter tray over, attaching a usb hub underneath along with a fan. I also have another usb hub out of site connected to the primary one underneath my "dock".

This way with the plug of one usb I am connected to my printer, optical drives, keyboard and mouse.

I have no issues plugging in a couple more cables to charge or play music.

No experience in regard to video performance via usb. Sorry.

 

Actually dockingstations arent for old laptops only. And they arent used to get more ports exclusivly. The main reason for a dockingstation nowadays is to dock (hence the name!) your laptop in it when returning home / your desk at work / etc. so you have not to plug in ANY cables. In the case of lenovo thinkpads the docks wont give you any more ports than the laptop itself already has, instead you just havent to do anything besides docking it in.

Aaaaaanyway, just wanted to clear up the confusion about the application area for dockingstations.

In the case of my friend it is the same deal: Hes looking for a solution to use his laptop on the run as well as a desktop replacement on his desk w/o the hassle to plug cables in / out.

 

Then you should look into the Dell M6600

 

He wants a R3, so the M6600 isnt an option

 

best solution imo is to have him plug his mouse and keyboard into the usb ports on his monitor (if it has them), then when at the desk all he needs to connect is power, monitor, and 1 usb.

I do agree though that a port on the bottom like there E6500's or M6600's would be real nice. I'm currently looking to replace my desktop with a laptop so I can game on the go, but will also be connecting my old monitors and peripherals to it when it's at home sitting on the desk. Having just the one connection for everything would be really convenient.

 

I use the Zalman NC-2000 cooler. I have to unplug a grand total of 4 cables to remove my laptop from my desk. They are the AC power cord, mini Displayport from monitor, USB cable from USB hub on monitor, and audio output cable to speakers/headphones. My keyboard, mouse, printer, and the Zalman cooler are all plugged into the USB hub on my Dell monitor.

I am fine with this, and I don't think you are going to be able to do much better.

 

As do I.

Only four cables to disconnect/connect to my DIY dock station.

Power, VGA (haven't upgraded to HDMI yet), USB hub, and audio.

This is true.