What's up, dock? (for W3V)

So my good news is that I’ve got an ASUS W3V on the way. The not as good news for me is that I when I decided on the W3V, I forgot about one thing: docking it at work.

I’ve read the other posts, about how we’ll all be wireless in the future, and how you can get VGA from USB, etc.

But can anyone tell me if they’ve actually come up with an elegant solution? The way I figure it, no matter what I do, I’m going to have 4 cables (for seven peripherals) to attach and detach every time I go to and leave my office.

External monitor (VGA port)
Network (LAN port)
Power
External Mouse, External Keyboard, Printer (USB)

An elegant solution would take into account that:

I want my desk to look professional,
I want to use as little desk space as possible,
I want it to look uncluttered,
I want fast and easy attach/detachment

One thought I have about placement is to lay the notebook flat under a monitor stand with the monitor on top. Another is to stand the notebook up somehow behind and parallel to the monitor.

All ideas welcomed!

By the way, now that I've joined the ASUS community, can someone tell me how to say ASUS? Like the hispanic "Jesus"? Like those people are a bunch of " "?

 

I'm spanish, and ASUS doesn't sounds like JESUS at all

 

Well, can't speak much for the dock, but Asus is generally accepted to be pronouned as "A-Sys" "A" (say the letter), "Sys" (Like in System)

 

I wandered around Compusa this morning to see what's out there.

I think one problem is that I don't really understand the wireless/bluetooth technology. What can I say? I'm a dinosaur. I started seriously working with computers in 1987 - A Sharp "portable" (large heavy lunchbox type) with DOS and two 5.25" floppy drives. I've kept up over the years and I know a lot, but I don't know bluetooth, or really wireless infrared technology either.

I've been using a wireless mouse and keyboard for years with my Inspiron 8100, but there is a transmitter that has to be plugged into the USB port of the laptop. Does the technology in the W3V permit me to use wireless peripherals WITHOUT plugging anything in? If so, what should I look for when buying a peripheral (mouse, keyboard)?

I have an HP Laserjet 2200D that the manual says has a "Fast Infrared (FIR)" port. The manual does not mention this feature again. Does FIR in my printer (I do see what appears to be a FIR "window" on the front of the printer) permit me to print wirelessly? Is that line of sight only?

 

The W3V has an integrated Bluetooth Radio (receiver / transmitter). Bluetooth is the equilvant of wireless USB, a true plug N play tech (or in this case, "bring within range" and play ). All you need to do is to make sure the device is bluetooth enabled (usually denoted by the bluetooth icon).

One recommendation I'll make to you though, if you plan on using bluetooth extensively, replace the standard toshiba bluetooth stack that came with your W3V with the Widcomm one. The stack is a combination of driver and control software on a computer, allowing you to manage connected devices. The three big players are the standard Microsoft stack that comes with WindowsXP with Service Pack 2 (well integrated into the OS, but lacking in some features), the Widcomm stack (considered the best out there: loaded with features, small, and integrates well with the OS), and the Toshiba stack (the standard on the W3V--limited connection options, horrible interface design, does not flow with OS at all).

I'm using the widcomm stack on my W3V and I couldn't be happier.

more information on bluetooth here:
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/bluetooth.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluetooth

 

Really?

My bro called them about an issue we were having with a motherboard, and the tech support guy pronounced it A (as in bay) SOOS...which would make it sound like Jesus (Hey-soos) in spanish.


This was over a year ago, so maybe they changed it, or maybe the guy that worked there had it wrong.

 

Thanks, Makken. I did read the "How Stuff Works" info and it helps a bit.

But.... what's a "stack"? and how easy is it to change it?

Also, surfing around I see that they make bluetooth adapters for non-bluetooth devices such as my printer. Do those work well?

 

The "stack" is just a term to group the bluetooth driver and the bluetooth control / management software together. Ideally, it's easy to change, but in real life, manufacturers are trying to lock you into using a specific stack. For example, the bluetooth radio in the W3V is made by toshiba, and widcomm removed support for it a few driver revisions ago (even though it's completely compatible). There's a quick and easy way to add support for it back in *cough*INF file*cough*. there's a few more things you have to do. I'll highly recommend you check out the bluetooth software forum at GSMforums ( http://forum.gsmhosting.com/vbb/forumdisplay.php?f=237 ) if you're wanting to change your stack; wealth of information there.

I can't speak for the adaptors as I haven't tried them. But honesty for a printer, I'll rather have it on the network than print over bluetooth.

Soldat, I've never heard of that pronouncation before... I've been calling it A-Sys for as long as I knew the company, and the people at the Asus fremont headquarters also called it that.

 

I always thought it was A - soos as well. I wonder what the actuall pronunciation is.

 

I'm pretty sure it's Ah-Seuss(Like Dr. Seuss....Cat in the Hat, you know..) - I went to a Computer convention last year, and one of the PowerPoint Presentations was by ASUS about whitebooks and the rise of whitebooks against 'pre-esembled' units.

 

x2!, i used to call it 'A-sys' but after many calls w/ tech support found out it was actually prouced "A-seuss'.