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    Docking station for the m1330 or m1550 ?

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by SoundsGood, Apr 3, 2008.

  1. SoundsGood

    SoundsGood Notebook Virtuoso

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    I'd like to move from a Dell Latitude D420 to an XPS m1330 (or maybe m1550).

    One of the things I love about the D420 is the docking station (Dell calls it a MediaBase). Since I work from home, I often move my laptop from its Base (which is hooked up to the power cord, an external monitor and a mouse) to the kitchen table or elsewhere. Being able to "snap" the laptop in and out of the Base is very, very easy. I'm not too happy with the thought of having to manually plug everything in and out each & every time I move the laptop.

    Is there anything similar for the m1330 or m1550? Third party, maybe?

    Thanks...
     
    SoundsGood, Apr 3, 2008
    #1
  2. vinumsv

    vinumsv MobileFreak™

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    hmm AFAIK there is no Docking Port in Either of the Laptop
     
    vinumsv, Apr 3, 2008
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  3. SoundsGood

    SoundsGood Notebook Virtuoso

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    Bummer. It's really nice to have.

    Question: Can an external monitor be plugged in and/or unplugged without shutting down the computer?
     
    SoundsGood, Apr 3, 2008
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  4. Kreeeee

    Kreeeee Notebook Evangelist

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    Yes, I do it all the time. Vista should automatically detect the new monitor being plugged in and give the correct resolutions in the display properties.
     
    Kreeeee, Apr 3, 2008
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  5. booji

    booji Notebook Deity

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    You can "hot-swap" monitors without a problem in Vista. There is no dock connector in the m13/1530 series but you can get a USB dock (i.e. Kensington SD100) which has video output.
     
    booji, Apr 3, 2008
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  6. SoundsGood

    SoundsGood Notebook Virtuoso

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    Thanks guys. As long as I can plug/unplug the external monitor without having to shut down I guess it won't be that much of a pain... but man, that MediaBase sure makes it simple.
     
    SoundsGood, Apr 3, 2008
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  7. Kreeeee

    Kreeeee Notebook Evangelist

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    HMDI connection makes it even easier.
     
    Kreeeee, Apr 3, 2008
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  8. SoundsGood

    SoundsGood Notebook Virtuoso

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    Hmmm, true. Good point. Hadn't thought about that.

    Too bad my 2007WFP doesn't have HDMI -- although I might be able to use an adapter.
     
    SoundsGood, Apr 3, 2008
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  9. L.Rawlins

    L.Rawlins Notebook Evangelist

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    You've never needed to shut the machine down... even in XP.
     
    L.Rawlins, Apr 3, 2008
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  10. Kreeeee

    Kreeeee Notebook Evangelist

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    HDMI -> DVI cable works perfectly :)
     
    Kreeeee, Apr 3, 2008
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  11. Kreeeee

    Kreeeee Notebook Evangelist

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    With VGA windows would only show the default resolutions (e.g. not 1360*778 on my HDTV) if you plugged a VGA cable in after bootup.
     
    Kreeeee, Apr 3, 2008
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  12. SoundsGood

    SoundsGood Notebook Virtuoso

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    Yep, I'm looking at MonoPrice as we speak (type? ;))
     
    SoundsGood, Apr 3, 2008
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