what are d/bay modules?

There is a good chance that I will buy a dell latitude d820. In the configuration options, I am allowed to buy an external d/bay module. The closest info I can find on this is about d/port replicators, so I am still a bit confused. What exactly are these d/bay modules? Since I am assuming they are external, is the latitude d820 capable of connecting to the d/bay modules by default? What can I use these modules for? I also saw an option for an extra 6-cell media module battery; is the media module related to the d/bay module?

 

I'm not 100% sure of what you are talking about, but I'm going to assume you are talking about the D/Port docking station?

Basically a docking station allows you to connect several things to your laptop via one port (on latitude called the d-port) which on the latitudes is located on the bottom of the laptop. This way you don't have to connect everything in to your laptop everytime you want to use these devices. You can plug a keyboard, mouse, screen, speakers, USB hub, printer, etc all into the docking station. When you are done using the docking station or need to move to another location, all you have to do is unplug the laptop from the docking station.

Here is the actual docking station:
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04&sku=310-7704

And the docking stand for your laptop is to elevate your laptop if you are going to use for the screen. If you use an external monitor, you won't need this, but if you don't, you might want to consider this:
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04&sku=310-2881


The 6-cell media module battery is an extra battery that you could put in your the slot where your cd/dvd drive would. It is easy to exchange them out, and it gives you more battery life.

Did that help any?

 

Here is a picture of my configuration page for the d820 (it differs a bit from the standard page for the d820 because i'm on a premier login account for my college). Circled in red is the d/bay external module that I am questioning. In blue is the standard optical drive? And in green are the d/port docking stations which I think is what you described, SoutherGirl. In yellow is the 6-cell media module battery; so would that battery fit in the slot made for the "Module Bay Devices" or in the slot made for the "D-Bay (external) Optical Drives"? Sorry for not clarifying these things earlier.

 

No, its not the D/port docking station at all. The D-bay is where the optical drive is. On the latitudes you just pust in this button thing and you can pop the optical drive out and hot-swap it (change it while the computer is on and running). If you buy the D-bay external drives you get a plug that lets you plug the drive into the computer instead of putting it into the optical drive slot (basically useless, dont bother with any of them) the D-bay 6-cell battery goes in where the optical drive is as well, you can take out the optical and put that in for a 2nd battery for extra battery time.

 

Okay, i was talking about something completely different. Kingcrowing is right.

Sorry.