The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    USB Docking Station with Built-In Optical Drive?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by thirdin77, Mar 4, 2011.

  1. thirdin77

    thirdin77 Newbie

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    7
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    As my next notebook/netbook will probably not have an optical drive, I want a USB docking station that has one built in as I would rather not have a USB docking station and a USB optical drive crowding my desk top.. if possible.

    I know some brands make docking stations for a particular laptop model/range but I don't know what laptop I'll eventually buy, so those few model-specific docking stations likely won't help me.

    Any input is good.
     
    thirdin77, Mar 4, 2011
    #1
  2. newsposter

    newsposter Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    801
    Messages:
    3,881
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    why not use the docking station you want and then add a USB optical if needed?

    It's pretty hard to predict which docking stations will be available for which laptops 'in the future'.
     
    newsposter, Mar 4, 2011
    #2
  3. thirdin77

    thirdin77 Newbie

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    7
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I'm looking for a USB docking station that's universal- not made for any particular model of notebook- that includes an optical drive.
     
    thirdin77, Mar 4, 2011
    #3
  4. Judicator

    Judicator Judged and found wanting.

    Reputations:
    1,098
    Messages:
    2,594
    Likes Received:
    19
    Trophy Points:
    56
    I'm not sure any of those exist, largely because the bandwidth requirements that would be needed would be pretty extreme. With USB 3.0 now, it's probably possible, but I don't think anyone's gotten around to it yet. Even dedicated docking stations rarely have optical drives; only a few even have a hard drive bay.
     
    Judicator, Mar 5, 2011
    #4