Anyone using the Vaio USB Docking Station

I just ordered myself an FW and will be ordering my girlfriend a CR within the next couple of days. The idea of peripherals hooked to a common docking station so either of us can use them is attractive, but I'm not sure how well it'll work. Is anyone using the VGP-UPR1 version? If so, what's been your impression of it. Most notably, how good of video can you get to your external monitor and are you able to hook up decent external speakers to it?

 

i don't see the purpose of a docking station? can sombody explain? does it let you like use 2 sets of headphones, 2 external monitors, ect..??

 

That will be the same as a normal docking station it can only output 1 external monitor,2 headphone will work fine and it's handy.

 

Isn't just so you don't have to keep plugging in and unplugging various items when moving to and from your regualr workstation?

 

Exactly. In theory, you plug your monitor, speakers, mouse/keyboard, printer, and ethernet into the docking station. Then when you sit down, all you have to plug in is power and one USB cord and you have access to everything (without wearing out all the ports from frequently plugging/unplugging things).

 

its like .. you get this docking station, connect an external monitor, keyboard and mouse etc to it.. and then just put your notebook on the docking port(connect to usb) and suddenly you have a desktop.. full keyboard, big huge screen.. whatever.. for your convenience..

 

i got the vaio z11vn/b and the vaio universal USB docking station VGP-UPR1. its working fine, i am using itin my office where i hook up the external lcd/tv, keyboard, mouse, printer, external HDD...etc. I can see only 4 non critical drawbacks comparing to the specific docking station of the model:

1- u need to charge the laptop directly as it is not charged through the docking station
2- i cannot restart the laptop while connected to the docking station (it just cant load the windows) so i have to first log to windows then attach the USB docking station
3- each time i connect it i have to re do the external monitor settings so that i use it as a main monitor not an extention to the laptop screen
4- it doesnt work on XP only Vista (i have the XP downgrade disk and i was thinking of downgrading)

 

Are you able to run quality external speakers through it? If so, is that through the headphone jack or is there somewhere else to plug them in?

Thanks!

 

there is a headphone jack on the docking port where you can plug your external speakers...

 

i havent connect external speaers yet but yes there is a headphone jack

 

Have you tried running videos on the external screen, while connected to the USB dockingstation?

What resolution do you have on your external screen and how big is it?

 

i wish it had hdmi output

 

i didnt watch videos on the external screen, its a dell W1700 LCD/TV Wide screen. i think the resolution on this screedn ws 1280 X 768

 

HI Nawara

You said you are using this with the Z series, yet sony web site support say that it doesnt support Z or SR series, i want to use with SR series, but didnt know if it would work? did you have to install any fancy drivers? or did the laptop recognise it automatically? Any further information on how you got it would would be excellent

 

consider just getting an expresscard dock instead (say - belkin).

Or just doing without a docking station (I'm of the opinion, generally that anything apart from a specific dock which requires you to plug in only -one- cable, is not super useful: Can just get a usb hub instead, and you just ahve to plug in usb hub + monitor + power).

Of course, that assumes you have a usb wired ethernet or no need for one.