S Series Port Replicator

Who has one and wants to comment on it? I specifically want to know if it's easy to stick my laptop on and and remove. I want to get one mainly because the cords off the left and right sides of my laptop look horrible.

 

mmm- A couple of things that I have found out about the port replicators. Here goes-
The VGP-PRS1 is discontinued- it is replaced by (guess what) the VGP-PRS2.
The -2 version is backward compatible with all S series (170,270,360) and works with the new 380. HOWEVER the POWWER SUPPLY (that does NOT COME WITH THE UNIT- ridiculous) is different depending on the S model that you have. The "older" models (170, 270 and 360) use the VGP-AC16V8 power supply. While if you have a 380 or above it uses the (much larger and heavier) VGP-AC19V10. So remember you have to add $ 89 to the price of the port replicator for the power supply since you probably dont want to have to keep plugging and unplugging your replicator everytime you come and go.

As far as what it is and its convenience- I would not have a notebook without it. While I wish this had one more USB port it is great and convenient. But Sony does ONE THING WITH THEIR REPLICATORS that NO ONE ELSE DOES (with a thin and light computer like the S) The DVI-D port on the replicator will drive External flat panels digitally to resoultions up to 1900 x 1200! That is the resolution of the Sony and HP 23" widescreen flat panels!!! Only loaded down Dell computers (big heavy and expensive) will drive these serieous external resolutions. So from that stand point, as a desktop replacement, the entire S series line is a clear WINNER! So I hope all that helps- even the Sony online reps have a hard time with the above info

 

I find the unplugging of the power supply rather cumbersome. I am too cheap to buy a another power supply so I live with it. I agree that not supplying one is rather dumb, but I guess they just want to make additional money. I love plugging in my full-size monitor and keyboard. There was a slight disagreement between both of the keyboards, but they seems to have worked out their problems. I find that when I turn on the number lock on the large keyboard it somehow, also does the same on the laptop and the same thing happens with the Caps lock. It has also knocked off my laptops ability to know the Quicken password, that's how I know the laptop's Cap's lock was on. The locks are "on" on the laptop even when its off the replicator so watch for that. When you remove the laptop from the replicator, just do a lock check...I am using a VGN-S260