docking station for VAIO Z series

Just received the Productivity Bundle from Sony that included a free Docking Station, Bluetooth mouse and a slime AC Adapter.

Everything is great, but there is one question that I hope someone here that had experience with VAIO docking station can help me out. The docking station has a DVI-D and a 15-pin VGA port. (I am only using the VGA port since I don't have a DVD-D adpater). My question is if I get a DVI-D male to VGA female adapter, will it allow me to setup dual screen (on two external LCD, not one external LCD + notebook LCD).

The adapter is that not expensive, so I could buy it to try it out. But hoping someone can answer that question so I don't need to lose $10 for an adapter if it doesn't work. Tks!!

 

Everyone here says NO as the answer to your question. Only ONE external monitor will work with the Z. Same with the other laptops. There is a Matrox adapter that will help you out, I tried it and it works just fine. The only thing that didn't do was to rotate the monitors, as I use them on the vertical, at that didn't work with their adaptor, also Sony disabled that Rotate option in the Nvidia Control Panel.

 

Also as a easy easy fix to multiple extra monitors, check out LG's new line of USB monitors. Plugs into USB, but you still get the same dual-screen thing going easily.

 

Tks pampas. I'll give that Matrox adapter a try.

 

Its quite unbelievable that the Z series will not support dual monitors. Actually pretty sickening to find out after I purchased everything, dock included.

 

KuntryGeek - Dual monitors are supported after a fashion - laptop screen + dock.

I'm not sure if there is any way to switch off the laptop screen and use two external displays.

THREE monitors are not supported, and such support is quite rare.


On a separate note, has anyone tried a 2560*1600 screen with the dock?

 

I do not think you can go that high over the dock, over the DVI-D. The DVI-D means DVI-digital, which goes up to 1920x1200 from what I know. It should have been DVI-DL, which comes from DVI-dual link, and that will go up to 2560x1600. But Sony didn't use the higher link. Myself I do not have a 30" display, and I won't buy one since it will not work if the specs are accurate. Maybe over HDMI on the side of the laptop, instead of the docking station.

Here are the specs, from sony style:
Compatible with VAIO® Z series notebooks.
Ports include: 3 USB 2.0, VGA, DVI-D, DC-in and Ethernet.
Includes Kensington lock.
Weight: 1.032 lbs.
Dimensions: 11" L x 1.25" H x 2.92" W

 

The ONLY docking station that supports 2 external displays comes from DELL and works with some of their better laptops. It's a shame that only they do it, everybody else is satisfied with 1 ext. display.

 

Well, I can tell you that the physical connector on the dock is a dual-link connector (has extra pins). Also, DVI-D is the official reference - I don't think DVI-DL is a standard, just a physical connector.

 

well, I don't know, but that's how wikipedia and all the stores who sell DVI cables explain it. In the docking station you see the holes, there are always all the holes, the pins in the cable are missing usually not the holes; but if it's not a dual-link DVI it will not work, with pins/holes or without.

I wound go to bestbuy and try on their monitors, but I don't think they have any 30's.

 

Ah. I didn't know that the holes are always there in the female DVI-D.

Edit: I should say that my assumption arose because the plug on the dock clearly does not support DVI-I - it's missing the holes for DVI-I.