We have an old Vostro desktop that is on the way out.  Rather than
getting a new desktop, I would like to use the desk, printer, monitor,
mouse. and keyboard with a variety of laptops.  What is my best bet as
far as docking stations and port replicators?  
 

Realistically you can do about everything with a VGA cable and a USB hub?

Does the question mark mean you are not sure, or are you asking why this is not right?


 

If I was doing this at work I'd be asking you quite a few questions about how you would use the equipment and what your full requirements are.  In this case I'm pointing you in a potentially cheaper direction if you think it will work for you.

Docking stations are usually brand-specific and don't always work with every laptop of said brand.  I know Dell does make one that works off USB, but it's buggy and loses its connection all the time.

Make the connections USB, and the monitor VGA _AND_ DVI inputs and your good to go.

I disagree.  Our office uses them every day with great results.


We have a bunch of Dell laptops at work (ATG D630s, M4300s, and M4400s), and maybe 15-20 docking stations.  They all work well, although I will say that we've had to have a few returned under warranty.

Having the laptop allows our guys to work on the road, in the office, and from home using the same computer with a minimum of hassle.  We had a few extra docking stations sitting around awhile back, so some of our guys snagged them (along with a few extra monitors) and set up a workstation from their house exactly like their workstation in the office.

Each docking station is connected to a dual (or triple) monitor setup, and each station has it's own power brick (plus one that some of our employees have in their travel bags for a total of 3) –– this allows the user to disconnect the laptop from the docking station at work, bring it home, plug it into the docking station there, and work from home if they want without changing anything.  Heck, they don't even have to open or close their laptop in the process.  Then if they need to go out on the road, they have a laptop they can bring with them without any hassle.

There isn't really much of a downside other than the usual issues of laptops not being as powerful as their desktop counterparts (really only applicable if you're doing CPU-intensive work like CAD or SolidWorks), plus the up-front expense.  Docking stations aren't cheap but they work nicely for their intended purpose.

For those of you saying that you can do the same thing with a USB hub and a monitor cable...eh, it isn't the same.  The docking port allows me to disconnect or connect the entire laptop in about 2 seconds without messing around with a bunch of cables (plus it allows me a full dual-screen setup, instead of laptop + 1 screen).  Some of our guys even have a full dual-monitor setup plus the laptop screen using a Matrox DualHead2Go system.

Google space docking   it may work with your PC  

Docking station are our basic setups. i have 2 new problematic Dells and looks like they may be related to the docking stations.
I've had older dells that would lose the cd drive when docked. Works fine when undocked. Known issue and will not be fixed per Dell.

I use the port replicator for my Dell Latitude D630 in my office so that I can have my 22" monitor for CAD work. When I want to si in the living room and surf ARFcom, like I'm doing right now, I undock and go. Works great.

I know I am behind the times, that is why I came and asked for help.  



So "universal docking station" is out.  



I will start looking at hubs and port replicators.  



THANKS for the replies.  




 

Is the actual hardware failing?  Or does it just run poorly?

A few years ago my mother started volunteering my services to set up her friend's computers without asking me.  Of course when they found out my standard rates they got all butthurt thinking I would do it for free because they knew my mother.  The solution I came up with was I would set up their new PC if I could have their old "broken" computer "for parts."  So I'd spend an hour plugging in their new PC, getting it to work on their network/ISP, configuring their email, etc.  And I'd leave with, at worst, a 2 year old PC.  Sometimes it was only a few months old.

In every single case the PC hardware was just fine.  It was just infected with a bunch of trojans and malware so it ran like shit.  Of course the owners thought it was broken, and since there was no way I was ever going to make any money off these people fixing their crap, I'd just tell them that yes, it's broken and you need to buy a new one.  Then I'd take the old PC home, format and reinstall Windows, and it would run as fast and clean as it did the day it came out of the factory.

One summer I think I got 15 or 16 computers.  I've still got 5 of these PCs running at my house.  Plus I've supplied friends with computers for bargain prices.  In fact, most of the time I'd trade instead of taking cash.  One guy who owns a welding and machine shop, metal fabrication and prototyping business ended up with 4 PCs - 2 for the shop, one for him and one for his wife at home - and owes me a ton of work.  Every time I need something fabricated, machined or TIG welded, I take it down there and he does it for free!!

Another guy who owns a small body and paint shop had a PC that puked, but was strapped for cash and couldn't afford a new one.  So I showed up with a 1 year old Dell for him.  Months later when some illegal pulled a hit&run in a Walmart parking lot, I just took the truck over to him and what would have cost me more than $1,000 got fixed for free.

So, is that Vostro actually suffering a hardware failure?  Or do you just need to blow out the dust and format the HD?

I run AVG and cc cleaner.  Shouldn't that keep it clean and trouble free?


 

Yes, your computer is broken and you need to buy a new one.  I'll take the old one "for parts" and help you hook up the new one for free because I'm such a nice guy.

Replace that laptop and docking station with a thin client.

I have family members who are convinced that Windows is terrible because they put Linux on a 5 year old laptop and it magically ran faster.

Never could convince them that yes, they need to do regular maintenance and such to keep their computers running well.

Just bought the wife unit this one.  She loves it.

Toshiba U Docking Station