Sony's dock gives notebook owners display options.
(Credit: DisplayLink)On Monday, DisplayLink announced that its network display technology is now available in the new Sony Vaio USB Docking Station VGP-UPR1.
The DisplayLink technology that allows users to connect multiple monitors to their systems via USB 2.0 is embedded in the docking station. The dock is compatible with Sony Vaio notebooks as well as other notebooks that have USB 2.0 connections. This could be useful for mobile users and travelers that have the rather rare and unique need of using more than one monitor to do their work.
The dock can be used with any display with an analog or DVI connection and which has a resolution of up to 1600x1200-pixels.
The dock includes the following connection options:
- Ethernet port
- VGA
- DVI
- Audio connections
- Four USB ports
- Headphone port
- Microphone port
- DC in
The dock supports Windows 2000, XP and, Vista 32-bit and 64-bit versions, which includes support for the Aero interface and costs $199.99.
(Credit:
Crave Asia)
If you have an ExpressCard slot in your laptop, here's one way to make better use of it. Targus has a nifty device called the ExpressCard Docking Station that works somewhat like a port replicator. But instead of proprietary connectors, it utilizes the ExpressCard slot.
In addition to four USB 2.0, Ethernet (10/100/1000) and serial ports, the dock comes with standard VGA and DVI connectors that are useful to hook up to an external display to a laptop. According to the specifications, the dock supports up to 1,600x1,200 video resolution. The presence of audio jacks for front, rear, and center speakers as well as microphone and S/PDIF connectors also makes the device compatible for use with external surround-speaker systems.
Oddly, there is no FireWire or S-video port built in. We were also hoping to see HDMI connectivity added to the mix. There's also another issue, albeit a minor one: The dock is powered by an AC adapter, which means limited mobility unless you plan to use this primarily at the workstation.
The upside to this is that the USB ports are "always on," meaning that the dock can continue powering or charging devices even when the notebook is off. Power-hungry USB devices like external 2.5-inch hard drives typically work better with powered USB ports too.
(Source: Crave Asia)
Rounding out this week's wireless USB news is Toshiba and its Wireless UWB Port Replicator.
The Portege R400 series is one of Toshiba's high-end laptops (with a twisty screen!), which can now be paired with a wireless port replicator docking station that needs no cables to connect with peripherals like a printer, monitor, projector, mouse or external hard drive.
(Credit:
Toshiba)
The dock uses an ultrawideband technology that will stream uncompressed video wirelessly to a monitor at 1280X1024 resolution. It's available now for $499 and can be purchased separately.
It's been a big week for Wireless USB. Earlier both Dell and Lenovo announced laptops that can make USB connections sans cables. D-Link and Iogear announced Wireless USB hubs and adapter kits shortly thereafter.
These kinds of products make me happy because it means a lot less of this kind of situation on or under my desk.
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