Docking Station for Toshiba Laptop.............

[FinanceDude]

I have a Toshiba Satellite Pro laptop that was my sister's. I could use a docking station at work to hook up to.

I have been to Office Max and Best Buy and they told me the only way was to go online, which I did but there doesn't seem to be one for my laptop model

Help.............

[TromboneAl]

This may not be relevant, but before I got my laptop, I figured I'd get a docking station, so I could plug it in with one push, and get the regular monitor, keyboard, and pointing device.

After I got it, I found that was not at all necessary. The laptop's keyboard and monitor work fine. If I work at my desk, I just plug in my trackball and printer.

IOW, I found that I have no need for a docking station. It might be different if I was working 12 hours a day on it, but I recommend that you try it without a docking station for a while.

[SamHouston]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TromboneAl This may not be relevant, but before I got my laptop, I figured I'd get a docking station, so I could plug it in with one push, and get the regular monitor, keyboard, and pointing device. After I got it, I found that was not at all necessary. The laptop's keyboard and monitor work fine. If I work at my desk, I just plug in my trackball and printer. IOW, I found that I have no need for a docking station. It might be different if I was working 12 hours a day on it, but I recommend that you try it without a docking station for a while.

Same here. Now I did hook up a regular mouse to the back of the laptop because I hate those little roller-ball gizmos. It works fine for me that way and I don't feel that a docking station would add that much. In fact I enjoy the flexibility of using the computer wherever I am rather than always in the same room.

[rec]

Try ebay you would be shocked at all the stuff they have.

[Behan]

There are 'generic' laptop docking stations available that work with any laptop that has a USB port. You can connect keyboard, mouse, printer, network, monitor etc. to laptop via a single USB port. They are available with and without video support. I haven't used one, but have heard the video quality on some of these isn't great, so best to read the reviews before you buy.

[BigMoneyJim]

I am always mildly tickled when a laptop user is docked to a flat panel monitor. I sort of get it, but it's still funny.

Docking stations used to add features like network connection, extra storage and CDROM drives, but now they're mainly quick-connects to turn the laptop into feel-alike for a desktop. For work or other semi-public places there are also lockdown advantages as you can semi-permanently secure the dock and then lock the laptop in quickly.

eBay is probably the way to go. Somewhere out there is probably a Toshiba parts specialist company who would know which dock you need and have it, but I don't know how to find them. Maybe they're on eBay, too.

[Spanky]

I have a Dell docking station at work. It's easy to take the PC off, but it's a hassle to dock it since you have to line up the port to the connector.