Powerbook Dock a possibility?

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  • Reply 21 of 24
    mmmpiemmmpie Posts: 628member
    Gee, you dont use your machine for much do you?



    When I put my ibook down I have to plug in:



    power,

    phone ( fax )

    network

    firewire drive

    webcam

    tablet

    video out

    audio out



    I use every port on my ibook. Im very happy with its IO power, but life would be better if I could have a nice dock to handle all of that.



    Id also like a PCI slot or two, and some more drive bays, but Ill live.
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  • Reply 22 of 24
    Quote:

    Originally posted by mmmpie

    When I put my ibook down I have to plug in:



    power,

    phone ( fax )

    network

    firewire drive

    webcam

    tablet

    video out

    audio out



    Actually, I use an external FireWire drive and dual monitors as well. However, the drive is something I would be constantly unplugging and replugging anyway, so I didn't count that. Video out is something that would be nice on a dock, but most people don't use port replicators like this. For most people, they move their screen from one monitor to another, which is not necessary with the setup I've specified unless you want dual monitors.



    Fax isn't something I considered - most people who use a fax machine just buy a dedicated device.



    As for the other devices, they hadn't come to mind. My suggestion was not a replacement for a port replicator, but rather a way to escape some of the largest inconveniences that arise because of the lack thereof.
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  • Reply 23 of 24
    mmmpiemmmpie Posts: 628member
    Quote:

    However, the drive is something I would be constantly unplugging and replugging anyway, so I didn't count that. Video out is something that would be nice on a dock, but most people don't use port replicators like this. For most people, they move their screen from one monitor to another, which is not necessary with the setup I've specified unless you want dual monitors.



    As for the other devices, they hadn't come to mind. My suggestion was not a replacement for a port replicator, but rather a way to escape some of the largest inconveniences that arise because of the lack thereof.



    The inconveniences arise because of the large number of plugs that need to be attached. Whenever I want to take my iBook away from my desk I have to unplug it all etc. If I just had a mouse and a keyboard it wouldnt worry me. I would just have a usb hub, giving my two cables to attach - usb and power.



    But that is not the case, and the people who want docks are like me. They use their laptops as desktop replacements, and push the machine to its limits.



    My firewire drive is for less important things that dont fit on the iBooks 20gig. I dont really take my drive anywhere. And the faxing is mostly for sending, not receiving. But when I get a fax it goes into iPhoto, where I keep copies of all my incoming faxes, bills, invoices etc.



    Using bluetooth is great, but in no way a solution for not having a dock.
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  • Reply 24 of 24
    jubelumjubelum Posts: 4,490member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Matsu

    If I were making a dock for the new millenium, I would imagine a thin slab that used some of the new pad based charging technology, reworked to also supply a high speed bus along with power. No plugging/unpluggng at all. Just rest your book on the slab and it instantly starts charging and makes a connection with the slab -- which is just big enough to hold a couple of internal drives, ports, and an optical. It maybe, just maybe, functions as a PVR/media server when your book is disconnected.



    Wireless and surface contact connections will soon remove any need for docking.




    Awesome idea. When do you start production, Matsu?
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