PowerBook Qualm

logan

I have my powerbook on my desk and like it to be pretty neat when i can but i have so many peripherals and cable connected to it. With most laptops, the cables plug mainly into the back of the machine, in the powerbook its strictly on the sides no plugs in the back, while this is cool for portability and easy acces, as its sitting on my table i got cables everywhere. Does anyone else have this problem? Is there any type of docking station available to cut down on the cables?



Logan

jeremiah rich

I love having the connectors on the sides for most situations. However, I really wish Apple would release a docking station. I have to have extra space cleared on both sides of the Powerbook when I bring it home because of this.

applenut

Quote:

Originally posted by Logan

I have my powerbook on my desk and like it to be pretty neat when i can but i have so many peripherals and cable connected to it. With most laptops, the cables plug mainly into the back of the machine, in the powerbook its strictly on the sides no plugs in the back, while this is cool for portability and easy acces, as its sitting on my table i got cables everywhere. Does anyone else have this problem? Is there any type of docking station available to cut down on the cables?



Logan

it's a portable and having them on the sides is better for portability and easy access. can't have the everything.



I have TiBook and wish the ports were on the sides even though 90% of my usage is at a desk.



I haven't seen a docking solution for powerbooks since the pismo days. Not sure how much better one would be anyways since it wouldnt reduce much of the clutter from the sides

ionyz

Have you looked at BookEndz line of docks? Not a mobile owner, so don't shoot the messenger.

logan

Those book endz docks are nice.



http://www.photo-control.com/bookendz/be03g415.htm



That one would fit my needs but it is 15 inch only and i have a 17 inch



Any thing else like that?



Logan

ransomed

The way I've dealt with that problem is the following:

I hooked up all my peripherals to my iMac G4 upstairs, and just set up a wireless LAN. That way my printers, external hardrive, iPod, etc., are/get hooked up to my non mobile machine in my bedroom (with all the cables behind it), and just set up my beautiful 17" PB in my office downstairs and share the peripherals. Slick, eh?

logan

Very, too bad this is my only computer.

meeces

I have the same 17" as my only computer and had/have the same issues. Too many cables. Don't know your budget or what you have connected but here is what I did. To get rid of printer and speaker cable I picked up airtunes so that hides/gets rid of those two cables off the computer and the desk it sits on. For future, I will pick up a bluetooth wirelss mouse to get rid of that cable and when I switch to wireless internet using the AirTunes box I can get rid of the phone cable, leaving only the power cord when plugged in. I suppose if there are extra hard drives, or what not that would still leave extra cables, but I only have the computer for now. Also, Ikea sells these neat little cable management hoses. They are grey plastic, slit down one side length wise and very flexible. So if you do have a lot of cables you can still hide them at least in one enclosure. Don't know if any of that helps.

logan

Actually yea, will try those methods.

logan

How does airport express/ airtunes work, could i plug in my JBL creature speakers to those?

meeces

With AirTunes you plug in the airtunes powerbrick into the wall and run your speaker wire into it. It's both a good thing and bad. Only iTunes will play through it(wish apple would figure out how to let system/computer sounds go thorugh so I could listen to game music). But you can place the speakers wherever you want, as long as the line in/out RCA jack cord is attached to the Airtunes brick/module(still not sure what to call it). You will then go through airport assistant setup in your utilities folder, which I think is in the applications folder.

logan

Does the internet cable have to be plugged into it to just for speaker use?

meeces

Internet cable? I use dial-up so my phone cord is plugged into the computer and I have speaker wire and printer cable plugged into the AirTunes. So you shouldn't need to have any internet specific cable hooked up. The airport network that the assistant will set up for you will guide through the steps. Just plug in the airtunes into an outlet, plug in speaker wire into jack and go through set up.