Computer Help and Support

Gold Metal Flake

(13,805 posts) Mon Oct 22, 2012, 10:49 AM Oct 2012

Tell me about PC laptop docks, please.

Caution: My questions are always wordy. I like to give a lot of info up front.

BACKSTORY/CONTEXT

My computer infrastructure is aging. My old desktop is running very slow for browsing and I don't want to try upgrading RAM as 184 pin is hard to find in 2G per stick configs and it's old. Did I say it's old? I'm tired of rebuilding/upgrading it.

I do have several laptops but none of my laptops have a port on the bottom for a dock. So I would like to just replace this one desktop with an Emachines E725 that works well but has a bad display lamp (for this model you have to replace the lamp and screen at the same time).

HERE COMES THE QUESTION

So I google on a hunch and find things called USB docks. But I want one that will allow control of the laptop with the laptop closed because the display does not work. So why leave it open to take up space and gather dust when I can keep it closed and put it in a rack on the side of the desk, right? I want a USB dock that works like a dock for Dell office laptops with the connectors on the bottom (which mine does not have). Does such a thing exist?

7 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Tell me about PC laptop docks, please. (Original Post) Gold Metal Flake Oct 2012 OP

There are, but.. sir pball Oct 2012 #1

Yeah, I can just plug in a monitor and use it, it's just that the dead LCD is in the way. Gold Metal Flake Oct 2012 #2

You can't get it to run with the lid closed? sir pball Oct 2012 #4

Have not tried. Gold Metal Flake Oct 2012 #5

What OS you running? sir pball Oct 2012 #6

Seven. nm Gold Metal Flake Oct 2012 #7

IMHO... discntnt_irny_srcsm Oct 2012 #3

sir pball

(4,761 posts)

1. There are, but..

Reply to Gold Metal Flake (Original post)

Mon Oct 22, 2012, 11:12 AM

Oct 2012

..they're usually subpar. Every universal dock I found has pretty horrid video since it's apparently getting it over USB which is entirely suboptimal. Since you don't plan on actually moving the laptop, it would probably be easier, cheaper, and all-round better to just buy some kind of stand to prop it up and out of the way and then directly plug in video and I/O.

Dock:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&N=-1&isNodeId=1&Description=laptop+docking+station&x=0&y=0

Gold Metal Flake

(13,805 posts)

2. Yeah, I can just plug in a monitor and use it, it's just that the dead LCD is in the way.

Reply to sir pball (Reply #1)

Mon Oct 22, 2012, 11:20 AM

Oct 2012

I could also leave it open and put it in a rack in the side of the desk and plug a monitor, keyboard and mouse into it and get on with using it. It's in a small room, no traffic so the laptop would be safe.

The above would work, it just messes with my sense of order. Eventually I will find a smoking deal on a desktop. I'm watching Fat Wallet for one.

sir pball

(4,761 posts)

4. You can't get it to run with the lid closed?

Reply to Gold Metal Flake (Reply #2)

Tue Oct 23, 2012, 11:41 AM

Oct 2012

Every laptop I've owned has some setting or workaround to enable the external monitor port to stay live when the lid is closed, some are as simple as changing the power settings to not sleep when closed.

Gold Metal Flake

(13,805 posts)

5. Have not tried.

Reply to sir pball (Reply #4)

Wed Oct 24, 2012, 04:50 PM

Oct 2012

If I can get it to run when closed and start up with a keyboard command I will be in clover.

sir pball

(4,761 posts)

6. What OS you running?

Reply to Gold Metal Flake (Reply #5)

Thu Oct 25, 2012, 12:21 AM

Oct 2012

I think Windows has a "do nothing" (keep running normally) option for lid closed in the power management settings. Don't know about Linuxes specifically but I'd imagine it's in the same vein; when my AspireOne ran Ubuntu it had that particular setting in Power Management. Now with PC-BSD it never sleeps, sometimes incomplete hardware support is a feature not a bug

Gold Metal Flake

(13,805 posts)

7. Seven. nm

Reply to sir pball (Reply #6)

Thu Oct 25, 2012, 03:37 PM

Oct 2012

discntnt_irny_srcsm

(18,482 posts)

3. IMHO...

Reply to Gold Metal Flake (Original post)

Mon Oct 22, 2012, 01:40 PM

Oct 2012

...your Emachines E725 can be connected via its VGA port to a standard monitor. If you have a USB mouse and keyboard to use. Just plug everything in and it should all work fine.

I concur with sir pball's opinion of USB docks.
If you're looking for a low priced notebook and docking station: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834310733&name=Laptops-Notebooks

Reply to this discussion