Kensington kills a few more cables with Wireless USB Docking Station

Look out, cable pundits, your next must-have gadget has arrived. Kensington's Wireless USB Docking Station is pretty straightforward -- you simply plug in up to five USB devices along with your external monitor in order to access all of those gizmos sans cabling from your Wireless USB-enabled machine. Sure, the range is capped at 15-feet, but never having to plug in that printer / scanner / external HDD / USB-powered fan again when setting up your work lappie at home will be a huge relief. Look for this one to ship soon for $229.99.

[Via Electronista]

[Joshua Ochs @ Aug 18th 2008 9:46PM]

One of the main uses for USB is to not only connect your phone, iPod, camera, etc, is to also provide a convenient way to power or charge said devices. I can see this tech being useful for larger devices like printers, scanners, etc, but we'll still need a bunch of power cables (or a buttload batteries - maybe some of those Eneloop's).

[Joshua Ochs @ Aug 18th 2008 9:48PM]

Sigh - as my time posting online increases, my grammar and spelling get worse, and worse, and worse.

[a ham sandwich @ Aug 18th 2008 10:01PM]

maybe it powers the ports from it's own external power?

also, $229?! jeez dude!

[Flashpoint @ Aug 19th 2008 12:11AM]

I'm certain that this thing charges devices from its own USB ports.

My biggest problem with this thing is $230. That's ridiculous. Furthermore, 15-feet? That's even more ridiculous.

It would be so much more intelligent to buy NETWORK READY drives and printers. Then you could print or save/access files from anywhere in the entire world.

[rektide @ Aug 18th 2008 10:06PM]

Heh, it's the exact same Kensington as on page 2 of the MaximumPC article on "Wireless USB".

The DVI output maxes at 1680x1050.

I wonder what kind of range it can maintain 480Mbps at. USB2 is already slow enough for HD transfer, I wonder how comparable Wireless USB is, and whether whatever chip is inside can read a full 480Mbps from the HD. Theres plenty of 802.11 wifi routers out there now with USB ports that cant sustain a usb read anywhere near the 108Mbps the wifi is rated for.

[Richard Lai @ Aug 18th 2008 10:21PM]

That's a lot of money for cutting just 5 USB cables.

[Brian @ Aug 18th 2008 11:01PM]

I think this would be awesome for my laptop, since it's my only computer. But I agree, too expensive. And wusb isn't an option for most laptops yet (and I don't want some usb dongle sticking out, either).

[Nytrojen @ Aug 18th 2008 11:41PM]

well... you could always plug more USB hubs into it

[Dan Halen @ Aug 18th 2008 10:24PM]

Kills a few more cables and a few more brain cells.

[Ignatius @ Aug 19th 2008 12:25AM]

Those were probably the brain cells telling me to plug stuff in. All's well then.

[andres @ Aug 19th 2008 3:00AM]

actually, i think those were the brain cells i needed to *gasp* brea......

[ShadowKain @ Aug 18th 2008 10:45PM]

All I have to say is fuck that price, 200+ is way too much.

[Justin M @ Aug 19th 2008 1:46AM]

5 USB ports is not enough to entice people spending over $200 on this this.. great idea though.

[apw76006 @ Aug 19th 2008 2:12AM]

Unless I am missing something, how is this getting rid of a few more cables when each device that you need to plug in still requires the cable that it was connected to your computer with? It' just seems like one more device with one more cable to contend with.

[thatrotierkid @ Aug 19th 2008 8:27AM]

you plug all your usb devices into the Kensington device which wirelessly connects to your computer/laptop.

[bidur @ Aug 19th 2008 2:56AM]

i would prefer wire ... rather then paying a hefty price for this ...

[Harry S @ Aug 19th 2008 6:48AM]

too bAd it won't be available for macs

[elmuerKo @ Aug 19th 2008 6:57AM]

I use a belkin network usb hub that sits under my wireless router, slightly less painful price too.

http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=370135

[Q @ Aug 19th 2008 7:18AM]

I've been using the Belkin one for a while and at a fraction of the price of the Kensington wireless usb. I'll stick with the Belkin one thanks!

[m-p{3} @ Aug 19th 2008 10:00AM]

Unfortunately, we are not with wireless power yet, so you gotta plug something into your laptop anyway.