Sony VAIO VGP-UPR1 notebook dock boasts DisplayLink technology

Lookin' a USB docking station for your VAIO (or other machine)? Look no further than the VAIO-branded VGP-UPR1, which is compatible with a whole alphabet worth of Sony's laptops. The unit boasts a VGA / DVI port, four USB sockets, an Ethernet jack and headphone / microphone connectors; furthermore, it supports resolutions up to 1,600 x 1,200, and of course, DisplayLink's USB graphics technology. Not too terribly painful at $199.99, and it's out now for folks in the US, EU and Japan.

[Via CNET]

[chickenator @ Sep 8th 2008 7:44PM]

no more product recalls!

[William @ Sep 8th 2008 7:55PM]

The only reason I would get excited about this is if it had "DisplayPort" (meaning the DVI replacement standard supported on the Dell 3008WFP.) "DisplayLink" just sounds like some confusing proprietary branding jargon for "integrated graphics card".
What I would love to see (especially on sony laptops with Blu-Ray drives) would be support for 2560x1600 (dual-link dvi) resolutions such that I could connect a laptop (other than the MacBook Pro) to my 30" display.

[andres @ Sep 8th 2008 8:09PM]

"allows Sony notebook users to connect an analog or DVI display to a laptop using USB 2.0 – enabled by innovative multi-monitor computing technology from DisplayLink. "

[Luis Neng @ Sep 8th 2008 8:01PM]

I found something weird in Sony Style description about this product: "External video output port of this product and the external video output port on the computer cannot be used simultaneously". It's supposed to be able to connect a third monitor, one on the laptop and the other one on the port replicator.

[PhiPhi @ Sep 8th 2008 8:14PM]

Is it compatible with VAIO laptops running Ubuntu 8.04?

[Felipe @ Sep 8th 2008 8:28PM]

Is it possible to do dual-head with this docking station?

[Sameer Surampalli @ Sep 8th 2008 9:33PM]

It depends.. how much can you fit in your mouth?

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Sep 8th 2008 8:32PM]

$200 seems to be a normal price for a docking station; I always found that absurdly steep, but at least in this case they're offering something new (ie, displayport).

[Mario @ Sep 8th 2008 9:39PM]

DisplayLink, not (alas) DisplayPort.

[KilgoreTrout @ Sep 8th 2008 8:50PM]

A VAIO running ubuntu sounds like a Ferrari diesel or maybe a rowing Sunseeker.

[hungry @ Sep 8th 2008 8:55PM]

I'm going to mcdonalds anybody want anything?

[Seth @ Sep 8th 2008 8:57PM]

Um yeah, I need a double cheese burger
now hold the lettuce
don't be frontin' son
no seeds on the bun
we be up in this drive-thru
order for two
I got a craving for a #9
like my shoe
we need some chicken up in here
in this rizzle
for rizzle, my nizzle
extra salt on the frizzles
D.r Pepper, my brotha
anotha for your motha
Double, double, super size and
don't forget the fries.

And that'll be all.

[Erik @ Sep 8th 2008 10:10PM]

@Seth:
EPIC*




*just a little

[Chris @ Sep 8th 2008 10:52PM]

Are you going by a Wendys on the way there, I could really go for a frosty about now.

[JJimmy @ Sep 8th 2008 9:07PM]

I hope this works better than the dock for the TZ series... after working with Lenovo docks forever, the Vaio docks seem to have little to no intelligence regarding adjusting monitor resolutions and allowing you to keep the lid closed and the PC still "awake" if docked. Of course, the only people in our company with TZ's are the execs, but assuming they don't burn the place down before they get fixed, the docks are just a pain in the butt. I'll be interested in seeing how this dock performs.

[muddipanda @ Sep 9th 2008 1:57AM]

Wow, it's really not that hard to go into a few menus and profiles and set the computer not to hibernate if it is docked and you close the lid. Unless you're not using Windows or something, or deleted the Sony software that comes on it to make this work easily. At least it does on the several Sony laptops I run, which all seem to dock fine and use the attached monitors just fine as well.

[JJimmy @ Sep 9th 2008 10:49AM]

@muddipanda:

I've tried that, but the damn thing likes to reset its settings all the time, on both of the laptops I've worked with. It may work for a few times, then suddenly it will decide to reset back to its original settings and stop working properly.So yeah, it's not hard to go through a few menus, but when you have to do it every few times it docks, it quickly becomes a giant pain in the butt.

[hungry @ Sep 8th 2008 9:26PM]

ok I'll be back soon

[Zorque @ Sep 8th 2008 9:52PM]

Thanks for the insight!

[Icepick @ Sep 8th 2008 10:50PM]

Only Vista :(

[jay.viz @ Sep 8th 2008 11:11PM]

Actually, I'm looking for a docking solution distinctly *NOT* USB.

[Argot @ Sep 9th 2008 3:49AM]

Viruses and trojans on that site!!!!

[Callaway @ Sep 9th 2008 2:01PM]

Sigh, would love for something like this on the Apple side of things. Would be so nice to see a small, simple docking station for their line of notebooks, even if it was $300 or more.

[Valerie @ Sep 9th 2008 11:39PM]

http://www.highspeedsat.com/car-gps/maestro3200.php
http://www.highspeedsat.com/car-gps/maestro3210.php
http://www.highspeedsat.com/car-gps/maestro3220.php