HP's USB 2.0 Docking Station adds in DisplayLink technology

DisplayLink is most certainly swinging the big wood here at CES, with announcements spanning from Samsung monitors to Acer multimedia docks. Now, it's hooking up with HP for the first time ever in order to introduce the USB 2.0 Docking Station with DisplayLink technology. The universal dock enables laptops to pass through audio, LAN and peripheral connectivity, and of course, it enables the laptop to expand its display onto a USB-enabled monitor without the need for graphics cards and the like. We can't tell you when or where it'll land, but you can have a gander at the read link for other hardware details.

[Lloytron @ Jan 9th 2009 3:37PM]

I'd kill for one of these at work!

[Rick V. @ Jan 9th 2009 3:39PM]

Why doesn't Apple have this? This is awesome!

[rpa @ Jan 9th 2009 3:50PM]

yeah...perfect for the Macbook Air!

[Preston @ Jan 9th 2009 3:56PM]

So it is Mac compliant? That's exactly what I've been wanting!

[nikster @ Jan 9th 2009 9:18PM]

I don't really get this - what's awesome about video over USB? Serious question.

I can't imagine I can drive my 1920x1200 monitor using .... USB 2.0? It would probably lag like crazy.

[Soulsaber @ Jan 9th 2009 3:40PM]

Hopefully it doesn't cost as much as the sony's
http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/08/sony-vaio-vgp-upr1-notebook-dock-boasts-displaylink-technology/

[Phil @ Jan 9th 2009 4:01PM]

http://www.displaylink.com/shop.html

[jay.viz @ Jan 9th 2009 4:27PM]

Using USB 2.0 for a graphics adapter is like throwing a hot dog down a hallway. Insufficient (band)width.

[TX CHL Instructor @ Jan 9th 2009 4:53PM]

If you are gaming, yes, it's too slow. If all you want is powerpoint presentations, bandwidth is not an issue.

[DestroyerMTL @ Jan 9th 2009 5:02PM]

Your analogy makes no sense.

Had you said something along the lines of a giant hot dog, perhaps even the oscar meyer wiener mobile down a hallway it would.

[jay.viz @ Jan 9th 2009 5:20PM]

Yes, I know that the USB carriers the video signal, so the proper visualization would be where the hotdog would be the video and it would be really big; and the USB cable would be the hallway and it would be really small. I just couldn't think of any good one liners for that. So instead, stay with me here, how about we visualize the USB cable as the hotdog, and video signal as the hallway, so that they're throwing an insufficient technology at a larger data requirement. I know that's a stretch, but it still works, ya?

Or maybe I could have just quoted chef: "Oh, now I know how all those white woment must have felt."

[Ogden2k @ Jan 9th 2009 5:25PM]

I'm also wondering how all of the data would be sufficient over USB 2.0.... Especially if you're running at a high resolution.

[Erich @ Jan 10th 2009 7:53PM]

Yes, it is slow.
I have the model USBVGADOCK and the picture jumps as you move it. It is not smoth. Conected to Toshiba M200 and all three displays setup at 1400x1050.
I place in the USB driven monitor data that I need for reference, and does not need to moved constantly. It also has 4 USB output, and audio in/out.

[David @ Jan 9th 2009 4:40PM]

I wonder if it will second monitor will lag while connected like most USB2 docking stations/Extenders do know.
I have returned 3 USB2 extenders from different manufactures so far due to lag issues on the second monitor.

[shamon @ Jan 9th 2009 4:57PM]

I could use this and i wonder how much is this .

[Alex @ Jan 9th 2009 5:46PM]

I wonder if it can be used on other laptops/desktops

[nikster @ Jan 9th 2009 9:29PM]

Is it just me or is this the best CES ever?

Over the last few years I'd hardly bother reading any CES article - it was a total bore fest. Like "Tablet PCs, the wave of the future" for the last 7 years. This year - the Pre, awesome new SSDs, tons of other cool stuff, even from Dell... I mean... it's amazing. The PC industry has really pulled out all the stops this year.

[Musketeer @ Jan 11th 2009 6:43PM]

Something like this will be great once USB 3.0 (4.8Gbps) gets here.