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What's up, dock? Henge ships low-cost MacBook docks
I've often heard an excuse from people who refuse to even consider a MacBook or MacBook Pro when they're in the market for a laptop. The story goes like this -- "I have this really cool Dell / Lenovo / Sony / Asus computer and when I get home, I can just pop it into my dock to hook up all the cables!" While docks have been available for Apple laptops, they're usually pretty pricey and not very well marketed. That's all about to change. A newcomer on the scene, Henge Docks, is creating a full line of MacBook docs that are just starting to ship. The first models to receive the docking goodness are the 13" MacBook and MacBook Pro (aluminum unibody), and the rest of the Apple laptop line is available for pre-order. The docks take advantage of Apple's current design trend to put most ports on one side of the MacBook line. Your MacBook fits vertically in the dock, and any cables attach to the dock -- not to your MacBook. In many cases, cables are supplied by Henge, but other wiring (the MagSafe power cable, for example) has to be suppled by the buyer. As I mentioned, the pricing on these docks is great. For the 13" aluminum unibody MacBook, the dock is only $59.95, while the 13" MacBook Pro dock sells for $64.95. Henge is sending us a review model to take a look at, and we plan on giving one or more docks away to lucky readers in the near future.
Henge Docks: finally, a well designed docking station for Apple's MacBook line
We'd love to say that many have tried, but really, the bona fide docking station market dried up years ago in every sector save for enterprise, and while a few companies have served up "universal" alternatives, none of them were particularly well-designed. Out of nowhere, Henge Docks has emerged in order to provide a solution to your MacBook docking woes, and we've got to say -- for a first try, the products being offered up here look mighty fine. Designed to work with most modern MacBooks as well as 13/15/17-inch MacBook Pros, these all-white stands hold your machine vertical while providing seamless access to desk-strapped peripherals (a monitor, iPod dock, mouse, heated USB blanket, etc.) It also uses Apple's own MagSafe adapter, and your optical drive is still flipped out if you need to access it. The 13-inch MBP model is available now for $59.95 to $64.95, while every other flavor is available for pre-order; check out a video after the break if you're having issues pulling the trigger.
Source R&D brings Wisair-based wireless docking station to Macs and PCs for $150
Remember that Wisair-based wireless display adapter that we knew was headed for Macville? Looks like she has arrived. Source R&D has just introduced a universal docking station of the wireless variety, and better still, it's completely plug-and-play with Windows 7, Vista, WinXP and OS X (Leopard / Snow Leopard). The Warpia Easy Dock is a pretty simple setup; just plug a transceiver into a free USB socket, attach two USB peripherals and a DVI monitor to the base station, and enjoy the luxury of using a real-deal keyboard, mouse and LCD when your laptop is at home. Unfortunately, the resolution of monitor is capped at 1,400 x 1,050, so you certainly won't be taking fully advantage of that Dell UltraSharp U2711 you just took delivery of. It should be available momentarily for the tidy sum of $149.99.
Sharkoon's USB 3.0 SATA HDD dock doubles up, now handles two drives
We tell ya, these HDD docks... they sure know how to keep pace with the latest and greatest of technological innovations. Shortly after Sharkoon busted out a USB 3.0-enabled version, along comes this fellow: a dual-drive version of the same device. Packing a pair of SuperSpeed USB sockets and room for two 2.5- or 3.5-inch hard drives (or a combination, if you prefer), this device makes it dead simple to clone drives and ready a new one to supplant your existing platter. It's available now for €59.90 ($81), but if you wait a fortnight or so, we're almost certain the next iteration will be out to take its place.
Dell Mini 5 docking station with HDMI port spotted in bizarre Greek video
Wow, some nice gadget fairy has just made our wish come true! Soon after our Dell Mini 5 impressions post went live, eagle-eyed reader unclepain reported that the phone's docking station has made a quiet appearance in T3 Greek Edition's bizarre hands-on video (seriously, we get the "DELLICIOUS" joke, but does that poor bloke really have to stand like that throughout the video?). According to the tiny bit of English we heard, the dock will have HDMI output and a USB port (for connecting to the computer, we presume) on the back. You can also see the short transparent back support when the presenter undocks the phone. Now, bundle this with Mini 5 or throw it à la carte at a reasonable price and we're sold. Eccentric footage after the break.%Gallery-86044% [Thanks, unclepain]
Motorola debuts docking station for USBw 200 WiMAX dongle
Already feeling the limitations of your Motorola USBw 200 WiMAX dongle? Then you might be just the ever-demanding sort that Moto is after with its new docking station for the WiMAX adapter. While it might look a tad out of place at a coffee shop, the dock should improve performance quite a bit when you're at home or at the office, with it promising to fully double the 3db gain that the WiMAX adapter provides on its own, and effectively give you the same performance as a standalone desktop WiMAX unit. No word on pricing just yet, but Motorola says this one should be available sometime in the second quarter of this year.
Buffalo Dualie dock hits Apple Store shelves
The Buffalo Dualie takes two of the most ubiquitous items around -- namely iPod and HDD docks -- and does the inevitable by splicing them into one device. You should already be familiar with it from our CES coverage, but just to refresh your memory this is a dual-purpose docking station, accepting hard drives and iDevices of most colors and creeds. It comes bundled with a swish-looking 500GB storage drive, and we hear Buffalo is pretty cheerful about satisfying Apple's stringent standards to make this an Apple Store exclusive. Yep, that means you can only buy this direct from Apple, but if you've already tasted the forbidden fruit once to get your iPod or iPhone, another bite shouldn't really hurt, should it?
Toshiba introduces DisplayLink-enabled Dynadock V10 USB port replicator
Don't call it a docking station. Toshiba's latest Dynadock is classified as a USB port replicator, but what makes this one a wee bit special is the integrated DisplayLink DL-165 chip that enables 1080p content to flow from a USB port and onto a DVI monitor. Put simply, this device acts just like a typical USB docking station, but with minimal bulk; as for inputs, you'll find four USB 2.0 sockets, a single DVI port, mic in, headphone out, a power port and support for resolutions as high as 1,920 x 1,080. It's available now in Europe for an undisclosed amount, but who knows if it'll ever head Stateside.
Toshiba shrinks its universal USB docking station, calls it dynadock V
Remember when Toshiba launched its original dynadock back at CES 2007? Man, those were good times. But trust us -- not nearly as good as right now. The outfit has just pushed out the dynadock V here in Vegas, which is out and about only a few months after the dynadock wireless U was spotted. Essentially, this Windows-friendly device "offers the universal compatibility of its predecessor, the dynadock U, in a smaller package." It's half the size and one-third thinner, with four USB 2.0 ports, Ethernet LAN connectivity, a Sleep-and-Charge USB port and a 3.5mm audio in / out socket. There's also an integrated video card that supports a single DVI or VGA monitor with up to 1,920 x 1,080 resolution, though you won't find this even the least bit interesting if you roll in the OS X / Linux crowds. Check it next month for $119.99.
Joojoo tablet gets its first batch of press shots, $30 dock accessory
Up until now, the only official shot of the Joojoo tablet was that seductive snippet of the corner. 'Course, you got a pretty good look of the thing if you bothered to watch our sit-down with Fusion Garage's Chandra Rathakrishnan, but it's still a pleasing sight to see the company push out a nice gallery of press shots to really tickle the senses. We aren't exactly sure if these guys have Cameron's approval to use Avatar screen shots to promote their product, but at this point, we wouldn't put anything regarding the Joojoo beyond the realm of feasibility. Oh, and if you were wondering how you'd eventually use this thing as an at-home movie viewer, the $29.99 dock accessory pictured above is the answer. One word of caution, however: given all the drama surrounding this thing, use that pre-order button at your own risk. P.S. - Our good pal Chippy is suggesting that the only possible CPU / GPU tandem that could result in the claimed 1080p support and 5 hours of battery life is the Atom Z530 and the GMA500, both from Intel. Hopefully we'll hear something official in short order. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] %Gallery-80151%
Targus debuts ACP51USZ laptop docking station with video
Well, it's not quite as seamless as something like Zemno's $500 DeskBook Pro docking station, but Targus' new ACP51USZ model is a good deal cheaper, and will likely get the job done just fine for most folks (with a few exceptions). That includes giving you a reasonable four USB 2.0 ports (two suitable for charging devices), a single DVI port for your monitor, an Ethernet port, and a pair of 3.5mm audio jacks for speakers, headphones, or a microphone -- all of which connect to your laptop with a single USB cable. Unfortunately, this one won't work (or at least be fully functional) with Mac or Linux, but it is compatible with Windows 7, XP and Vista, and it's available right now for $159.99.
Zemno's $500 DeskBook Pro docking station is strictly for zealots
It may lack wireless connectivity, but it's sure got the look. Zemno's latest portable docking station is probably the most elaborate that we've ever seen, boasting an Apple-esque appearance that's designed to mesh well with Cupertino's latest MacBook models. The company claims that any lappie under 15-inches in size can be used with its DeskBook Pro, though we're guessing only the hardcore drumbeaters would actually shell out $499.99 for something such as this. As for functionality, the port-laden slate allows for up to two hard drives to be docked simultaneously or any combination of hard drive, battery, or peripheral device with access to 16 input / output connections. The device also supports ModBays, which are interchangeable accessories designed to conveniently slip in and out of the DeskBook Pro. Hit the read link for the full list of I/O ports, but only if you managed to not be appalled by the aforesaid MSRP.
Gigabyte Booktop M1305 ultraportable gains external GeForce GT220 GPU (update: now with video!)
Gigabyte's Booktop M1305 was shown as far back as June, but now it seems the stark white ultraportable is nearing its ship date. Nothing about the 13.3-inch rig seems too special at first glance -- after all, a Core 2 Duo, GMA 4500MHD graphics set, 1,366 x 768 panel, 4GB of DDR3 memory and a 320GB or 500GB HDD won't set any carpets on fire -- but it's the docking station that makes this one special. When situated in the dock, the M1305 can take full advantage of the discrete NVIDIA GeForce GT220 GPU that's squeezed within, making it entirely more capable of pushing out 3D graphics or HD multimedia to connected displays. We know, docking stations are all but dead outside of the enterprise, but who's kvetching about more power once your portable gets home? Update: hands-on video now after the break! [Thanks Thomas]
iLuv ships weather-watching iMM183 dual dock iPod / iPhone alarm clock
It belts out severe weather alerts as storms are barreling towards your domicile. It acts as a decent bedroom stereo. And it wakes you and the SO up to your own favorite jams -- all while charging your iPod or iPhone throughout the night. If those amenities sound like must-haves in your own life, you might be interested in knowing that iLuv's iMM183 dual dock alarm clock is now shipping, nearly a full year after being originally announced at CES. The pain? $149.99 -- but hey, that's a small price to pay to keep your dear media player / handset out of a tornado's eye, right? %Gallery-76918%
Kensington slaps DisplayLink into USB universal docking stations
We've gone over one whole month without speaking of DisplayLink, and honestly, it's killing us on the inside. Thus, we're thrilled to see yet another product looking to the always-popular USB port for guidance, with Kensington's two newest universal docking stations channeling your graphics, peripherals and even internet journeys (only on the $149.99 K33926US, not on the $129.99 K33930US) over one single cable. Put simply, these docks allow users to connect up a set of speakers, USB peripherals and even a DVI / VGA display, and when you stroll in with your laptop, you simply link the two via a single USB connection and enjoy a "docked" experience. What's most interesting here, however, is the maximum resolution support; while most universal docks top out well below the 1080p mark, these two support resolutions as high as 2,048 x 1,152. Oh, and if you're just looking to connect a few (up to six) monitors to your existing rig via USB, the $79.99 Universal Multi-Display Adapter should be able to help.[Via HotHardware]
Toshiba dynadock wireless U puts wireless USB to good use at last
We just spotted Toshiba's new wireless U dynadock in the flesh, and guess what: it looks a lot like a dynadock. The good news is that wireless USB makes the whole docking concept a lot more attractive, though we'd much rather have a solution that's integrated into the laptop -- the included wireless USB dongle looks quite precarious, and kind of ruins the whole idea of not having to plug anything in. The $300 pricetag also makes this hard to swallow, but there's a real logic to wireless docking that we hope can expand in the industry as the components become more integrated in laptops, or least a bit more miniature. %Gallery-73450%
Toshiba's dynadock wireless U: it's a universal docking station, but wireless
Wireless docking stations have been around for years now, but the main issue has been bandwidth. Sure, it's easy to send a wireless mouse signal through the air, but try shoving 720p video, four USB signals and a little bit of arrogance though those highly-spaced particles. Toshiba's new dynadock wireless U USB docking station does a commendable job of doing the best it can with what it has, tapping into wireless USB technology in order to nix the need for your laptop to actually be seated into your docking station. The device can be setup to auto-connect when your machine is in range, and a one-touch undock button carefully shuts down all of your peripherals as you exit. There's six USB 2.0 sockets (included two of the Sleep-and-Charge variety), integrated 7.1 audio and support for a VGA / DVI monitor with resolutions as high as 1,680 x 1,050. Nah, that's not quite 1080p, but we'll take it for now. The $299.99 asking price, however, is a bit harder to swallow.
Brando churns out new HDD dock, all is well with the world
We've decided to start using Brando's tireless refreshes as a sort of economic barometer -- if an entire calendar month passes without a brand spanking new HDD dock, we'll know we are in trouble. Seemingly content with its high-end offering, Brando has gone back to basics with the SATA Dual HDD Docking Station, which has space for a pair of 2.5- or 3.5-inch drives, but eschews the usual multicard reader. You get an eSATA extension kit in the package for suckling power and data from your computer, but that's pretty much it. Is it convenient? Sure. But at $63 we'd expect a little bit more -- like maybe bundling the hard drives for free.
Brando HD Media Player Docking Station does multi-format 1080p
It seems that Brando can't go a month without bringing out yet another slightly-improved domicile for your orphaned SATA HDDs. Following in the footsteps of the very recent Multimedia Dock, the latest unit adds H.264 decoding to the already present DivX, Xvid and MPEG-4, while output graduates to full 1080p. Featuring HDMI and a plethora of supported media formats, the humble docking station has certainly grown up, but is it enough to compete with standalone media players? Input flexibility would suggest so -- the new device accepts 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch hard drives, alongside USB flash memory, SD, MMC, and MS cards -- but alas, Brando loses the plot at the final hurdle, asking for an astronomical $199. With prettier alternatives available at half the price, this is unlikely to sell like hotcakes, but Brando's breakneck refresh cycle give us the feeling it won't be long before we see that perfect do-it-all dock.
Marshal's DVD Power Up Dock includes room for HDD, Bugs Bunny jokes
If you're still waiting for NU's DVD/HDD docking station to make its appearance at your local purveyor of flimsy-feeling netbook accessories, perhaps you'd instead prefer to wait for this new, less wedge-shaped one from Marshal. Called the DVD Power Up Dock, it sports a DVD drive with the requisite plethora of reading and writing options plus a 2.5-inch SATA HDD and, finally, a USB hub with the least possible number of ports: two. It's listed as being compatible with Windows and naturally there's no mention of price or availability, but that would ruin the surprise.
