PCMCIA or USB Port Replicator with VGA

[Podolak]

Hey all,

Been having a bear of a time with this one. My laptop does not have a port replicator option. So I've been trying to track down a USB or PCMCIA port replicator that also has a VGA Port (not VGA pass through). I've come across one. A mobility electronics 1000EV PCMCIA Docking Station. It has the Rage XL video card in the replicator and works. However, it is not compatible with external LCD's. So my 19" LCD comes in fuzzy. Has anyone else come across any dockingstations that would fit my bill?

Thanks a lot,

-Podolak

 

[Podolak]

No one has come across anything?

 

[macosx]

I've been looking for something similar. Try Targus Universal Notebook Docking Station with Video. Specs look decent, but I haven't seen it in action yet. Make sure you check out the system requirements (USB2 and OS). Also, note video is limited to 1024 x 768 16-bit color. I'm hoping to find better video (1280x1024?), but this may be a limitation of USB. I can go with a manufacturer dock, but I'm tired of having to upgrade all the accessories every time I upgrade my laptop.

 

[Podolak]

Thank you for that link. That is the direction I'm looking to head in. Now I guess I need to wait for them to come out with a version that has 1280x1024 capabilities!

 

[macosx]

Originally posted by: Podolak
Thank you for that link. That is the direction I'm looking to head in. Now I guess I need to wait for them to come out with a version that has 1280x1024 capabilities!

Me too. But I just did a back of the napkin calculation and I think that's going to be a challenge. The current 1024x768x16=12.58 mbits, and at 100% theoretical (50-80% is more reasonable, not to mention keyboad, mouse, hard drive/cd-rom, and other usb devices in use simultaneously that also need the same bandwidth) 480mbps, the maximum refresh rate is 38 Hz. I doubt the unit actually has a refresh rate > 30 Hz.

Now if it did support 1280x1024x16=20.97 mbits, that's a refresh rate less than 23 Hz theoretical, and probably 15-20 Hz actual at best. You could probably get decent performance refresh wise by going down to 8 bits. Of course, when the usb is shared, such as as when an external hard drive is accessed, the video will suffer significantly.