USB Port Replicator things....

[Kelemvor]

Anyone have any experience with the USB port replicators you can get wher eyou plug your keyboard, mouse, printer, etc into the device which then plugs into the laptop with just the USB port?

In-Laws want to get one but I have never used one so don't know how well they work.

They only have a mouse, printer, and speakers to plug into it...

THanks for any info.

 

[Blain]

From what I've heard, USB versions aren't very good handling everything including the video.
A docking port specifically designed for the laptop (if there is one), would be much better.

 

[jdkick]

If you're just connecting USB devices and want convenience, why not just get a USB hub?

If you want more functionality, like video/audio, then i'd suggest looking for a docking device specifically made for the brand/model of notebook in question. For example, HP's QuickDock.

 

[Kelemvor]

It's a Dell Inspiron Laptop and they don't make actual Docks for them. There's no connectors on it anywhere where it'd slide into the doc.

And they are only using the USB ports EXCEPT for the speakers. So I'm hoping for something that will work for that too. It's going to be a Christmas gift from my wife's sister to their parents but I got stuck doing the research since I'm the IT guy. Woo hoo....

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: Kelemvor
It's a Dell Inspiron Laptop and they don't make actual Docks for them. There's no connectors on it anywhere where it'd slide into the doc.

What model Inspiron is it?

 

[Kelemvor]

Originally posted by: Blain

Originally posted by: Kelemvor
It's a Dell Inspiron Laptop and they don't make actual Docks for them. There's no connectors on it anywhere where it'd slide into the doc.

What model Inspiron is it?

Not sure but it's about 4 years old or so I think...

 

[corkyg]

Whoever has custody of it can look at the decal on the bottom and get the complete ID.