Laptop Dock

[moranphotography]

Morning everyone,

Looking for a laptop dock for my laptop (funnily enough). I currently have an additional monitor I use but also want to get another in the future so need to be able to support this. I also have several drives I would like to support. Want to do away with the need to have all the ports on the side of the laptop full to make it tidier.

If any of you have an recommendations then that would be great.

Thanks in advance


Phil

[Dangerousfish]

With regards to the drives, have you thought about a NAS or DAS?

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/4-bay...lan-usb-30-isc

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/icy-b...th-usb-30-port

[moranphotography]

I hadn't really, but I do like the idea of that second link, I have my old laptop drive in a Ian car currently, would that fit in that?

I don't really understand the whole NAS and DAS idea/system (as you can probably tell)

[Superfly Guy]

I can recommend this
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...ilpage_o05_s00
Hotswaps two 3.5" drives and has better cooling than most external enclosures. I had the Icybox DF linked too but it wasn't reliable.

For monitors, check that your laptop will support them both in hardware and software. How many video ports does your laptop have, chances are you will have HDMI and hopefully a D-Sub as well. Check if your Graphics Processor can support more than two monitors and that the drivers can as well.

As for monitors then IPS screens are more expensive but offer superior colour reproduction and viewing angles, TN panels are cheaper but in my view (having used only IPS for many years) look poor.
Screen resolution depends on your budget, expect to pay between £380 - £400 for a 27" AH-IPS screen running 2560x1440.
Or £300 for something like an Asus ProArt 1920x1200 IPS

This shows my 24" Asus ProArt on the right and my Iiyama 27" AH-IPS at 2560x1440 in the middle, below the joystick you can see the Icybox I linked to, sitting on the media server, runs 2 x 3TB drives full of music and films that stream around the house.

[moranphotography]

I can recommend this
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...ilpage_o05_s00
Hotswaps two 3.5" drives and has better cooling than most external enclosures. I had the Icybox DF linked too but it wasn't reliable.

For monitors, check that your laptop will support them both in hardware and software. How many video ports does your laptop have, chances are you will have HDMI and hopefully a D-Sub as well. Check if your Graphics Processor can support more than two monitors and that the drivers can as well.

As for monitors then IPS screens are more expensive but offer superior colour reproduction and viewing angles, TN panels are cheaper but in my view (having used only IPS for many years) look poor.
Screen resolution depends on your budget, expect to pay between £380 - £400 for a 27" AH-IPS screen running 2560x1440.
Or £300 for something like an Asus ProArt 1920x1200 IPS

This shows my 24" Asus ProArt on the right and my Iiyama 27" AH-IPS at 2560x1440 in the middle, below the joystick you can see the Icybox I linked to, sitting on the media server, runs 2 x 3TB drives full of music and films that stream around the house.

Thanks guys, what about the laptop dock lol going slightly off topic. I have my eye on the monitor I want as I already have one of them and very happy with it.

Really want to tidy up the new desk I'll be getting when I move into the new house.

[Superfly Guy]

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/icy-b...dds-via-usb-30
For 3.5 inch drives

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/icy-b...to-usb-30-host
For 2.5 inch drives