Notebook Docking Station

My boss wants to buy me a new computer with some grant money she got, and she's insisting that it be a laptop (I do not want to take work home with me, but whatever). When I say "buy me" a new computer, I mean, of course, that it's for my position, not for me personally. (I wish!) I have decided on the HP dv7-1285dx from Best Buy because it has great specs for doing memory-hog graphics and the price is right. I will need a docking station, and I'm wondering if I have to go with one from HP (their tech recommended the HP XB4 for $200) or if there's something else out there that would work better (or at least as well) while costing less. Any suggestions?

Tags: advice, docking, hp, laptop, notebook, station

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Permalink Reply by JT on January 15, 2009 at 7:41am: I like the Dell Latitude. I used to have one when I worked for Motorola and they let me take the Docking Station to use at home. http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/laptop_lat...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Auriette on January 15, 2009 at 1:43pm: I need something that will be comfortable handling large graphics files. I do marketing and design for a community theatre. That's why I picked the HP, because it comes with 6gb of RAM, a 500gb hard drive, and a 2.4ghz processor.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mateus Augusto Lopes on January 15, 2009 at 1:46pm: Get a Macbook.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Auriette on January 15, 2009 at 8:02pm: I've never used a Mac. Well, I take that back. I tried to figure out a Mac at the junior college because there was one in the dressing room when I was in a play there, and I wanted to check my e-mail. Also, I tried to open files a couple of times using the Mac in the control room at the TV station where I used to work. It's too much of a learning curve. Windows may be retarded, but I have some idea how it works.

I've made my mind up on the computer. I just need to know if I should definitely order the $200 docking station from HP or if another docking station might work.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ben on January 19, 2009 at 2:10am: get the one from hp...most 3rd party stations are not as good; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Auriette on January 19, 2009 at 3:36pm: Thanks for the input, Ben. I had a feeling the manufacturer would be my best option, but I just wanted to hear someone else say it, I guess.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mateus Augusto Lopes on January 19, 2009 at 3:41pm: If you want a PC, get a Dell or HP, best options.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Auriette on January 19, 2009 at 3:45pm: I'm definitely getting an HP. I not only liked the specs of the particular model, but it seemed to have good reviews around the 'net. My last two home computers have been HP. I told my boss, this dv7-1285dx is the laptop I would buy for myself if I could afford one.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Auriette on January 21, 2009 at 9:09pm: I'm really irritated now. My boss told me to research and pick out a computer. The office manager kept saying, "Don't you want a Dell? Why don't you want a Dell?" Then the boss chimes in how the tech guy we use hates HP, loves Dells." Well, I did the research and the best deal for my graphics computer is the HP described above. Well rated, high processing speed, large monitor (since this is to replace my desktop). I told them both that my friend who worked for Dell says they use parts from returned computers and still sell the computers as new, not refurbished, and they use the same parts three or four times before considering them bad. I explained that the best new computers only come with Vista and can't be downgraded to XP (which all the other computers in our office have), but we'd pay a lot more for less computer if I get one that's downgradable. "Well, if you want to deal with Vista, that's fine. Get whatever computer you want." So this week, suddenly, it's a major issue that the computer I get must have XP, so it can be on the network, primarily so I can sell tickets, which could be done from another computer. It's not as big a deal that the new computer be the best possible for creating posters and graphics, because if I ever leave, she's just going to outsource it (she's been threatening to outsource graphics ever since I got there, but that would cost a lot more than having the marketing person do it, so it's not going to happen). I just know she's going to have a cow when she sees that the cost of my system is going to jump up $500, and it's not as powerful, and before I wasn't insisting on a stand-alone monitor, but I've added one, because I'm not going to work all day on a 15.4" monitor because she insists that I have a laptop so I can take work home with me.

So that's my rant for the day. I have to go through a buying organization for non-profits so I have a limited number of choices, and I selected a Dell Latitude E6500 Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T9400 (2.53GHz, 6M L2 Cache, 1066MHz FSB). I guess it's still better than the desktop I have. I'm getting a Dell docking station and the 19" widescreen monitor at the same time. I'm tired of shopping around for no reason, and now everyone will be happy except me. Of course, the boss hasn't approved the new higher total for the order, but at this point, I'd rather just keep what I have, with the addition of a 1tb external hard drive. I think that would help a lot of my problems all by itself.

I hope you all are having a better day!; ▶ Reply to This