amann95

Dual Monitor Dockable Laptops

Monitors and Displays submitted by jbuchta 09/29/07

I can get a dock for any SMB machine to make it able to control two monitors. In consumer, I can get a USB dock which can only handle 1 monitor. Studies have shown that faster computers do not increase productivity, but additional monitors do. I personally have two monitors and have for years now. I won't even consider Dell since it cannot support them. 3 Comments »

XPS with real docking station

XPS products submitted by amigol 02/21/07

The new XPS M1210 would be nearly perfect when there would be a real docking station available all over the world! And there should also be a track stick available for better manipulation. The option to get the notebook without any additional softwares would also be a great benefit. Only a pure operating system would be enough for most users. Comment »

Dual monitor and TV out at the same time on laptops

Monitors and Displays, Laptops submitted by theblackcat 02/17/07

Currently dell laptops have at least 3 video outputs. One, naturally, is the built-in screen. The other is a monitor port. The third is a a TV-out. Some brands and docking stations may also have a DVI-D out, but that is secondary here.

The problem is that only two of these outputs can be used a time. It can be any two. For instance you can use an external monitor and a TV and just have the laptop monitor disabled off, even with docking stations. But you can never have, say, a dual-monitor setup and also have your TV-out running as a third monitor. As I understand it this is a limitation of the graphics cards, neither ATI or nVidia make triple-monitor graphics cards. Multiple graphics cards can be used, but this is not possible on a laptop without an expensive upgrade or two.

Now it would be extremely difficult to have three ordinary monitors. It would be extremely taxing on the video card, so I would honestly not expect this to happen. However, TV's use much lower resolution (640 x 480) and much lower frame rates (since they use interlaced frames instead progressive scan like computer monitors). So I could easily see dell offering an optional component that basically acts as a mini graphics card just to run the TV-out. Due to the low graphics requirements this could probably be much smaller, cheaper, require less power, and produce less heat than an ordinary graphics card. The date transfer requirements are low enough that a USB device can handle it, so I see no reason it should be impossible or overly expensive. Really this would only be that useful for video, so it could be limited to only running when a program is playing videos. nVidia graphics cards (and I would assume ATI as well) already support taking over one of the monitors entirely to run a full-screen duplicate of the video on the other screen (but not for 3 monitors).

Either that or just bully nVidia and/or ATI into getting their graphics cards to do this internally. Or switch to another graphics card manufacturer that does support triple monitors. Comment »

Usable Docking Station

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by jmecc 02/27/07

Please make a real docking station for the Inspirons, not a usb port replicator. I was thinking of using an Inspiron as my main computer if I can just dock it when I get home. The ability to connect to 2 external monitors would allow me to use the notebook as my primary.

Thanks. Comment »

Docking stations for Inspiron or better Gfx-options for Latitude

Gaming submitted by knifur 02/21/07

Bring back real docking station options (not USB-connected) to the Inspiron-line, or give us better graphics options on the Latitudes. Something to compete with the HP NC8430 (Radeon X1600, 15.4", real docking station). Comment »

Vertical Docking Station for Laptops

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by forgueam 08/29/07

Most Dell docking stations that I have used force the laptop to sit flat on my desk, with the cables all shooting out the back. This eats up valuable real estate on my desk, especially considering that once the laptop is plugged into the docking station, I don't need any interaction with it.

I would love to see a docking station that allows the laptop to stand vertically, such that I could place it behind my monitor and save tons of space on my desk. Ideally the laptop would stand vertically and the cables would come out of the docking station perpendicular to the laptop, thus forming an "L" shape. If done correctly, I would be able to dock/undock easily and still have access to the CD drives if need be. 6 Comments »

Offer more Docking/Port replicator interfaces for consumer laptops

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by rseibel 04/21/07

I would like to see more consumer Laptops such as the Inspiron 1501/6400 equiped with a docking/port replicator port for equipment such as D-Dock or D-Port.

The Reasons are pretty obvious:
- One love to work ergonomically lokking straight at a big, sized bright, less angle dependent screen at home, instead of looking down at your less bright, smaller laptop screen.
- LCD Screen prizes are down and falling, so everybody can buy one.
- You don't like to connect monitor, USB, power, sound cables everytime you have to work at home with your nice screen and keyboard/mouse.
- You are a student or regular consumer and cannot or don't want afford a Dell Latitude with the port interfaces montioned above for at least double the price of an Inspiron system.

I don't know how many people made the same experience, that is what I am missing when I look at the consumer notebooks you offer, so I have to go to the small business product presentation area of your site and configure a Latitide Laptop I simply cannot afford as a student, but I desperately need one for the right price of the inspirons.

Comment »

Cooling Base For Docking

Latitude products submitted by drewl 03/13/07

There is a heat issue with D-series Latitude laptops docked for extended periods in the D-port Advanced Port Replicator, and this heat issue will only get worse with the new dual-core processors. We lost two hard drives due to overheating while the Latitudes were in their docks. I decided to take some action on this overheating issue before we lost any more hard drives due to overheating.

I currently modify the Advanced Port Replicator base by adding a very thin laptop cooler which fits nicely between the Latitude laptop and the docking base. The cooler only runs if the PC is powered on as the cooler is powered by USB.

I can send pictures of this modification so that your engineers could see it and then design such a thing into the Dell docking bases. The cooling fans would only run if the laptop were in the dock and powered on. With the dual cores now coming out additional cooling will be imperative, and I'm sure the optimal solution is to incorporate some fans into the base of the docking units. This should not be very expensive for Dell to do (the coolers I use cost $15) and even if it were to be a large dollar item, the cost could be recouped by increasing the price of the base by a few dollars ($15?) which would be cost-effective over folks losing their data and having to rebuild the system due to a failed hard drive caused by overheating. 3 Comments »

D-Bay on inspiron lineup and trackpoint on inspiron lineup

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Inspiron products submitted by lilredfoxie 02/16/07

A modular bay is a very handy idea, I think dell should have it on all their laptop lines, like in times past, I like the idea of having the ability to have an extra battery or hard drive in my computer if i need it and can switch out my dvd burner.

I also think the trackpoint should make a return as well to the inspiron lineup, its a handy pointing device that doenst wear your fingers out as much as the touch pad tends to do. 4 Comments »

Dockingstation for Inspirons

submitted by amdohmen 05/03/07

Hi,
I´m missing a good dockingstation for Inspiron Notebooks.

What I expect when I return home is to connect the Notebook to a Dockingstation whithout having to connect anything else. If you use Portreplicators like those for any Notebook, you further have to connect Powersupply and so on.
That also means that you have a lot of cables on your desk. I also can´t beleave that the performance over a USB- Port is as fast as over a special connector. 1 Comment »

DUAL DVI ON LAPTOP & PORT REPLICATOR

Monitors and Displays, Laptops submitted by jsun9 02/24/07

THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON FOR A VGA PORT ON LAPTOPS AND PORT REPLICATORS.

The laptop/replicator should come with two (2) DVI ports and the ability to add an adapter for VGA (DVI to VGA).

The dual DVI should allow for dual monitors and larger 30" monitors. 2 Comments »

2560x1600 or higher resolution support for laptops with docking stations

Precision Workstations submitted by glascock 02/20/07

Our frequently-traveling engineers are slighted because Dell travel-intended notebooks do not support very-high resolution monitors (such as the Dell 2560x1600-resolution 3007wfp). These engineers plug their notebooks into docking stations on their desks, unlike their less-frequently-traveling counterparts, who use Precision 470 workstations with very-high-res graphics cards. I think Dell makes only one notebook (the 8.61-pound Dell Precision M90) with a chip that could handle the 3007wfp, but I've been unsuccessful at confirming that a dual-link DVI connection through a docking station is available. The 24" and 27" Dell monitors are nice, but their 1920x1200-max resolution is not a substitute for the value of 2560x1600. Comment »

Make a docking station port and offer a docking station for all notebooks

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Laptops submitted by joshuacl 07/30/07

Make a docking station port and offer a docking station for all notebooks especially the XPS series. I am seriously considering purchasing the M1330 but the fact that Dell doesn't make a true docking station for it makes me consider other options. 12 Comments »

Dual-DVI for docking stations and laptops!

Monitors and Displays, Laptops submitted by bhumphrey 02/22/07

Dell needs to develop a docking station that is capable of displaying greater than 1920x1200 resolution using Dual-DVI outputs. Currently you can't use a Dell 30" monitor with a docking station at full resolution. I have to imagine that there are plenty of other programmers, designers and even gamers out there that want to use their laptop with a nice 30" monitor. Cmon Dell community, make it happen! 3 Comments »

No docking station support for XPS

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), XPS products submitted by kjertil 10/30/07

The XPS M1710 supported a docking station.

The XPS M1730 however have lost the support for docking stations - I hate to have to attach all of the cables i have again, and again - each time I return with my XPS....

The XPS M1710/M1730 is a much a laptop, as it is a desktop to me, and therefore I have all sorts of attachments: monitor, mouse, keyboard, speakers, printer, etc.

So please include docking station support with the next XPS - with the price we are paying for XPS machines - docking station support should be included. 8 Comments »

Docking station with 2 DVI outs

Monitors and Displays, Laptops submitted by sdech 07/19/07

I would like to see docking station that have 2 DVI outs instead of one DVI & one analog (VGA). I am running dual monitors on my docking station now and the crisp clean look of the digital connection is far superior to my analog connection. It sure would be nice to have the exact same look and feel on my dual monitors. 5 Comments »

Docking Station for Vostro

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Latitude products, Vostro products submitted by coachcg 07/21/07

Vostro looks like a good system and has some strengths over Latitude like the enhanced integrated sound, longer battery life, and better screen option, but lacks docking capability. So I went with Latitude, but I could really use those features mentioned. Could Dell look into adding those options to Latitude notebooks or adding a docking option to Vostro?

9 Comments »

DVI (incl. DVI-D) for _everything_ please

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.) submitted by pstader 02/20/07

Too bad our purchasing missed to order the DVI Riser Card with our Optiplex. The guy who ordered extra picked Ultrasharp Displays with DVI input, which we have to use via the analog connection. No warning, no nothing during the order process. Why even sell computers without DVI ? Analog connections might have been alright for everything up to 1024 * 768 resolutions but everything above that really benefits a lot from dvi. So please. Make DVI standard and not optional. Would love to see Notebooks with Dvi connector too. 4 Comments »

Performance Tablet/Thin and Light

Gaming, Laptops submitted by chungng 02/17/07

What I'd like to be able to buy from Dell:

13.3 ~5 lb Performance Tablet PC with great discrete graphics options (x1700 or GeForce 7700) possibly even upgradable.
Possibly a dual graphics chip option similar to the Sony SZ line to help with battery life.
A nice high res wide viewing angle screen WXGA+ or better option for working with multiple text files
9 Cell (or larger) battery options to get 5+ hours of life
Built in optical drive with swappable drive bay battery options
Latest WiFI (802.11n) and bluetooth
Great keyboard with trackpoint nub and touchpad.
Non-plastic case options. Carbon fiber, magnesium alloy... whatever... just something without the cheapy plastic feel.
Backlit keyboard
All the little extras
- SD card reader
- finger print scanner
- extra usb ports
- firewire
- PCMCIA (for corporate smart card readers) and ExpressCard

External docking station
Possibly a camera options
Possibly a non-tablet version as well 9 Comments »

Docking Stations for Inspiron and XPS notebooks

Inspiron products, XPS products submitted by jlatham 06/22/07

These days with the proliferation of laptops on college campuses the utility of mediacenter laptops, such as Dell's Inspirons, is hampered by the absence of docking stations or port replicators designed to work seamlessly with these computers. Dell's makes them for Latitudes, but seems to overlook this vital portion of the market. Anyone who has ever used a docking station at work to connect periferals yearns to have one at home...or at school. 1 Comment »