I retired from personal blogging in July 2008 but you can find me over at blog.xero.com
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My search for a way for my laptop to drive a 30″ inch screen made me think that the split between Laptop, Docking Station and Desktop is flawed. You can’t have it all so end up compromising or having two machines. A laptop and desktop.
I want different hardware dependent on location. When out and about I want a laptop form factor. When in my home office and have quality quiet time I want a multi-monitor setup. At work I’m only going to get an economically justifiable workstation.
My goal though is to only have to maintain one working environment. I want not just my data with me, but all my programs. Outlook, Office, Visual Studio, all with the same preferences set. All in the same state. Keeping two sets of applications, one of each machine, sucks!
Data syncing works well now. Having files and photo’s etc on multiple machines is seamless and easy. But it’s the programs that are a hassle. I only really want one set of licences. I only use one machine at a time.
So what I really need is a laptop that docks into something more than a docking station. A docking station that has more of the desktop PC in it. That super-dock would have:
- Lots of fast disk
- Keyboard and mouse
- Video card to drive big monitors
My laptop would contain my programs and some disk, which would sync with the fast disk on the dock. When docked I use the video card in the dock. All applications run on the laptop whether it is docked or undocked.
I don’t need to have the dock work without the laptop so it doesn’t need to be a full PC. I wouldn’t have to duplicate my applications as each application is only installed once - on the laptop that is always with me.
Isn’t this a hybrid that makes more sense?
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