Windows Vista: The Complete Reference (Complete Reference Series)
Docking stations enable laptop users to avoid resource limitations that most laptops have. A docking station lets you connect to a better monitor, a real mouse, a full- sized keyboard, and possibly a network. Some docking stations give you access to additional hardware, such as a hard drive or CD-ROM/DVD drive. In addition to these resources, docking stations are convenient -by simply clicking the laptop into the docking station, you have access to these additional resources, without having to plug cables into the laptop.
| Note | Port replicators are a kind of simple docking station that contain no resources except additional ports. A port replicator can be used to give you immediate access to a full-sized screen, keyboard, mouse, printer, and network connection, without having to plug each cable in separately. Port replicators don't have hard drives or other internal resources. |
If your hardware supports it, you can plug your laptop into its docking station without turning off the laptop and gain access to the additional resources provided by the docking station. You can usually undock it by choosing Start Eject PC. Windows automtically adjusts to the change in hardware, notifying you of open files and loading or unloading any necessary drivers. When you're ready to dock the laptop again, simply put it in the docking station. Windows again adjusts automatically to the change in hardware. Some laptops support hot docking, but no Eject PC command appears on the Start menu.
If your laptop doesn't support hot docking (check the laptop's manual or online help to find out for sure), you need to shut down Windows and turn the laptop off before docking or undocking. You can benefit from creating two hardware profiles-one to use when the laptop is docked , and one to use when you work away from the docking station. Multiple hardware profiles can save you time. When you undock your laptop, you needn't change each hardware setting that needs to be changed; instead, you can choose the correct hardware profile when the machine boots.