Recommend laptop with docking station for new employee

[Velvis]

Any recommendations for a reliable laptop that can be brought back to the office and docked to a monitor and keyboard and mouse?

 

[Porthos]

Most of the business class ones can do that. Are you looking for new or refurbished?

 

[Slaters Kustum Machines]

We like the Dell Latitude line, but as stated most of the business class machines have this option.

 

[Frick]

We are a Lenovo shop and love their Thinkpads. Depending on the model of laptop you can use a stacking type doc, or their onelink type doc. We avoid USB 3 docks as they can be finicky and problematic.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Lenovo Thinkpad series /end thread

 

[Pixelated Tech]

+1 on Lenovo Thinkpads. If the budget doesn't allow for these, the HP Elitebook 840 G2 and G3 are still exceptional and the docking stations are affordable.

 

[thecomputerguy]

Lenovo/Lattitude...

If you want to go cheaper then you can go with the entry line Latitude (no internal dock) and use a USB 3.0 Dock. I've used the plugable one before with pretty good success. The major downfall to a USB 3.0 dock is that it doesn't power the laptop. If a customer goes this route then I require them to purchase an additional AC adapter with the laptop to store with the Dock, then just velcro the USB 3.0 cable and the power cable together.

Business class laptops are great! However moving over from a residential grade system with a Pro OS on it to a business class system with a Pro OS can be a significant price jump for same or similar specs (but better build quality). Then jumping from business class to business class with a dock gets even more expensive, then you have to use the dock as required by the laptop which is typically over priced and sometimes twice as much as a USB 3.0 dock.

So I offer the option of a USB 3.0 dock as long as they understand the consequences (mainly charging/some video lag). Going business class with no internal dock, then using a USB 3.0 dock can potentially save you $500 on the overall cost of the finished product.

My last sale was:

Dell Latitude 15 (3000 series)
250GB Hard Drive (swapped for a 500GB Samsung 850 Pro)
8GB Ram
Windows 7 Pro
3-Year Prosupport (NA Warranty)

Additional power cord

Plugable USB 3.0 Dock (Dual Video)

2x ASUS 25" Designer Series IPS Display

Laptop screams, setup looks cool

 

[Encrypted Existence]

We like the Dell Latitude line, but as stated most of the business class machines have this option.

I use a Dell Latitude E6540 with a docking station and two external 22" monitors at work. Works well for me

 

[Krynn72]

Depending on the model of laptop you can use a stacking type doc, or their onelink type doc.

I've heard a lot of bad things about the Onelink dock unfortunately. Lenovo's website and Amazon all have tons of complaints about it not working well with a lot of monitors (usually high resolution, >1080p). It was enough to make me decide against getting one (given I only have >1080p).

 

[Frick]

I've heard a lot of bad things about the Onelink dock unfortunately. Lenovo's website and Amazon all have tons of complaints about it not working well with a lot of monitors (usually high resolution, <1080p). It was enough to make me decide against getting one (given I only have >1080p).

I saw the same reports/complaints but most are for the USB3 type docks. The USB 3 docks have issues with video as the signal is compressed, where the OneLink does not compress the video. The OneLink dock is NOT USB, its a proprietary cable that plugs into the ThinkPad and does everything video, network, usb, audio, power/charging, etc.

I have many OneLinks docks deployed and use one myself, and have had no issues.

 

[Krynn72]

I saw the same reports/complaints but most are for the USB3 type docks. The USB 3 docks have issues with video as the signal is compressed, where the OneLink does not compress the video. The OneLink dock is NOT USB, its a proprietary cable that plugs into the ThinkPad and does everything video, network, usb, audio, power/charging, etc.

I have many OneLinks docks deployed and use one myself, and have had no issues.

Could you say which computers you've used it with? I've got an X1 Carbon 3rd Gen, and the ones I was looking at were these:
http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/...&category-id=B060B45DEA1A4488B53B2504D0F16FA0
And there's nothing but complaints of video issues, units failing after a couple weeks of use, strange hums when speakers are plugged in, etc.

I'd love to actually get one, but I have a hard time believing these are rare issues. If you've used a bunch of them without issue, then maybe I'll reconsider.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

The USB 3 docks have issues with video as the signal is compressed,

USB docks in general....no matter what brand, what make/model laptop...we stay away from them.

 

[glennd]

USB docks in general....no matter what brand, what make/model laptop...we stay away from them.

I have a dock for my Lenovo. It's been great except for the USB 3.0 port sometimes doesn't detect a drive. I have to unplug the drive and plug it into the laptop. Tomorrow it will be fine.

 

[Seabass]

We have been using Dell Latitudes and their E series docks for years. Currently we are buying the Lat E7470.

 

[Uf-Dah]

I'm a little late to the party but when using any USB dock or hub, I always want to make sure it's externally powered. USB 3 can use quite a bit more power than 2.0/1.0 so I've found that using a usb powered hub might not have enough current flow to allow all the other devices to work properly. Now if you used a USB C port, you'd probably be okay but we have had few problems using USB 3.0 hubs with external power.