Docking station
A hardware device that allows portable computers to connect with other devices with little or no effort.
Docking stations enable users with a laptop computer to also have the luxuries of a desktop computer when at the office or at home. For example, a user could use their laptop while on the road and then when at the office connect the laptop to the docking station and use their 19" monitor, speakers, and office printer without having to transfer any of the data they may have been working on while on the road.
In the picture to the right, is an example of a Dell docking station, this particular docking station enables the laptop to be directly connected to the docking station without the need of using any additional cables. Keep in mind that all docking stations are different.
- Dock - Term used to describe the process of connecting a portable computer to a docking station.
- Undock - Term used to describe the process of disconnecting a portable computer from a docking station.
Also see: Hot docking, Laptop, Port bar