Kensington 33055 Portable Universal Docking Station (PC)

Average customer rating: 3.0

Good enough for me
Basic functions OK, put caution on PS/2 ports

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Kensington 33055 Portable Universal Docking Station (PC)

Manufacturer: Kensington
Product Group: CE
Binding: Electronics
ASIN: B0000A55F5

Related Categories:

Docking Stations

| Computer Add-Ons | Computers & Add-Ons | Categories | Electronics

Docking Stations

Kensington

| Brands | Electronics Features | Electronics

Product Description

Kensington Portable Universal Docking Station 33055 - Transform your notebook into a desktop workstation. Flexible and expandable with seven ports including two USB and one Ethernet Hardware - PC with Pentium processor or equivalent. Hi-speed USB 2.0 port (Docking Station will function on USB 1.x port but only at USB 1.x speeds). Operating System - Windows XP with Service Pack 1 Unit Size - 7.0L X 1.0H X 2.375W Portable Universal Docking Station is backed by the Kensington 1-Year warranty

Amazon.com Product Description

The Kensington 33055 Portable Universal Docking Station lets you easily transform your notebook into a desktop workstation. With simple, plug-it-in ease, this portable docking station instantly converts your notebook into networked desktop workstation, using a high-speed USB 2.0 port replicator with Ethernet that allows 40-times-faster transfers than USB 1.1. This seven-port unit features a slim, compact design that saves desktop space, and plug-and-play connectivity for your keyboard, printer, network, and USB devices. The Kensington 33055 Portable Universal Docking Station includes two USB ports, one Ethernet port, one Parallel port, one Serial Port, and two PS/2 ports, and is backed by a manufacturer's one-year warranty. This docking station weighs 0.25 pounds, and measures 7 x 2.375 x 1 inches (WxDxH). This system requires a PC with Pentium processor or equivalent, hi-speed USB 2.0 port (Docking Station will function on USB 1.x port but only at USB 1.x speeds), and Windows XP or later with Service Pack 1.

Customer Reviews:

Good enough for me.......2006-08-27

I bought the docking station because I had an old laser printer (HP 2100tn laser jet) that I could not get to work over my network. I didn't want to buy a new printer and the only other way to connect this printer was through a serial or a parallel port both of which my new laptop lacked. The problem was that if I bought the Lenovo dock, I would spend as much as I would on a printer. The Kensington product has worked well and I am happy with the performace. My only complaint is that I cannot hook up an external monitor through the docking station and I think that is something that would make it more complete...but it is good enough for me.

Basic functions OK, put caution on PS/2 ports.......2006-05-25

I acquired this unit about a week ago to serve as a docking station for a new laptop computer that does not have any of the traditional ports on it. You must install the software that comes with it to use the serial or parallel ports, and I had to reboot my computer to get the parallel port working. (Note that the serial port appears on a non-standard setting, mine is COM4, so any software must be directed to that location.) I have not tried the serial port, but the USB and parallel ports appear to work fine. However, beware that the PS/2 ports on the unit do not work the same way as built-in PS/2 ports. A keyboard and mouse plugged into them will perform their basic functions. But, if you have an advanced mouse or keyboard with extra keys or other options, they will not function through the docking station. It appears that the PS/2 ports on the docking station are wired to always appear to the operating system as some form of generic Human Interface Device mouse and keyboard, rather than recognizing whatever form of keyboard is plugged in -- as happens with built-in PS/2 ports. Because of that, I could not find a way to get the computer to match the special mouse and keyboard drivers required for the advanced functions to those devices when connected to the docking station. Kensington support ignored my first two requests for help on this issue, and then suggested I contact the keyboard and mouse vendors -- which does not make any sense because the devices work fine any time except when they are connected through the PS/2 ports on the docking station. I had to find another way to bridge my keyboard and mouse into a USB port to get them to work. For that reason, I probably would not have purchased this unit if I had known about this issue. However, if you only need a parallel and serial port, as well as two USB ports, this unit will work fine.

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