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Planning the switch to a notebook and actually making it are two different things. Of course, you have to actually acquire a notebook, but that's really the easy part (see the Buy It section for information on business-quality HP and Compaq notebooks). Once you have your notebook in hand, you have two key tasks ahead of you: - Install the right applications, drivers, and other software.
- Set up docking stations at the locations where you will use your notebook regularly.
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Once you move your desktop systems off the desktop, you're left with a collection of cords just begging to make a connection. But what should they connect to? Your notebook? While they could connect directly, you'd have to unhook them each time you want to change locations and then reconnect each time you get to a new location. This repetitive hooking and unhooking would quickly negate any productivity gains that come from centralizing with a single system. Enter docking stations.
Peripherals like printers, scanners, faxes, full-size monitors, and backup devices are all key components of your complete business computing solution. With docking stations, all of these devices are ready to use with your notebook computer in a matter of seconds.
A docking station is a device that plugs into the back end of your notebook computer. All of the ports that you need to plug in any peripheral devices, from a scanner or printer to a tape drive and DVD burner, are built into the back of the docking station. The docking station even charges your system's batteries while you work. Just plug the portable system into the docking station and everything is connected and ready to go immediately -- no fumbling with wires to get set up each time. Your notebook becomes a desktop system instantly, with complete access to every device connected to the docking station.
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When it's time to hit the road again, just pull your freshly charged system out of the docking station and you're ready to roll. Once you reach your destination, just plug your system into the docking station you have there and you can begin working immediately, without having to transfer any files or data from one system to another. Quick and easy. Of course, the question is: just how many docking stations do you need? While everyone's setup will be different (which is the beauty of notebooks in the first place), locations that are good candidates for a docking station are those where: - You (and your notebook) spend time regularly and on a predictable basis.
- You need to connect several peripherals and a network connection.
- You have complete control over the workspace.
Offices and home offices are good candidates for docking stations because you work in them regularly. Also, a client site where you have an extended engagement (more than a couple of weeks) may also be a good candidate because you'll most likely have a dedicated workspace. Hotels, planes, and client sites you visit infrequently aren't good candidates because you just aren't there long enough to make a docking station worthwhile. For example, the site/activities list from the previous section had three locations: office, home office, and plane/hotel. Of those, both the office and home office should have docking stations because both have to support a variety of peripherals.
Tip: Docking stations are specific to a particular notebook model, but you can buy as many as you need and add new ones if a change in your work style requires it. As hardware goes, docking stations are inexpensive and are a key element of a productive , effective notebook solution.
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