HP's docking station also offers storage
HP provides more details of its advanced docking station add-on for business laptops
HP has released further details of the advanced docking station add-on for its business laptops, which serves as a backup device and network storage, as well as providing all the usual features of a standard desktop dock.
The HP 3-in-1 NAS Docking Station will ship in early July, priced from £229. First announced along with new corporate laptop lines last month, the docking station incorporates key desktop-like ergonomics and expandability features such as port replication, cable management, security and various ports, according to HP.
An integrated 160GB hard drive in the docking station serves as a backup device using HP’s Backup and Recovery Manager software when a laptop is sitting in the dock. It can also serve as a network-attached storage (NAS) device for secure file sharing, via an embedded NAS Configuration Utility.
The Docking Station has six USB ports as well as MultiBay II and ExpressCard slots for future expansion. Two of the USB ports on the HP 3-in-1 NAS Docking Station can be configured to share printers, scanners or other devices across the network, according to HP. The docking station is compatible with most of HP’s newer business laptop models.
HP also announced a new laptop based on AMD’s Turion 64 X2 dual-core processor. The HP Compaq nx6325 is a thin-and-light model chiefly aimed at small and medium-sized companies. Set to ship at the end of June, the device costs from £549. Options include a fingerprint scanner, smartcard reader, and dual-layer DVD±RW drive.