Mobiletrax.com - June 2003

Oyster Dock

Sherpaq Mobile Products has introduced a clever new product for notebook users that rely on their system as a desktop replacement: the Oyster Dock. The Oyster is a universal docking station that leverages the ubiquity of USB to avoid the need for proprietary docking ports and multiple connections.

Perhaps more importantly, the dock lefts the notebook up off the desktop, where the screen can take the place of a CRT display. The Oyster Dock holds a notebook that has been fully opened in a near-vertical orientation. The Oyster supports the lower half of the system--the part of the notebook that hold the keyboard--and positions the screen up high, at normal eye level. The dock is also pre-wired to act as a USB hub, extending the notebook's built-in ports and allowing easy installation of a full-size keyboard and external mouse. In normal use, a user need only unplug two connects (the power brick and USB connector) to take the notebook on the road.

Tech buyers have long been frustrated by the proprietary nature of docking solutions that require unique connectors and only work with specific, short-lived product lines. The Oyster Dock is a universal alternative that we expect to see more of in the coming months, especially as more powerful notebooks replace desktop systems in the office.

Mobiletrax.com
June 2003

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