MacBook Pro Docking Station?

I'm pretty sure there are no docking stations available, from Apple or anyone else. You'll have 2 usb ports so your printer should be fine to connect, and any external display should work, too. The MacBook Pro has built-in DVI video that can push a digital signal to 30" lcd. You'll get a VGA adapter, too, so you can use older, non-digital displays as well.

In general, the built-in ports on your MacBook Pro should do whatever you need from a docking station... external display, usb ports, ethernet, etc. I've been using Apple laptops for ~5 years, and I just have 2 sets of everything at home + work... external lcd display, keyboard, mouse, network.

I don't know of anyone that makes a docking station either but I would suggest buying a powered USB hub and plugging all your USB devices into that. That way you'll only have one USB cable to hook up to your laptop when you need to "dock" it.

A tip to those "pretty sure" (and to the OP: Google works for you too) etc., use Google or don't speculate especially giving the wrong answer, since there are docking stations for both sizes of MBP, here for example:

http://www.bookendzdocks.com/

It's nice that you found and posted that info for the original post, but your "tip" is worthless. In 10+ years of Mac usage, the only docking stations I've ever seen or heard of were made by Apple (the Duo in the 90's), and those are long gone.

Until being lamely corrected by you, I was pretty sure they didn't exist today. I'm also pretty sure I don't want to read any more posts from you.

Feel the *"Wrath of Kaan"*.........

(apologies to the Star Trek franchise for the intentional misspelling there)

Seriously, Kaan, I wonder how you and your 10+ years of Mac usage and all of your pretty sureness (or is that petty sureness?) can view as "worthless" a tip that the OP stated was "what I need". The OP even kindly awarded points for Rick's response.

Feel free to ignore any post (or poster) you wish...it's an open forum. However, I'm +pretty sure+ (intentional mocking there) that Rick is not huddled in a corner sobbing that you won't be reading his future posts.

The BookEndz are a valid solution to the docking station void, and frankly - your bashing of Rick for providing the solution adds nothing of value to this discussion.

Greg

Yes they are promoting them right now on their website which I found by googling it. I don't think the port layout differed between the old and new MBP's which would be the only thing that would make a change - I am not talking about the old MBP with no FW 800. Anyway have a look. A little pricey to me but if it is your only mac then not a bad option.

Hey I think people ought to at least go and try to find one vs. using 10 year old assumptions. Actually a surprising number of people only ask here and don't search google or here first (for anything they need help on) so he wasn't alone.

I remember reading a review for it when it came out. The only thing I remember was you had to use your own power supply because Apple wouldn't license the MagSafe connector to them to use in their design.

Other than that, it seems more of a port replicator than a docking station -- it'd be cooler if it jacked into the Expresscard slot and really extended the computers' bus.

It doesn't seem Apple is in too big a rush to licence MagSafe to anyone. Still if you have a whack of peripherals it would be a useful asset.

I have a bookendz docking station for my 15" MBP and I love it.
You have to connect the Mag Safe separately, but there is a twisted canal leading to it so it stays in place and is easy to push toward the Mac.
The Bookendz instructions say clearly "shut you Mac down before docking" which is what I have done but I wonder if there is anybody out there who just puts the Mac to sleep and then docks or undocks.

If you had firewire or USB hard drives connected shutting down would be safer than sleeping then disconnecting.

Thank you.
I have an old 17" Apple Studio Display, an external USB Apple keyboard and a Kensington wireless keyboard. In addition I have a Palm dock. I have a Firewire 400 external burner and an external Hard Disk that is usually off when I dock, I also have several daisy chained FireWire 800 external hard disks that are also off when I dock.