HP xb4 Notebook Media Docking Station
Dec 21, 2009 in
Computers & Software
- Adjust your notebook to a viewing height that is just right for you.
- Maximize your mobile convenience: Expand your world with one easy connection to your notebook. One connection passes all connectivity signals – power for battery charging, USB, Internet, audio and video – for a fast and easy docking solution.
- Experience room-filling sound with the powerful integrated Altec Lansing 2.1 speaker system.
- Integrated HP Media Drive storage bay provides a clutter-free backup option.
- Wide variety of ports (6 USB 2.0 Ports, RJ-45 (network) jack, Microphone (audio-in) Jack, Headphone (audio-out) Jack) and connectors provide maximum versatility.
Product Description
Elevate your notebook beyond the desktop experience. Use your notebook’s display as your monitor and save deskspace while neatly staying connected to your peripherals, power and the Internet with a single connection to your notebook. Use the included full-sized wireless keyboard and wireless optical mouse to conveniently and comfortably control your notebook with cable-free operation. Compatible with the following notebook Series: Pavilion: dv4, dv5, dv7, dv2000, dv6000, dv9000, tx1000, tx2000 Presario: CQ45, V3000 and V6000… More >>
HP xb4 Notebook Media Docking Station
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5 comments
J. LaCoss on December 21, 2009 at 10:33 pm
I just (like 30 minutes ago) got the dock combo. HP really dropped the ball in the hugest possible way.
1) the mouse is horrid. The buttons are part of the top (not hinged) and take a LOT of pressure to activate. Can you say “carpal tunnel?” I had CT (and got past it) a few years back. It took, gee, an entire 5 minutes to get my fingers tingling. The mouse wheel has very little drag with light detents. I suppose… but I’d like more resistance there to keep from scrolling when I don’t want to.
2) if you play any slow-action games with this mouse, it isn’t good enough to use – bluetooth response time is lousy. Fast-action? Fahgedaboudit.
3) the keyboard is lousy. it has zero “touch” and has the additional benefit of having (ta-da) a different layout from the HDX laptop it is supposed to accessorize. Way to hang, kids.
4) the speakers are ok playing a CD (I’ve got Glenn Gould on at the moment, and it sounds great) but Windows (maybe just Vista) sounds are nicely mangled.
5) The Bluetooth keyboard and mouse only appear to work with their own special BT USB dongle. WHY IS THAT? Bluetooth is supposed to be BLUETOOTH. I can see every BT computer and cell phone in my area, but not the KB? What kind of stupidity is this?
6) The quick-start graphical instructions are horrible. Yes, they indicate the sequence of events and show connector locations. However, they don’t point out that the laptop has to be OFF when plugged into the dock. The instructions also don’t indicate that the BT dongle is a must, so I spent 10 minutes trying to figure out why the laptop couldn’t discover the kb/mouse.
7) the cable to the laptop is a monster. it is very stiff, and I worry that it will eventually cause my laptop motherboard to fail due to flexing. How many plug/unplug cycles is this thing good for?
My old VAIO dock didn’t have much by way of USB ports, but it worked for over 3 years without a hitch. I could just set the laptop on it (yes, I had to check the hatch open state) and off I’d go… HP should buy one and see how to make a laptop dock.
C.C.P. on December 21, 2009 at 10:41 pm
I had another HP Expansion Base and laptop that both died at the same time. I purchased another laptop only to find it was not compatible with a generic docking station of which company I will not mention. So instead of purchasing a desktop I decided to purchase an additional laptop and found that the expansion base I had was the real problem for some reason. Either way. I Purchased the additional laptop and by the time I got around to purchaing the this docking station the price had come down a great deal. So I purchased it. I love this thing. Much better than the old one and make my second laptop into what I wanted which was a desktop. So call me spoiled! I have a laptop downstairs and a laptop upstairs in my home office the operates like a desktop. This is a great buy with great features.
LKC on December 22, 2009 at 1:21 am
I bought this product for my bf and he loves it! I’m actually planning to purchase another one for myself.
Ryan Eubanks on December 22, 2009 at 3:17 am
This docking station fit all my criteria for what I was looking for: a laptop stand, multiple usb ports, vga output, numerous other ports, a wireless keyboard and mouse, and as an added bonus…a built in speaker system! But here’s the twist.
It doesn’t work! First of all, I had to buy an expansion port adapter because who knew it used an expansion port 3 cable? Maybe that was my fault, but after ordering the adapter the docking station no longer had power! I got a hold of someone from tech support and after 15 minutes of waiting and 15 minutes of us discussing how my name is spelled, (and they still got it wrong) I had to hang up because I had no patience.
To shorten the story, HP sent me a replacement over night which was awesome and it hooked up perfectly and worked awesome…for about two hours! It lost power and would never turn on again. Man! What a let down. HP promised to send me another one within a week. It is going on two weeks now. I thought the saying goes, “you get what you pay for”. Sure is an expensive piece of crap! Although, I will admit, its doing a great job holding my laptop!
Tony on December 22, 2009 at 3:45 am
But great product. Not a regular docking station, but does what better than a regular one.