So if I can get a nice office set up at home, I should be able to work from home much more often. Anybody have any experience setting up a home office? My office computer is a Dell Latitude. My wife uses an MacBook Pro. I'm hoping there's a universal docking station that can accept both?? Any thoughts on monitors? Size (do a lot of work in excel and other office documents and like bigger screens to reduce eye strain) and price (also like smaller prices) are considerations for me. Where to buy? Any compatibility issues I need to be concerned with? What about keyboards and mouse? This will primarily be for me (pc user), but again if possible would like to be able to use the mac as well, just to take advantage of the larger screen. Don't know if there are universal keyboards, or how mouse works on mac's - as have only had the laptop - and if that is universal as well? Appreciate any help.
Don't know that you'll find a docking station that fits both, the ones I've purchased in the past have been pretty specific, especially for macbooks. Monitor is going to come down to price and size anyway, all your choice. Should be no compatibility issues, but just make sure you're aware of the inputs on both machines as you may need an adapter for one of the two depending on what you choose. You could get a decent keyboard and mouse from someone like Logitech that is fully functional on both. Assuming both machines have bluetooth, a wireless setup would be good since it appears to me it will be difficult finding a dual purpose docking station, and thus are going to have some trouble with cables etc. and best to minimize that if this is the case.
Thanks. If anyone else knows if this is possible, that'd be helpful! If not, I'll just have to go with the PC docking station, as that will be the primary purpose. Best place to buy monitor - online or in store??
Model numbers would help tremendously. There are USB docking stations that are supposedly universal, but in my experience, USB video is horrible. You're better off having your cords bundled- USB, Power for both, DVI or HDMI (whichever video in fits both) and just plug them in when you want to use the 'big' monitor. Keep in mind that when you're doing this you can use the bigger monitor as a primary and the laptop monitor as a secondary and have a dual monitor setup.
The Latitude is E5510 Macbook Pro... ?? It's about 1.5 yrs old. Sorry to be ignorant about this, but can you give more detail as to your suggestion above? Just plug from computer(s) into monitor? Didn't know that was possible, if that is the suggestion?? I assume I could still have bluetooth keyboard and mouse, though?
Right, plug the monitor into the laptop you have at the desk. Have a powered USB hub that has everything plugged in, that way you can plug one USB into your laptop. Then the power. It's how I have my desk set up when I use it. As far as the video goes- I looked up your model and it has a VGA port. That's an older port, but that's ok. I can guarantee that the macbook has either DVI or HDMI. So you want to get a monitor with both inputs. Most higher-end monitors have HDMI, DVI and VGA inputs. You just need to toggle the input when you plug up the different laptops. VGA: Converter with both DVI (bigger port) and HDMI, for comparison: As long as the mouse and keyboard have their own receiver, which is USB, it will make it easy. Otherwise, it may be a hassle to marry them back and forth between the two.
Most laptops have digital outputs to where you can hook up external monitors. What you're looking for is a laptop stand, as there isnt a universal dock for your laptop or your wifes mac. Keep in mind, you will have to purchase a mini-dvi to dvi, or mini-displaypost to dvi cable for your wifes mac, depending on year and model of the macbook. With the stand and proper connections, all thats left is to get a monitor and use it side by side as suggested. I work in terminal all day so I wouldn't get anything smaller then a 23 inch. Screen realestate is key when working with documents or spreadsheets. A single 24 inch should suffice for years to come. If you're low on USB ports, you can always get a USB hub.
Thanks for the help. I think I got it. 1. Purchase monitor with both VGA (PC) and DVI/HDMI (Macbook...probably DVI) ports 2. Use VGA cord for pc to monitor. 3. Use mini-dvi to dvi, or mini-displaypost to dvi cable for Macbook 4. For keyboard/receiver, bluetooth possible but painful to constantly marry back and forth between the two. Instead use USB connections, and USB hub if need extra connections. What's the difference between a "powered" USB hub and a simple USB hub? Is there any "trick" to having the dual monitor set-up once you get it all plugged in, or does that happen automatically, or what?
4- powered USB gives the ports power. Some USB devices want the ports to be powered, especially if they're also chargers like an ipod/iphone cord. The technique for dual monitors varies according to system and operating system.
^ ok, thanks. Sounds like better safe than sorry and get a powered hub. if I don't need the power, don't need to plug it in. Amazon looks to be as competitive as anyone on monitor price. Most popular ViewSonic 24 inch is full 1080p with speakers and $185... though there is a Samsung 27inch for $240... tempting, but the 24 inch will be a huge improvement to my 15 inch laptop screen. Question out of curiosity: What's the point of a official "docking station" if you can just directly output from computer to screen, and have the dual screen capability at that point?
In my experience, a docking station is great for a laptop that acts like a desktop 95% of the time, and it's great for users who don't want to deal with plugging in the cords.
