Posted By Jude H I believe that a laptop user should have access to a docking station when they are using the laptop at their home office location. I have to convince the 'money men' that this provision should be made when we are replacing some 2000 laptops, the current proposal is not to replace the obsolete docking stations and kit and just issue new laptops. Pattern of use varies. Any suggestions?

Posted By Ron Young You mention patterns of use varying,that means there might be varying arguments for providing docking stations. Whilst it's best to provide them together with monitors, keyboards and mice, your argument might be better won by only recommending docking stations for the more neady and then working by stealth on the rest.

Posted By Bob Shillabeer It's a bit more complicated than just using a separate keyboard. You need to provide a suitabkle screen and keyboard, and ensure the workstation meets the requirements of schedule 1 of the DSE Regulations for prolonged keyboarding. Cost is not the issue it one of compliance. The only other altenative is to reduce the level of usage to a minimum. How many of your laptop users have their own poersonal workstations at home? I use a company laptop on my systems by using a docking station (cost around £100 and a switching devise around £50) so for about £150 each you can get a reasonable setup. Works for me. Bob.

Posted By John Malone Can someone explain (with a photograph if possible) how you use a laptop with a full size keyboard attached. given that the laptop's keyboard is 250 mm deep and the full size keyboard placed in front of it will be similar, this puts the user at least 600mm from the laptop screen. This is too far away given the small character size on the laptop screen. at 600mm viewing distance characters should be 3.5mm high, but many applications do not allow this.

Posted By hill Hi Jude, Have a look at this product http://www.prop-forward.com/ I've been using one with a seperate keyboard and mouse for nearly a year, and I've been very impressed. By the way i'm in no way conected to the site. Hope this helps Hill

Posted By J Knight John, I'm sitting at my laptop with its docking station, and the screen is above the laptop on a light metal stand, thus it is no further away than it would be if it was a monitor on top of a desktop chassis. The stand is a standard HP product, as are laptop and docking station, John