Sony VAIO VGP-PRSR1 SR Series Port Replicator (Black)

Review by Russ for Sony VAIO VGP-PRSR1 SR Series Port Replicator (Black)
Rating:
I’m very happy with my Sony laptop, but I expect more from Sony when it comes to this docking station, especially given how overpriced docking stations always are. It works, but there are two big problems with this docking station and one little one:

* No Microphone In and Audio Out ports: my external speakers have to be connected directly to the laptop. Everybody knows that laptops generally don’t have good speakers, so excluding these ports from a docking station is inexcusable.

* Inconvenient power button: the laptop itself has a power button that doesn’t function when the laptop lid is closed, which is a good feature for when I’m on the go. (Nobody wants their laptop accidentally turning on inside its bag.) However, there is no power button directly on the docking station, and the power button on the laptop STILL ceases to function when the laptop is docked. I have to open the lid each time I turn on the computer when the laptop is docked! Either the power button on the laptop should magically work when the computer is docked, or the docking station itself should have a power button on it.

Finally, the little problem. The docking station does not include a power cord, so don’t forget to order that too. And the instructions with the docking station disingenuously caution the user to only use the power cord that was included with the laptop. Yeah, right! Docking stations are about convenience; every docking station purchaser buys an additional (also overpriced) power cord to use with the docking station. Nobody crawls under their desk to connect the power cord to the docking station each time they’ve returned to their office with the laptop. Not only should the docking station include a power cord, it should include a power cord with a longer cord suitable for an office environment.

Like I said, the Sony laptop itself is fabulous, but this docking station is bad icing on the cake.

Review by mom2sarah… for Sony VAIO VGP-PRSR1 SR Series Port Replicator (Black)
Rating:
Someone here has already posted a very thorough review and s/he raises some very valid points. Yes, it NEEDS a Power Button and even more importantly, it NEEDS a locking mechanism. I never feel 100% secure that it’s docked “perfectly” as a result and swear that once in awhile, I will have issues with reading documents ETC (one time the font was all screwed up) as a direct result of it not being locked into the dock. The lack of Power Button is more of a slight hassle as I have to open the laptop to turn it ON . Btw I found out that you can keep the lid closed while docking by changing what the LID CLOSING does in POWER OPTIONS, prior to that, it was gathering lots of dust as I thought I had to leave the LID UP. By default, in XP and Vista, closing the lid puts the laptop in Sleep Mode.

I don’t mind the lack of more USB ports or even the lack of speaker In/Out as I do not game or listen to music. I have it hooked up to the dock and a 22″ HP Monitor to mainly do WORD, check email, and so forth. But I do worry everytime I have it docked that the contacts might not be “perfect” so SONY PLEASE PUT a LOCKING MECHANISM on your next dock as it is crucial ! Finally, I got my dock + Slim AC Adaptor “free” from a SONY Promo so I can’t complain about the price but if I paid Full Retail price for it, I, too, would be very disappointed if it did not include an extra AC Adaptor. Overall though, I love being able to dock my SONY SR 13.3″ laptop!

Review by M. Poon for Sony VAIO VGP-PRSR1 SR Series Port Replicator (Black)
Rating:
Does what it says. Needs more USB ports (has three), a locking mechanism to keep the laptop where it is, and a power button on the outside.