DIY Dell Inspiron Docking Stations? 21
scompt asks: "I've been looking around for some information on building a custom docking station for my Dell Inspiron 8000 laptop. The barrier is obviously the odd, jumbo connector on the back. Does anybody know the pinout of it? Hacking the insides of a laptop is almost a lost cause, but opening up the docking connector might provide a nice way to expand a previously dead end box."
Good Will? (Score:1)
Re:Good Will? (Score:1)
Re:Good Will? (Score:1)
Re:Good Will? (Score:2)
Of course there's the time I found a barely used HP professional-grade inkjet printer for $20.
But these times are few, many people are hanging on to old hardware a lot longer now. Good time to check the thrift stores is a couple weeks after Christmas.
No more PC Parts.... (Score:2)
Re:No more PC Parts.... (Score:2)
Re:No more PC Parts.... (Score:2)
I suggest getting hold of one (Score:2)
Hmmm. The C-Dock II's that I had when I used a Dell (Lattitude but I think the inspirons use the same connector) had 2x PCI slots, all the ports replicated, a network card, and a copy of the CD bay. What else were you planning to hack into it?
Re:I suggest getting hold of one (Score:2, Informative)
The most the 8000 will take is an APR (Advanced Port Replicator). NOT a full-size dock.
Proof? See
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/search.as
Re:I suggest getting hold of one (Score:1, Informative)
Re:I suggest getting hold of one (Score:1)
Re:I suggest getting hold of one (Score:1)
The metal piece that covers the hole where the C Dock hook goes into is screwed into the plastic part.
Re:I suggest getting hold of one (Score:1)
Solutions.... (Score:4, Informative)
Note that the high-density connector on the back of the Inspiron is not something you can solder onto a piece of single-sided veroboard from Radio Shack, and expect to be able to put PCI slots on it. And for less complicated applications, using something like the USB or Parallel port is a better idea.
If you *must* have better expansion on your I8K than what the (cheap, but spartan) Inspiron port replicator provides, there have been reports of people connecting Cdocks (for Latitudes) onto their I8k's and flashing their system BIOS with a Latitude image. But you apparently lose some Inspiron-specific functionality and its unsupported.
For more info, which is what I suspect this Ask Slashdot is actually asking about, try google. Some good I8K hacking resources are http://home.attbi.com/~stonent/ and all the good stuff linked off there, and the I8200 FAQ at http://www.geocities.com/thebithead/I8200FAQ.htm and Dell's own website has quite good docs and infor for messing around inside your I8k. As for hacking inside the I8k, I think you'd be suprised about what you can do, see Dell's I8k forums about what is possible.
As for making your own replicator, forget it unless you have access to sophisticated routing and simulation software, and access to manufacturing things like 4-layer PCBs and such. If you must hack, buying an I8k replicator is a good start, and they arent expensive unless you have unreasonable expectations.
Check out eBay... (Score:1)
I got one for about $45 I think.
mm
Why bother? (Score:2)
By the time you sourced the parts, made the circuit board, and did the mechanical work to make the docking possible, you've spent far more than you would pay for the docking station.
Just buy a used docking station. You can even get aftermarket "USB docking stations" (if they suit your needs).
BTW, if your intent was to have custom IO ports for your laptop, you can get USB-based IO port/DAQ devices. Not terribly cheap, but easier.
"Hacking" instead of reading documentation? (Score:1)
Please slashdot my website :) (Score:1)
I have collected a lot of information about Dell Latitudes and inspirons and made a website about it. Even how to use a Latitude Dock with an Inspiron Here. [attbi.com] Enjoy! Remember dell charges like $500 for C/dock II's but you can get them off of ebay for $50
Re:Please slashdot my website :) (Score:1)
eBay (Score:1)
Dell Changing the Docking System (Score:2)