What can you do if you want to use your laptop like a desktop when you are at home?

Pluggable’s DC-125 USB 2.0 universal laptop Docking Client includes a USB 2.0 upstream port for connection to a host, keyboard and mouse, two downstream USB 2.0 ports, 3.5mm audio I/O jacks, and a VGA output that supports screens up to 1280 x 1024  or 1440 x 900pixels. Like many other docking client’s, the DC-125 USB 2.0 lets you add up to three additional monitors to a single PC.

But it also has a second operating mode that will allow multiple users to share a single PC if you install multi-user operating system like windows Multipoint Server 2011. While Microsoft doesn’t’ say how many PCs can be supported, the number of USB ports and the host processor speed will actually determine what the practical limits are.

All you need to do is connect the keyboard, mouse and a monitor to the docking client and you create a workstation that acts like a standalone PC. Multipoint Server 2011 provides utilities to create user accounts and do other administration tasks.

It seems like a nifty little gadget. To use it as a laptop dock drivers are available that can support windows XP, Vista and windows 7. The coolest thing about this device is that it connects by USB port and also gets it power that way. No more damaged docking ports.

To use it as a client station, you will need to download the latest Multipoint compatible drivers.