Best laptop/dock solution?

I'm really leaning towards buying a new Ivy Bridge laptop that provides some sort of true docking solution (not via USB). I'm assuming this narrows my choices down to the various business lines of Lenovo, Dell, and HP.

How many of you have bought a laptop + dock for their personal usage? If so, which laptop/dock combination did you buy? Is this a rare occurrence for personal usage?

I've heard the newer Dell docks are pretty terrible quality but I've never used one for any extended period of time. Does anyone have experience with Lenovo docks? I may go the T430 or T430S route. I'm also waiting to see how much the X1 Carbon is.

My workplace provides me an HP Elitebook + dock and I really like it. However, I would not want to use that specific Elitebook for personal usage due to it's mediocre trackpad.

 

Tagging along - I'm also trying to determine the best docking options (hopefully wireless) for a Samsung Series 9 (900X4D.) I've used the Dell docking solution with an E6500 for the past 4 years and have been very pleased.

 

I heard their docks took a nose-dive in quality. I saw one last week that was actually broken since it is cheap plastic.

Is your Dell dock plastic or metal?

 

I use Thinkpad X200T + Ultrabase dock in the office. It's full plastic but also relatively light so you can even pack it into a bag and travel with it. I used it for about a year now and haven't had any issues. It seems sufficiently robust for me. The X230 ultrabase is somewhat different, so take that into account.

Dock station is simply a must have for me, since I connect lots of devices (Displayport is the only one unused on mine) + I have 250GB HD in it for storage. I like that it takes 2-3 seconds to undock (safely remove everything that's attached to it) and my laptop is free to go -- it is incredibely convenient.

 

how old is your Ultrabase?

 

It's a combination of heavy plastic and metal - I have no complaints, it's functioned perfectly for more than 4 years. The SS9 has no docking solution so I'm hoping I can use a combination of WiDI, UWB and or perhaps a single USB3 cable to come up with a simple replacement.

I've been looking at the Samsung Central Station, but the reviews have not been great.

 

All those connections get piped to the notebook wirelessly? I'm somewhat skeptical myself.

 

After reading many of the reviews - it seems the connectivity mostly works, but there are numerous other problems with the monitor/dock that render it not yet ready for prime time.

The search continues...

 

I had it for about 2 years now, but the seller said it was already used (bought it on eBay) even though it looked brand new to me. It still looks pretty much brand new, even though I use it daily.

 

Kensington Adjustable Laptop Stand and Universal Docking Station Review

I see that review was posted yesterday. My search apparently continues.

 

I've been using a Dell E-Series dock for almost 3 years now with zero problems. I dock/undock at least once per day and I've used the same dock with an E6400, M4400, M4500, and now the M6600. We probably have 50 of these docks at work and I haven't seen any broken plastic... To break the plastic on one of these you'd have to be slamming your laptop down ridiculously hard...

 

I use my Dell M6600 + E Port Plus with 2 external monitors/keyboard/mouse/speakers.

I love it, the docking works well for me. Though I don't move my notebook off the dock much since I use a netbook when I'm on the go.

It seems built plenty solid to me.