HP pavilion 15 notebook dual monitors

[bdanger3000]

I purchased a HP Pavilion TS 15 Notebook PC thinking that I could hook it up to a docking station and have dual monitors, a keyboard, a mouse and a keyboard to use as a desk top at my home office.

Is it possible to use this model with a docking station?

If so, what is the appropraite one?

If not, how do I go about still acheiving my desired intetions without having to return my Notebook for simply a desktop? 

Thanks. 

[daniel71317]

Just doing a quick google search, it looks like you would need what is called a 'port replicator' rather than a tradtional docking station. A port replicator woud give you several more usb ports, video and audio out, etc.

Here is a link to an Ebay page with some of these:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=HP+Envy+15+port+replictor&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_from=R40&_trksid...

If all you are wanting to do is hook up a second monitor, you should be able to simply use an HDMI cable and use Windows' projector settings (Win+P) to 'extend' the display to the second monitor.

[bdanger3000]

I saw that. My knowledge is limited on this so I was not sure if that would actually do the trick.

If it was just the extra monitor then I agree with you that I'd be in the clear simply hooking the other one up with the HDMI cable but, and I should have mentioned this earlier, I want to kind of have it so it is as if it is a desktop pro forma, such that the laptop with the docking station or the product you mentioned acts as an as a conduit. 

[daniel71317]

By hooking up the second monitor via HDMI and choosing the 'extend' option, everything should be set up so that you would do all your work on the laptop (just as you would a desktop with a keyboard and mouse). The second monitor will extend your screen so you have more room on the desktop, the mouse pointer just continues on to the second screen, and such. Does that make sense? From what you have described, I would certainly try hooking up the second monitor and see if it meets your needs.

Where the port replicator would come in handy is by pluggin your monitor, speakers, printer, etc. into it and then only having a single thing to plug into your laptop when you wanted to slide your laptop into the setup. The port replicator would act just as a docking station would. It just plugs into one of your USB ports instead of into a specially built port on your laptop.

[bdanger3000]

Yeah, I was thinking more of the latter. I actually have two more monitors that I was going to use and not use the one on my laptop, thereby completely cutting out the use of the laptop (except to tie it all together). Does that sound functional?

[daniel71317 · Accepted solution]

Yes, you could set it up for that to work. You would just need to modify your power settings so that when you closed the lid on the laptop, it did nothing, instead of normally putting the laptop in sleep mode. Also, most port replicators I am seeing only have HDMI port. So you would either need to still use the HDMI port on the laptop or get a DisplayPort cable for the second monitor.