Kensington 33055 Portable Universal Docking Station (PC)

by Kensington

Product Details

Data Sheet [67kb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 2.5 x 12 inches ; 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0000A55F5
• Item model number: 33055
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 20, 2003

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The Kensington 33055 Portable Universal Docking Station lets you easily transform your notebook into a desktop workstation. With simple, plug-it-in ease, this portable docking station instantly converts your notebook into networked desktop workstation, using a high-speed USB 2.0 port replicator with Ethernet that allows 40-times-faster transfers than USB 1.1. This seven-port unit features a slim, compact design that saves desktop space, and plug-and-play connectivity for your keyboard, printer, network, and USB devices. The Kensington 33055 Portable Universal Docking Station includes two USB ports, one Ethernet port, one Parallel port, one Serial Port, and two PS/2 ports, and is backed by a manufacturer's one-year warranty. This docking station weighs 0.25 pounds, and measures 7 x 2.375 x 1 inches (WxDxH). This system requires a PC with Pentium processor or equivalent, hi-speed USB 2.0 port (Docking Station will function on USB 1.x port but only at USB 1.x speeds), and Windows XP or later with Service Pack 1.

Product Description

Portable Universal Docking Station with EthernetTransforms your notebook into a desktop workstation. Connects to your keyboard, mouse, printer and network from a single USB 2.0 port. Ports include two USB, Ethernet, parallel, serial and two PS/2. Slim, compact design. Manufacturers one-year warranty. 7w x 2-3/8d x 1h.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Basic functions OK, put caution on PS/2 ports, May 25, 2006

By 

M. Lang (Bethlehem, PA United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Kensington 33055 Portable Universal Docking Station (PC) (Personal Computers)

I acquired this unit about a week ago to serve as a docking station for a new laptop computer that does not have any of the traditional ports on it. You must install the software that comes with it to use the serial or parallel ports, and I had to reboot my computer to get the parallel port working. (Note that the serial port appears on a non-standard setting, mine is COM4, so any software must be directed to that location.) I have not tried the serial port, but the USB and parallel ports appear to work fine. However, beware that the PS/2 ports on the unit do not work the same way as built-in PS/2 ports. A keyboard and mouse plugged into them will perform their basic functions. But, if you have an advanced mouse or keyboard with extra keys or other options, they will not function through the docking station. It appears that the PS/2 ports on the docking station are wired to always appear to the operating system as some form of generic Human Interface Device mouse and keyboard, rather than recognizing whatever form of keyboard is plugged in -- as happens with built-in PS/2 ports. Because of that, I could not find a way to get the computer to match the special mouse and keyboard drivers required for the advanced functions to those devices when connected to the docking station. Kensington support ignored my first two requests for help on this issue, and then suggested I contact the keyboard and mouse vendors -- which does not make any sense because the devices work fine any time except when they are connected through the PS/2 ports on the docking station. I had to find another way to bridge my keyboard and mouse into a USB port to get them to work. For that reason, I probably would not have purchased this unit if I had known about this issue. However, if you only need a parallel and serial port, as well as two USB ports, this unit will work fine.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good enough for me, August 27, 2006

By 

G. Long "letranger66" (SC, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Kensington 33055 Portable Universal Docking Station (PC) (Personal Computers)

I bought the docking station because I had an old laser printer (HP 2100tn laser jet) that I could not get to work over my network. I didn't want to buy a new printer and the only other way to connect this printer was through a serial or a parallel port both of which my new laptop lacked. The problem was that if I bought the Lenovo dock, I would spend as much as I would on a printer. The Kensington product has worked well and I am happy with the performace. My only complaint is that I cannot hook up an external monitor through the docking station and I think that is something that would make it more complete...but it is good enough for me.

4.0 out of 5 stars Kensington Docking Station, December 26, 2007

By 

Arthur B. Eslinger (Boise, ID) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Kensington 33055 Portable Universal Docking Station (PC) (Personal Computers)

I purchased one a while ago, loved it, but couldn't find it locally. Works just like I expected it to. If you use it for networking, make sure to install the driver. XP will try to auto configured one, but it didn't work on the first docking station I bought. Forget trying to install it later, it's impossible to find it in the USB devices because they all say generic or hub.

There is a driver update, it corrects blue screen due to the networking port. Once I installed, problem went away.