Hard Drive Docking Station
The Truth about the HP Hard Drive Docking Station
If you’re looking for an HP-branded hard drive docking station, you might not be able to find one. This is because the company didn’t produce such a device. It’s true that HP has all the necessary computer appendages and accessories, but they might have missed this one, because they don’t have any product that’s able to read a bare hard disk and connect it to a PC.
Before we do unravel what HP has to offer, let’s discuss first about external memory systems, the possible options, and their pros and cons.
The most important thing in any device’s system is the memory. It contains all the data and information that you saved for different purposes. As technology evolved, computer memory also developed. But a lot of computer models are old, and prying them open to install in a new disk drive might not be a good idea.
Likewise, laptops are also unadvisable to open up just so you could install a bigger hard drive. The best solution for adding memory space to your PC, whether a laptop or a desktop, is by installing an external hard disk drive. You can choose between a bare external drive and one with an enclosure. But what does each have to offer?
Buying an external hard drive with enclosure is relatively easy because you can get one in most computer shops. This device needs to be installed, though, and oftentimes it’s not hot-swappable. Also, enclosures tend to heat up the disk because the activity of the device is confined in its casing. This might not be good for the disk as it could eventually corrupt its system.
On the other hand, a bare hard disk can be quite cheaper because it doesn’t have a casing with it. However, in order to operate it, you have to use a hard drive docking station. Using this device, you can easily manage your files from your PC to your new external hard disk. It doesn’t require installation and it’s hot swappable as well. It’s simply connected through a USB cable and you’re all ready to use it. If you sum up the cost of a bare hard disk with a docking station, it’s still less expensive compared to the single cost of an external hard drive.
Regarding HP’s offer for a hard drive dock, the company didn’t develop a docking station of a disk drive alone. However, they did create a docking device which has an integrated disk drive which serves as additional memory and back-up. This device is the 3-in-1 NAS Docking Station, and is compatible to most old models of HP and Compaq laptops. It has complete connectivity options and ports for complete desktop functionality, and its built-in 160GB SATA hard drive makes the most out of docking without the need of any external or additional memory.
So you see, even though HP has not released a hard drive docking station, the company offers something so much better. I would recommend all HP and Compaq laptop users to get the NAS dock because it has all your connectivity and external memory needs. But if your laptop isn’t HP or you just want additional external memory for your PC, I give you the option of a bare hard drive with dock of an external hard drive. You have the final choice.
Tags: Docking Station, Hard Drive, Hard Drive Docking Station