Toshiba touts wireless docking station

Jul 30, 2007 1:30 PM
Filed under Hardware

Toshiba has unveiled a wireless ultra wide band port replicator allowing UWB-enabled laptops to connect wirelessly to a range of peripherals including an external monitor.

The wireless UWB port replicator is currently compatible with three new versions of Toshiba's Portege R400 notebooks.

The inclusion of UWB wireless technology means that the connection is capable of transmitting digital video wirelessly, allowing the transmission of baseband video with up to SXGA resolution.

This enables users to stream unencrypted and uncompressed multimedia, such as videos, music and internet-based content.

As with its wired counterparts, UWB allows users to wirelessly connect a notebook to all types of peripherals, such as a monitor, keyboard, speakers, compatible external HDD and optical disk drives.

The technology can help eliminate the hassle of connecting and disconnecting peripherals, and avoids the compatibility problems which have always plagued docking stations.

However, as with similar short range wireless technologies such as Bluetooth, which has notorious compatibility issues, UWB faces its share of challenges particularly as there is still no agreed industry standard for the technology.

Priced at US$499.99, Toshiba's port replicator is currently available only as an optional accessory for the Portege R400-S4834 and R400-S4835, and is bundled as standard with the R400-S4933.