Apple’s New MacBook Docking Station Patent

If Apple’s Docking Station patent gets materialized, then we’ll soon see a screen base in which you can slide in a laptop and use it as a desktop computer. This idea may not work with the current models of MacBook, but it might be possible with the ultra-thin ultra-light MacBook, which is rumored to be shown in MacWorld. Gizmodo has an artistic illustration of how this would look like:

MacBook Docking Station

It would basically look like an iMac screen base with a loading slot to the right. You’ll need to slide your ultra-thin MacBook from the right, and use the docking station as a desktop computer. Probably, the docking station will also charge your laptop as you use it.

MacBook Docking Station Patent

I speculate that these docking stations will sell cheaper than iMacs because it doesn’t include all the hardware of a computer. I really like the idea of using a laptop as a desktop (think of it as a convertible car). Laptops are good while travelling, but when at home or office, using a desktop is much more comfortable. This docking station will give us best of both worlds.

If the new design proves to be successful, we can expect all future generations of MacBook to support this docking station.

This post was published by on January 4, 2008

About the Author: Thilak Rao works as a Social Media Expert. He is one of the first professional bloggers from India, and he loves to write, travel and click photos. Follow him on Twitter @thilak

  • http://www.techbray.com Techie

    Interesting to c in future.

  • http://techroach.com/ Tech Roach

    Apple is great when it comes to design and innovation. But why do they have to be so closed ? I mean, you can’t use OS X on anything other than a Mac. How fucked up is that ?

    And why isn’t Apple not keen at all to launch any of their products here in India ? Anyone have answers ?

  • http://tech-buzz.net Thilak

    Tech Roach: It’s just a part of their business strategy. Since they develop both the hardware and the software… everything becomes easy for them. Microsoft on the other hand has a lot of troubles with the drivers and compatibility.

  • http://sankaranand.com/blog/ Sankaranand

    Mac notebook is in everyone’s wishlist. Hope this feature gets on when i can afford one :-)

  • http://www.smackall.com Smackall

    Thats a good idea, :)

  • http://www.techbray.com Techie

    Tech Roach: Even the same with iphone in india,dey dont know good marketing strategy ,but dey ve good product.
    They shld make spurt of money when its booming.

  • http://www.dilandau.com Dilandau

    Inpracticable

  • cllla

    They had this with the duo dock back in the mid 90s…

  • http://N/A jbelanger2002

    The concern with all laptops is heat… I wonder how these macbooks would dissipate heat when they are lodged into a screen (which also generations a ton of heat). It’s an interesting idea…but I am doubtful.

  • Hammy

    Wow who was the idiot who thought of this unbalanced body structure and have fools drool over an unstable design.

    1. See the current interior design for the iMac:
    http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/mac/imac-disect.jpg

    2. if possible (piling everything on the left side, to make space for the right side… correct?)

    end result = unbalanced and mounting a notebook inside will make the computer temperature rise, and the extra weight will take care the rest to destroy the computer.. not to mention that an opening slot the size of the notebook will expose the iMac to collect dust and big enough for anyone’s finger or a baby’s hand to fit in it (bad idea).

    no cheers for the fool who thought of this, I am almost convinced some who works for Microsoft came up with this stupid idea.