Summary

A laptop computer trades compact design and easy transport for comfort and ease of use. The package that incorporates the keyboard, screen, and pointing device into a single, self-contained case is a compromise at best, and an ergonomic disaster at worst. Any time you can connect external peripheral devices to your laptop, you make the computer much easier to use.

Common external laptop accessories include keyboards, mice, and video monitors. In addition, the USB ports on laptop computers make it possible to connect external hard disk drives, audio, and video recording equipment and other devices.

When you use a laptop as a part-time replacement for a desktop computer, a docking station can be a great time-saver when you're ready to disconnect the laptop from its accessories and take it on the road. Some docking stations are designed to work with a single make or model of laptop, but others can work with any system that uses standard input and output connectors.