Accessories laptop dock capabilities

[rthomas10]

Ok. I've heard all the talk about the laptop dock being like a computer and all but....

Does it work like a computer? I mean can I run spreadsheets, word, powerpoint presentations...etc? Can it do a video out of a powerpoint presentation to a projector? Can I edit powerpoint, word, excel? Can I install other programs on it like I can on a notebook under windows?

At the refurb price of 175$ it is attractive now but if it is just a large screen to look at phone apps I don't need it.

 

[Evil.Bonsai]

but if it is just a large screen to look at phone apps I don't need it.

it's a large screen to browse the web with. And look at phone apps.

 

[AtrixMan]

Most of the things you are asking for are done by the phone anyway without the laptop dock.
eg, Excel spreadsheets.

 

[Fountainhead93]

I use the laptop dock for office apps with the Office suite installed (paid for full "editing enabled" version).
I like it and it's fun making it work as well as a laptop pc would - with obvious limitations. That's why I got it, for the neat factor and the fact that my phone is powerful enough to be a netbook (weak one) but a net book nevertheless.
Plus, the laptop provides enough juice for more work for a longer period of time than even the best netbook.
Go to the store and try one for a while. ATT guys appreciate talking with someone that knows more than 'drrroooolll, I want iphone'

 

[rthomas10]

I use the laptop dock for office apps with the Office suite installed (paid for full "editing enabled" version).
I like it and it's fun making it work as well as a laptop pc would - with obvious limitations. That's why I got it, for the neat factor and the fact that my phone is powerful enough to be a netbook (weak one) but a net book nevertheless.
Plus, the laptop provides enough juice for more work for a longer period of time than even the best netbook.
Go to the store and try one for a while. ATT guys appreciate talking with someone that knows more than 'drrroooolll, I want iphone'

Thanks for the input. What would be the "obvious limitations"? I mean I know it's not a laptop but if it gets the job done I could justify getting on and write it off. Do you have the unlimited data? I do and wouldn't want to lose it.

I was just told by a ATT chat sales rep that I could use my unlimited data plan with the laptop has anyone else been doing this and is this correct?

 

[RaD2820]

Thanks for the input. What would be the "obvious limitations"? I mean I know it's not a laptop but if it gets the job done I could justify getting on and write it off. Do you have the unlimited data? I do and wouldn't want to lose it.

I was just told by a ATT chat sales rep that I could use my unlimited data plan with the laptop has anyone else been doing this and is this correct?

I love the lapdock, fountainhead said it best. I was wondering the same thing, when I was using and turned off wifi it wouldn't allow it to work because i guess I don't have a tethering plan.

 

[Fountainhead93]

Hi R Thomas,

Well the most obvious limitation is you can only install Android Atrix apps, which limits you to only what's in the App store, vs. a netbook, and also you have limited computing power - the laptop lags when more than a few tabs open on the Firefox browser. I'm very satisfied with it having spent only 175.00 for it.
PS: I get the "you don't got a tether plan" notice until I turn on WIFI with my Atrix and Lapdock. I think the folks at ATT are just ignorant (well that person you talked to anyway).

I suggest you read all the posts in accessories about the lapdock and also at other forums for Atrix to get a good idea of what you're in for with the Atrix as a netbook before you buy.

 

[ROCer]

I'm a new Lapdock owner myself. Just want to pass along a tip.

If you in an area without WiFi and you want to get on the internet and you don't have the tethering plan. Just Maximize the 'Mobile View' window, open up the browser on your phone (Dolphin,etc) and surf. The Data is deducted from your normal data plan. You are not tethering because you are not using the Firefox within the LapDock.

 

[RaD2820]

I'm a new Lapdock owner myself. Just want to pass along a tip.

If you in an area without WiFi and you want to get on the internet and you don't have the tethering plan. Just Maximize the 'Mobile View' window, open up the browser on your phone (Dolphin,etc) and surf. The Data is deducted from your normal data plan. You are not tethering because you are not using the Firefox within the LapDock.

Wow, thanks for the tip, never thought of that

 

[RaD2820]

Ahh, DP, sorry bout that

 

[Eddie Bombay]

I'm a new Lapdock owner myself. Just want to pass along a tip.

If you in an area without WiFi and you want to get on the internet and you don't have the tethering plan. Just Maximize the 'Mobile View' window, open up the browser on your phone (Dolphin,etc) and surf. The Data is deducted from your normal data plan. You are not tethering because you are not using the Firefox within the LapDock.

Wonder if anyone tried the free Barnacle Wifi Tethering to lapdock and got away with it.

 

[BigKayDaddy]

Is there any way to update the Firefox browser included on the laptop dock?

 

[pukemon]

there's a version of linux that can be used on the lapdock. i don't know all the details. i do know it opens up a lot more possibilities, but you still have to be technical to get all the hacking done to do it.

 

[Neumie]

Can it do a video out of a powerpoint presentation to a projector?

Does anyone know if this can be done?

 

[stray_pube]

Is there any way to update the Firefox browser included on the laptop dock?

Firefox 4.0 comes with the latest GB update and makes websurfing on the lapdock faster and smoother.

 

[jvloyola]

Hi I just got my Atrix + Lapdock and I just can't find a way to read the eamil in "full screen" mode while in the lapdock, if I just "maximize" the phone window the usable part still is the same size.

Any help will be appreciated.

Vinny

 

[Fountainhead93]

Hi Jvloyola,
On my Atrix (When mounted in the lapdock) first I click the "flip" button which is the curvy one in right corner, then I click the "Fullscreen" button which is the square button (on phone image on Lapdock screen). That allows me to see the app fullscreen and in landscape mode.
PS: Just got back from a trip to China/work and did not bring my laptop but used my dock as my laptop. Worked fantastically, although at times it did "hang" and a couple of times the phone spontaneously rebooted. All in all I was able to access my USB HDD, use USB sticks to transfer files to other engineers, and used a mouse via usb the entire trip. I used wifi the entire time (ATT rapes you on data) and I would say I used gigs of data via the hotel wifi and vendor wifi working and no probs at all. I used Skype to conference call and family call right from the phone or the dock.

Very impressed with the lapdock - but be warned, at times it's flaky when you first dock it, might have to redock / undock if it hangs. My backpack was light as a feather as our corporate laptops are Dell D610s and they weigh a tonn.

 

[aszreal1266]

I am very tempted to pick up a lap top dock off ebay as they can be had for the 100-140 range now. I am debating on either that or picking up a 99$ HP touch pad. I keep telling my self the lap top doc would be better. Bigger screen and its run off the phone which has android support where HP just pulled all their web os support hence the 99 price tag.

 

[itsallgood]

Does anyone know if this can be done?

I know you can create, view and edit power point in the mobile view. From what i've heard, it cannot be hooked up to a projector. (I think you can use the HD dock for that.)

 

[itsallgood]

ATT chat sales rep told me that I could use my unlimited data plan with the laptop has anyone else been doing this and is this correct?

That is correct. I have the unlimited data plan and use wifi, when using Firefox. I use the mobile view browser any other time I'm not connected to wifi to surf the web. It works really well.

 

[itsallgood]

How to install browser in dock ?? plz suggest me any right tutorials

If you are reffering to the mobile browser, you can't add it to the webtop dock. All you have to do is open the browser app, from with in the mobile view. In the upper right had corner of the mobile view window, click the enlarge window button. At the bottom right corner of the mobile view window, press the curved arrow and you will have a supper enlarged mobile view of the browser.

 

[binaryhellstorm]

With regards to outputting video from the laptop dock, no you cannot output video from the official Atrix laptop dock.

So far as installing "desktop" applications this is somewhat possible. The webtop environment is actually an embedded version of Ubuntu. It you use a program called Webtop2SD you can actually re-size and relocate your webtop partition onto your SD card. This also gives you command line access and from there you can install Ubuntu apps. For example I am able to run the full version of Open Office in Webtop. Open Office has most of the features of the Microsoft Office suite (Excel, Powerpoint, Word, and Access).