A Docking station and port replicator provides a simplified way
of “plugging-in” an electronic device such as a laptop computer
via common peripherals. The name is sometimes simplified to
"dock" which can be used as a noun or a verb. The use of a
docking station can allow for the recharging of a device's
battery or for the transfer of data. Because a wide range of
dockable devices--from mobile phones to wireless mouses to iPods
--have different connectors, power charge rates, and uses, docks
are not standardized and are therefore often designed for use
with a specific make and model of a device. A dock can allow
some laptop computers to become a substitute for a desktop
computer, without sacrificing the mobile computing functionality
of the machine. Portable computers can dock and undock hot, cold
or standby, depending on the capabilities of the system. In a
cold dock or undock, one completely shuts the computer down
before docking/undocking. In a hot dock or undock, the computer
remains running when docked/un