BookEndz review

Newer Technology's BookEndz is the first docking system for standard PowerBooks, which saves users wrestling with a tangle of wires when connecting to and disconnecting from peripherals.

Users of Apple's now-defunct PowerBook Duo have always had a dock to connect to peripherals, but the BookEndz range provides an alternative for regular PowerBook users. At the internal back end of the unit is a row of plugs that lines up with the row of rear panel sockets on a PowerBook. As the PowerBook is pushed back into the dock, the plugs push into the sockets in a simple mechanical arrangement. BookEndz plugs are connected to a row of equivalent sockets on the dock's rear panel, so external devices and networks can be plugged in to suit, remaining plugged into the dock while the PowerBook is undocked.

All connections are provided, with the exception of monitor and SCSI, which are formed if needed by dismantling the BookEndz dock to insert an optional standard PowerBook monitor and SCSI cable adaptors. If you've been using your PowerBook with an external monitor and SCSI devices, you'll already own these cables which, once fitted and the dock reassembled, become part of the docking process.

There are several BookEndz to choose from (for PowerBook 140 to 180c, 500 series, 1400 series, 2400 series, 3400 series, 190 and the 5300 series) which support most PowerBook models. This specificity isn't a big deal on the face of it, but it does mean that your next PowerBook may not fit the dock you buy.

BookEndz allows non-Duo PowerBooks to take advantage of the docking concept, while maintaining the ability to connect to peripherals while undocked.

For the conventional PowerBook user, BookEndz is a flexible solution, offering portability, dockability and the option of connecting the PowerBook to peripherals directly, all at a reasonable price.