Samsung Electronics Slate PC Dock Cradle (AA-RD5NDOC/US)

It is a great stand for the tablet, sturdy, well built. I like it. It only has one USB port but I can buy an external port. Overall I'm happy with it.

Had to get a few of these, because they are very handy when placed around the house for different tasks. Bedroom, living room, kitchen, office desk.Very undistracting design with a weighty base holder for (at least my) Samsung Slate tablet. Appears to be brushed dark aluminum with deep bronze/dark steel color, and ethernet, HDMI, USB and power input jacks recessed into the back edge.Substantial desk padding under the weighted base.For understandable reasons (meaning me), I've gone through several of these bases. The tablet needs a row of electronic connectors, of course, when it is placed onto the dock. And the electronic connectors, in my experience, will usually in time become a bit beat up, slightly corroded, with dust particles and even specks of crumbs holding tight down there at the connector base.The unit is connected (screwed) from the underside, using special security screws requiring special keys to unfasten and inspect.These days I only buy these docks used or remanufactured. The Slate itself is a nice tablet, though the docking cradle seems not to hold reliability for longer than a few months, and Samsung has apparently elected to lock out any repairs I might be making.If you have a Samsung Slate, and want to dock it for desktop, this it the thing.

UPDATE: August 2016 - I have knocked this down to three stars. The HDMI port on the dock does not work, and has never worked. HDMI directly out of the Slate works fine. There is something wrong with the circuitry in the dock.I am sitting at Starbucks writing this review using my Samsung Series 7 Slate propped up on its Dock. I ordered the dock separately with the slate tablet. For reasons passing understanding, I saved over $100 by ordering the slate, bluetooth keyboard, and Dock separately compared to the bundled value.I also purchased the Pindar Edition Messenger Bag Protective Tablet Carrying Case (See my separate review for that case), and I carry the Slate, Keyboard, and Dock together in that carrying case.Here is my review for the Dock.PROs=====- Small form factor allows it to stow away in your pocket or in a small carrying case- Sturdy flip-up back rest holds the Slate Tablet securely and safely- Small footprint is still large enough to prevent accidental knock-overCONs=====- Viewing angle is not adjustable, which is frustrating when you want to avoid screen glare- Limited number and types of ports- Difficult to mount the Slate on the Dock in the dark or when when your vision of the equipment is obstructedThis Dock is an essential piece of equipment if you are contemplating also using the Samsung Series 7 Slate with the bluetooth keyboard. It is too difficult to view the Slate while lying flat. I find that, together with the keyboard, the Dock provides all the conveniences of a laptop. It is easy to mount (when you can see what you are doing) the Slate to the Dock, and dismount is a snap. The Dock also seems to hold the Slate well. In fact, I used this in my car during a trip - I had the GPS plugged into a USB port and had MS Streets and Trips running on the Slate. The Dock mounted Slate rested on my console arm rest between the front seat, and provided a beautifully easy to read display of where I was and where I was going, and it stayed upright even during turns and stops.This Dock could have more ports, and in better positions. It should have a second USB port on the front, for example, to support easy peripheral connection and disconnection. This would take care of another problem - only one USB port (true, the Slate already has a USB port). I carry around a slim 4-port hub to offset this drawback.In the business world, where I use this slate, VGA is still the standard video connection, so the HDMI is really useless. For this reason, I purchased a USB-to-VGA/DVI adapter, which uses up a USB port, of course. So I would have preferred to see a VGA port, or at very least, a universal VGA/HDMI adapter.It would be nice to be able to adjust the viewing angle, at least within a range bound by upper and lower limits. I often find myself trying to avoid screen glare by moving the set-up from side to side, or on occasion, putting a matchbook under the front edge to change the angle.The quality of construction appears to be good. I have tested all ports, and have not had any problems. Even considering the above concerns, I would still recommend this product, because you can overcome these concerns with additional equipment or learn to live with them.

Update - I've changed my original 3-star review to 1-star after discovering the USB port AND the audio out jack in the dock no longer function after maybe 5 or 6 weeks of relatively light use. Haven't tried the HDMI or the Ethernet ports, but I won't be surprised to find they're dead as well. It still works to charge the slate, but that's probably because it uses the AC adapter that comes with the slate - it doesn't have its own.Bottom line - save your money. These things are overpriced trash.Original 3-star review:Samsung must be laughing all the way to the bank on these things. For a hundred bucks, they could at least give you an extra AC adapter with the thing instead of making you use the one that comes with the slate. Everything about this - from the missing power adapter to the single USB port - just screams maximizing profits by gouging the customer as much as possible for cheaply-made accessories and add-ons.On the plus side it's nice in appearance with an attractive dark brushed aluminum shell and a flip-up cover that protects the connection port when the slate's not in the dock.If it were fifty bucks, I'd give it five stars.

This item is a bit too small, but the upside to such is that it is compact for easy travel. I would have liked to have seen a more wide base and a sturdier interface at the insert socket. There is a feel at insertion and at withdraw the unit that one might break it. I believe other reviews have stated the same.The cost for this unit is negatively disproportionate to the perceived value... An additional USB in a larger more balance unit would have been nice! This unit is worthy for practical purposes, I use an HP Bluetooth keyboard with it for an easy means to type.

Fast delivery, easy to use nice and compact so it is no trouble to take along with the computer, having a full size HDMI port is a big help, as I have had problems with the micro one.

I couldn't use my slate without this wonderful docking station. The slate can be added and removed easily and it has ports in the back for USB (could use another!), Ethernet and HDMI. Very nice design and construction, just the right size. Add Windows 8, a monitor and keyboard and mouse, and you have yourself a cutting edge slate computer.