Windows 8 tablet keyboard dock hard drive

07
2014-07
  • PaoloFCantoni

    I've bought an ASUS TX300CA Windows 8 transformer tablet which has a detachable keyboard dock.

    The tablet is a Core i7 machine and has serious power - so I want to use it to do sporadic and ad-hoc software development on it.

    The tablet has a neat feature that although the detachable tablet part has only a 128Gb SSD, when you attach the keyboard dock, you get an additonal 500Gb of magnetic hard drive.

    What I want to be able to do is to install applications so that they will install either completely on the tablet drive or completely on the dock drive.

    For example, I'd like to put most of Microsoft Office on the tablet, but put say Microsoft Visual Studio on the dock drive.

    Can this be done? What's best practice for this?

    TIA, Paolo

    • Answers
  • Josh R

    You can certainly install software on an external drive, typically if "Advanced" is chosen during program installation, you can choose an alternate location for the install.

    Obviously when you're not docked, you won't be able to use Visual Studio if it's installed on another drive. You'll also probably encounter some missing file errors if you try to use any context menus the program might install as well.

    Finally, all of the registry information and any files or drivers (e.g. any files that would go into %WINDIR% or system32/SysWOW64) that need to be installed along with the software will be placed on your SSD or main Windows volume.


    • Related Question

    About Hard Disk Drive Docks
  • mbillard

    I'm thinking of buying a drive dock to put my unused large HDD to use. I will also probably use the dock to backup files and swap the drives regularly.

    I have a few questions though:

    • Are they noisy?
    • I plan to use them via USB (because I don't think I have eSata connectors), am I gonna want to kill myself every time I backup? (I know it's supposed to be 480 Mbps, but how realistic is this?)
    • Do you recommend a particular model? (I was thinking about this Startech HDD dock)

    Thank you


    • Related Answers
  • jweede

    Hard Drive docks are solid state, they're only as noisy as the hard drive you place in them.

    Typically, USB performance is best utilized on a set of many small files. This sounds like most of what you do for backup. The speed should be acceptable.

  • Daniel Cukier

    A good option for a long term storage would be the Data Robotics DROBO

  • William Hilsum

    Typically the docks are silent / just a low speed fan.

    The real question is how noisy are your hard drives!

    Most docks are not that smart and are powered on at 100% so imagine your current hard drive, but at its noisiest.

  • Patriot

    I've been using one called Vantec NextStar hard drive dock for about 2 years now. Paid about 35-40 dollars for it from Newegg, on sale. Never had a problem with it. It's only as noisey as the hard drive that's in it. Look it up at newegg.com

  • raven

    $93 for that Startech seems kinda high. Do you really need two bays? I have this model, I have no complaints about it, and it's a third the price.

    Also, invest in an ESATA connector like this one (although they can probably be found even cheaper than that). Considering how cheap these connectors are, they're is no reason to limit yourself to USB speed.