This Apple docking station patent shows a screen base in which you can slide in a MacBook through its side. While this would be difficult to do with current MacBook models, it fits perfectly with the idea of the ultra-light, ultra-slim MacBook that allegedly will be presented at MacWorld. Basically, the patent shows an iMac-like unit with all the necessary ports and components, with a slot-loading right bay. The system works similarly to the old PowerBook Duo and its DuoDock base station, but vertically instead of horizontally. The complete patent text and diagrams, along with our own step-by-step rendering, leave no doubt about how this works:
While this concept would have been impossible with the current Macbooks, which are too big and heavy, the rumored ultra-slim, ultra-light portable could work perfectly in this kind of configuration. [USPTO via PC Joint]
DISCUSSION
@redelephantlabel: There are plenty of people who use docking stations for their laptops. Here in my building we've got half a cubicle farm with nothing but docking stations in it. It makes sense for people who travel a lot, because when they're here in the building they have a nice, ergonomic workstation and a big monitor but don't have to worry about syncing a desktop and a laptop, or where their files are, because they're all in one place. This is just the mac equivalent of that. I think it's a neat idea but it's not quite elegant enough for apple.