Teacher Discussion Forums

'the user who wants to `dock' a portable into a desktop setup and use its drives and printers in a sort of client/server networking fashion.'
These 'portable' and 'desktop' mean 'portable computer' and 'desktop computer'?
Does this person want to connect a portable computer WITH a desktop computer?
If so, why 'into'?

Thank you.

Ok, so let's split this up:

Portable means laptop PC

Into a desktop - means that you will literally plug it into a docking station that gives you a full size keyboard and monitor.

That's the reason it's into, because it is plugging rather than Ethernet or anything else.

This is all probably best explained with a picture:
http://www.colindiponio.com/images_wp/d420dock.JPG

Can you see that the laptop has been docked into the larger monitor and keyboard....

James