ViewSonic ViewDock Not an iPod Video Dock

I know what you're thinking; I thought the same thing, too. Wow, an iPod video dock! I'm sorry to report that this gimmicky-looking ViewSonic ViewDock does not play videos from your docked iPod, but it would have been cool, right? (According to ViewSonic, it's a copyright issue with video.)

Many blogs picked up on this device when it was first unveiled at the Apple Expo in Paris last month, but most people got it wrong and thought this baby would play videos directly from your iPod without the computer needing to be on. Unfortunately this is not the case, but luckily all you need to do to watch iPod videos on a bigger screen is a regular TV and something like the $99 Kensington Entertainment Dock (which works quite well).

Still, the ViewDock, which was officially launched Stateside in the flesh (or is it plastic?) this evening at a press event in New York, is not completely without merit and in fact turns out to be quite the multimedia-friendly, widescreen LCD monitor.

It's got some decent connections, including five USB ports, an 8-in-1 memory card slot, and a RGB analog/DVI-D video input, among others. As long as your computer is on, you can sync or play music when the iPod is docked (either from the iPod or your desktop iTunes). And the iPod will charge, even when your computer is turned off.

The ViewDock comes in 19-inch (VX1945wm, $329) and 22-inch (VX2245wm, $449) versions. According to ViewSonic, it should be in stores within a week or two.

Bottom line: Despite having a superfluous and gimmicky iPod dock, this monitor remains an easy and affordable way to add more connections to your computer and save space on separate speakers and subwoofer.