Abstract: A docking apparatus for a plurality of hand-held computers having optical data ports is provided. The docking apparatus includes a plurality of docking bays, a central processing unit, an optical transmitting communication path connected to the central processing unit for transmitting data to the docking bays, and an optical receiving communication path connected to the central processing unit for receiving data from the docking bays. The transmitting and receiving communication paths include light guides adapted to carry the data between the central processing unit and the data port of each computer in its respective docking bay.