Dock for portable electronic devices

A dock for portable electronic devices (PEDs) such as portable computers, smartphones, and the like has a dock cavity wherein a PED may be inserted. The cavity wall bears an external connector aligned to connect with a PED's onboard connector for charging and/or data communications when the PED is properly inserted in the cavity. However, the external connector retracts within the cavity wall if the PED is misinserted such that it bears against the external connector. The cavity walls are designed to loosely receive (and coarsely align) the PED upon initial insertion, and then closely receive (and finely align) the PED's onboard connector with the dock's external connector as the PED approaches full insertion. The rear cavity wall, against which the leading edge of the PED bears upon full insertion, is configured to resiliently yield upon impact with the PED, thereby decreasing repeated shock damage to the dock and PED.