I use the Mini Dock for the T41. I think it's almost identical to the Port Replicator II.
I found it pretty cheaply a year or two ago. The first one I got actually had a bad (loose) connector, but the second one was/is fine. You can use internal screen plus external (either VGA or DVI, but not all three at once). Screen can be open or closed. Adds ports not on my Thinkpad, such as DVI, line in, serial. Also adds 4 more USB ports, and split keyboard/mouse ports, and a few other things like that. It uses its own power supply instead of the one that goes with the laptop, and it passes power through its underside connector. It sticks out 3 inches from the back of the machine, and it also adds an angle to the keyboard so it's in a better typing position (i.e. not flat horizontal). My only complaint (which is a combined complaint with the computer and Mini Dock) relates to that I like to keep the battery out of the computer when I'm using it. Keeping it in results in it charging too often, and more importantly getting very hot being under the computer. The battery lasts much longer when you keep it out when you don't need it. And I like to use suspend sometimes, instead of hibernate. The issue: I can't suspend, then remove the computer from the dock, then put the battery in (which physically cannot be inserted or removed while in the dock), because removing from the dock disconnects power, causing my suspended computer to lose its state. So I have to hibernate before removing. Similarly, if my portable computer is suspended when I get home, I have to resume, then hibernate, just so I can pull the battery before sticking the machine in the dock. My old 770ED had a built-in "suspend battery" that gave you about 30 seconds of suspend life while you did things like swap a dying battery with a new one. I miss that feature, and it would make the above unnecessary. Other than that, I've been happy with my purchase! - TK At 1/12/2010 07:37 PM, Andrew Webber wrote: >A study of >http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-4NXNTP >indicates the following options. Are there others? > >ThinkPad Port Replicator II (74P6733) >ThinkPad Dock II (2877-10U) > >I think the Dock II is more ambitious than I really need, mostly I >want not to be plugging and unplugging a bunch of devices (including >power) every time I move the computer. I have a couple of questions >though: > >1. Can the PRII be used with the screen open? I'd probably always use >an external KB and mouse with it, but I'm getting addicted to >multi-screen displays. I assume I can have both internal and external >LCDs making up one virtual display? > >2. Is this option significantly (or any) more reliable than a cheap >USB-based port replicator? The KB and mouse are USB now so I really >only need to connect USB, DB-15, parallel, and power. > >3. Does the PRII pass power through the connector on the bottom of the >notebook, or does it use the power jack? I'm finding the computer >occasionally switches from AC to battery (or v/v) when I move the >cable, not sure if it's the computer or the adapter, and I only have >one of the latter with me (have 2 more at home). > >I see new for $37 and used for $14 on Amazon. On eBay it's $13 new and >$13 used, so not a huge investment. This thing looks huge in the >pictures, is it? > >Thanks! > >-- > Andrew mailto:[email protected] > >_______________________________________________ >Thinkpad mailing list >[email protected] >http://stderr.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/thinkpad _______________________________________________ Thinkpad mailing list [email protected] http://stderr.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/thinkpad
