Thanks for the review. The Dock also takes a PCI card, right? (I remember when that would have been a valuable addition though I can't imagine what I'd want to add now). "Uses its own power supply" was something I wanted to check, you mean you get a transformer or something more offbeat than that?
The Dock looks even bigger than the PR, but I don't want to rule it out on that basis alone. Are there any better sources than Amazon or eBay? -- Andrew mailto:[email protected] Tuesday, January 12, 2010, 8:00:56 PM, you wrote: > 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
