Thinkpads Forum

I'm buying a T42 Thinkpad which is supposed to ship Aug. 12. I'm having difficulty understanding exactly what the Port Replicator II or Minidock look like, attach, and do.

I understand that the Minidock includes an extra power supply.

From the pictures I've seen, I'm very confused. It looks like the Port Replicator ends up on TOP of the notebook, not vice versa. I would think the bottom of the notebook would attach to the Replicator, which would then be underneath the Thinkpad.

How exactly does this work? Are there any pictures where you can actually see and understand this?

And exactly what do people use these for ? The only thing that would be useful for me would be a port replicator that would attach to the notebook and let me continue to use the notebook, just make it easier to attach the speakers and other peripherals. I'm not looking for something that lets me hook up a monitor and keyboard.

Thanks for anyone who can explain this to me.

Do you have photos or links to the photos that you are talking about/refferring to?

The Port Replicator II is just that -- a convenient batch of ports.

The ThinkPad drops "onto" it, using the large bus connector on the bottom of the ThinkPad. It snaps down into place, and leaves the notebook at somewhat of an angle because the rear is raised a bit.

Why would you want this? If you regularly move the laptop between your office and meeting rooms, and don't want to individually disconnect your monitor, keyboard, USB mouse, network cable, and power, then the Port Replicator makes it easy to just lift out the notebook and run.

If you use just the power cable, then you have no need for the port replicator. It's just a convenience thing.

Also, the internal RS-232 port on the T43 (at least) is not available in the laptop itself -- only via the Port Replicator. The useless parallel port -- that we get, but no DB9 serial. Argh..

chrisnyc wrote:From the pictures I've seen, I'm very confused.

Watch the movies.

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-53251

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-55212

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-55211

Regards,

James

Ground Loop wrote:The Port Replicator II is just that -- a convenient batch of ports...

If you regularly move the laptop between your office and meeting rooms, and don't want to individually disconnect your monitor, keyboard, USB mouse, network cable, and power, then the Port Replicator makes it easy to just lift out the notebook and run.

If you use just the power cable, then you have no need for the port replicator. It's just a convenience thing.

Also, the internal RS-232 port on the T43 (at least) is not available in the laptop itself -- only via the Port Replicator. The useless parallel port -- that we get, but no DB9 serial. Argh..

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I use a Port Replicator II at office for above reasons.

BUT there's only One USB port on the Port Replicator II, so you might consider to buy a USB port expander to increase the # on the PR II.