Headless laptop?

[kenw232]

Does anyone have any info on taking a brand new thinkpad (T400, X300, whatever) and completely disconnecting the screen? My problem is I want to use a thinkpad as my main computer right in front of me as normal. But I want two large 22" monitors there too. But the laptop screen is in the way so I thought maybe I can simply disconnect the thing. Will the laptop POST and boot up?

I could put the laptop off in the corner and have a USB keyboard, but I can't find a decent keyboard. I hear the external thinkpad USB keyboard is terrible.

Thanks for any comments.

[RealBlackStuff]

You might lose your warranty, but you can take off the whole lid without any problems.
BUT, you will be driving your external monitors only via the external video-port.
The internal connection is wasted that way.
(And it's no longer a portable laptop as such).

[tom lightbody]

with an x30, I do something like you suggest
-no lid, no keyboard, no palmrest
-external monitor
-model "M" keyboard (PS2)
-kensington trackball (usb)
the monitor, keyboard & trackball are plugged into
a port-expansion unit, that also has the on-off button
the laptop is propped up on its side behind the monitor

[GomJabbar]

A simpler solution would be to get a monitor stand that raises the monitor(s) just a few inches above the desktop. You would slide the ThinkPad display under the monitor stand. You could even turn off the ThinkPad display if you like. Another option would be to use an external keyboard instead of the ThinkPad keyboard, but this is not a requirement.

This is just one example of such a monitor stand. There are many.
http://www.staples.com/Fellowes-Office- ... 0:CL141470

Here is another: http://www.staples.com/office/supplies/ ... mmendation

[kenw232]

Does anyone know if I get a docking station for a thinkpad do I get another video adapter I can use?

So theres the laptop screen, the external VGA as normal, then plus another VGA with the docking station? So I can have 3 screens? Or does the docking station simply extend the first VGA only.

[mattbiernat]

how about you simply close the lid, connect external keyboard and monitor?

[kenw232]

Cause I can't find a keyboard thats good enough. The IBM Thinkpad External USB keyboard apparently sucks (http://www.amazon.com/IBM-31P9490-Keybo ... B0002PUIAA). I guess I could just look for one I like.

[RealBlackStuff]

I've been a fan of Logitech keyboards for many years, after I (stupidly) sold my Northgate Omnikey keyboard.
I use the model Logitech Y-SE8, which is now probably 8 years old, and still works like new!
This new from eBay might suit you: http://cgi.ebay.com/LOGITECH-104-KEY-PS ... 0275553813

[mattbiernat]

how about you just use regular 1990s style keyboard. they are comfortable, stylish and mean nothing but a serious business...

[ssd_thinkpad]

Cause I can't find a keyboard thats good enough.

The best keyboards on the market are from Cherry:

http://www.cherrycorp.com/english/keyboards/index.htm

They are more expensive, but far better than the one from the thinkpads.

[RealBlackStuff]

Avant Stellar is the successor of the Northgate Omnikey.
Compared to that, Cherry is chickenfeed...
Exactly what I had way back when: http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-NORTHGATE-O ... 0540124222
Other ones, even after 20 years, still go for about $100.- on eBay

[robert213]

Remember those old IBM Model M clickity keyboards...

I just learned that those old IBM keyboards (with buckling springs) are still available.

IBM spun-off their desktop PC products to Lexmark, who then sold the technology to make durable keyboards to Unicomp.

http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net
http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/keyboards.html

101 keys
http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/cus101usenon.html

101 keys plus Windows and Mouse Menu keys
http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/customizer.html
http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/en104bl.html

104 Keys plus mouse
http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/en104wh.html