Dock options for T42

[cquarello]

Hello,

I own a T42 and want to purchase a dock solution so I can use a large LCD monitor on my desk when I'm at home. I will use the dock with a KVM if that makes a difference.

A couple questions:

1) Is the Port Replicator II a "dock" or a "port extender"? I can buy a Port Replicator II and an additional power adapter from NewEgg for less than the Mini Dock - that's why I'm asking.

2) If I buy a Port Replicator II will I be able to place the Thinkpad on the dock connector and have my monitor automatically switch to the LCD on the desktop and have the networking switch from Wifi to Wired?

3) Which would you buy - the Mini Dock or Port Replicator II? I only need the dock to use my existing monitor, keyboard, mouse, and wired network while I'm at home.

Thanks in advance for your input. Also, if you have retailers where you would recommend I buy accessories from, please let me know.

[bill bolton]

Sorry, I've never really got my head around the exact names of the various T4* docks/port replicators, but basically there are three levels. An entry level one that uses the Thinkpad power supply, a mid-level one with its own power supply and some extra USB ports, and a "bells and whistles" one with its own power supply and a half length PCI card slot etc.

> If I buy a Port Replicator II will I be able to place the Thinkpad on the
> dock connector and have my monitor automatically switch to the LCD

It depends on how you set up the display options, but, yes there are options to do that sort of thing.

> on the desktop and have the networking switch from Wifi to Wired?

If you use Access Connection it will, by default, automagically select the highest speed connection if you enable both wired and unwired methods for any particular connection (you can also force it to use one or the other method if you wish).

I don't think there is any mechanism other than Access Connection that will do this for you. BTW, Access Connection doesn't know specifically about dock connections, it just reponds the connection speed, so in the case of a wired connection it doesn't particularly care if it is through the side RJ45 jack, or the bottom multipin dock connector.

> Which would you buy - the Mini Dock or Port Replicator II? I only need > the dock to use my existing monitor, keyboard, mouse, and wired
> network while I'm at home.

Buy whatever is the least expensive for you, but keep in mind that the entry model doesn't have its own power supply (you need to use the Thinkpad power supply), which can be a nuisance if you just want to walk in and put your Thinkpad on the dock and use it immediately. On the other hand if you have a spare power supply, then the entry model will otherwise do everything you currently want, AFAIK.

Personally, I use the middle level dock, which amongst other features comes with its own power supply and a lock that means you can lock the Thinkpad to the doc (useful in office settings).

Cheers,

Bill

[laz]

I have a minidock that I've been quite happy with. Right now I'm running dual monitor with my Dell 2001FP through DVI and the TP's screen and managing them with Ultramon. As cquarello said, if you just leave wireless on all the time Access Connections will select the fastest connection unless you force it to do otherwise. The one quirk I've found is with my external keyboard. Every once in a while after plugging back into the dock some keys get remapped. Last week I even had to delete the hardware profile and reinstall. This may have just been because of the Logitech drivers though and had nothing to do with the dock.

[ZaZ]

I just got the Mini Dock as well. I picked it up on eBay for just under half of Leveno's price. I got the 20" Dell LCD hooked up to it through the DVI outpout. It works real slick. The Port Replicators were only like $20 less and hardly worth if you have to use your ThinkPads power adapter. Good Luck.

[bingbing]

I think port replicator is good. Since it is cheaper than Mini DOCK II. The drawback is it just have one USB port.

[mappler]

The number one difference IMHO between the two is the inclusion of a power supply. If you intend to walk in your home office and drop the laptop in and have it work, you want the Mini Doc. Note, however, that the power supply that it comes with does NOT connect directly to the Thinkpad. So, a Port Replicator + extra power supply is not exactly equal to a MiniDoc with included power supply.

I have a MiniDoc. Access Connections correctly switches my networking AND display settings properly when I dock and un-dock. The display settings ocassionally do not change correctly, and I do have to hit FN-F7 to switch manually over, but this is the exception not the rule. I haven't figured this out.

I would buy whatever option is cheapest.

-Matt

[bpatten0416]

Just to let everyone know, I have a T42 with Port Replicator II and a Belkin 4 port KVM - if you boot up with the T42 on the active port, you are OK - as soon as you switch to a different computer and come back to the T42 you will lose the mouse - no response. This is a well documented problem with a bunch of IBM Thinkpads in docks and KVM's - as I found out recently the hard way. The problem is the UltraNav driver and BIOS - if you leave the TrackPoint and GlidePad on Automatic, you'll lose the mouse everytime on a KVM; however, if you disable the TrackPoint and GlidePad in the BIOS setup everything will work fine on the KVM. Not a great solution, but it works.

A possible better solution to this is this product I just ordered:
http://www.iogear.com/main.php?loc=product&Item=GUC10KM

It's an IOGear PS/2 to USB adapter. I've read in other forums that this will work. When you dock, you'll have to plug in the USB connector, but it should find the mouse and keyboard through the USB, not off the PS/2 ports on the back of your docking solution, and most importantly, allow you to keep the pointing devices enabled in the BIOS to use a KVM. I'll post a response as soon as I try this product out - it's only $19.99.