Help with docking stations please

[wanna_IBM]

Is there a difference between a mini dock and dock 2? I mean the dock 2 seems like it is 395 and mini dock is 150, so what should I get for my T42p? I need access to a serial port and there is not one on my laptop. Thanks for your help. I dont want a replicator because there is no power supply with it.

[MSE Environmental]

I just purchased a new IBM Mini Dock II on Ebay for $99.99. It is stock number 287810U, which is $229.99 ($179.00 using EPP) directly from IBM. Do an ebay search for "IBM Mini Dock" and you'll find several ones from companies that have good feed back. I wouldn't buy a ThinkPad from Ebay, but I think parts like this are fine if you do your homework.

Here's what it has:

ThinkPad Mini Dock provides easy one-touch ports, network and modem disconnect.


· Pass-through (replication) of ThinkPad notebook ports including Gigabit ethernet (RJ-45), including modem (RJ-11), 4-port USB 2.0 hub, DVI, VGA, serial, parallel, PS2-keyboard, PS2-mouse, diskette drive, audio line-in and line-out.


· Gigabit Ethernet pass-through port (will function as 10/100 ethernet port for system without gigabit ethernet).


· USB 2.0 pass-through port (will function as USB 1.1 port for system with USB 1.1).


· DVI pass-through port ( will support resolutions up to 1280x1024 based on attached system).


· The included external power adapter powers both the Mini Dock and the attached system.


· Integrated key-lock and system tray secures your ThinkPad notebook in the Mini Dock and the slot in the Mini Dock for an optional cable lock helps provide security for the dock.



· Compatible with X20/21/22/23/24/30/31, T20/21/22/23/30/40/41/42, R30/31/32/40/50/50p/51, and A20/21/21e/22/22e/30/31 (Does not support X40/41, R40e/50e, or G40)


The Think Pad Dock II is $399, and I'm not sure if you need all the extra bells and whistles it offers.

[jes2]

[quote="MSE Environmental"]I just purchased a new IBM Mini Dock II on Ebay for $99.99. It is stock number 287810U, which is $229.99 ($179.00 using EPP) directly from IBM. Do an ebay search for "IBM Mini Dock" and you'll find several ones from companies that have good feed back. I wouldn't buy a ThinkPad from Ebay, but I think parts like this are fine if you do your homework.

Here's what it has:

ThinkPad Mini Dock provides easy one-touch ports, network and modem disconnect.


· Pass-through (replication) of ThinkPad notebook ports including Gigabit ethernet (RJ-45), including modem (RJ-11), 4-port USB 2.0 hub, DVI, VGA, serial, parallel, PS2-keyboard, PS2-mouse, diskette drive, audio line-in and line-out.


· Gigabit Ethernet pass-through port (will function as 10/100 ethernet port for system without gigabit ethernet).


· USB 2.0 pass-through port (will function as USB 1.1 port for system with USB 1.1).


· DVI pass-through port ( will support resolutions up to 1280x1024 based on attached system).


· The included external power adapter powers both the Mini Dock and the attached system.


· Integrated key-lock and system tray secures your ThinkPad notebook in the Mini Dock and the slot in the Mini Dock for an optional cable lock helps provide security for the dock.



· Compatible with X20/21/22/23/24/30/31, T20/21/22/23/30/40/41/42, R30/31/32/40/50/50p/51, and A20/21/21e/22/22e/30/31 (Does not support X40/41, R40e/50e, or G40)


The Think Pad Dock II is $399, and I'm not sure if you need all the extra bells and whistles it offers.[/quote]

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MSE,

I think you may have just answered my particular question, which was to buy either the Dock II or Mini-Dock for my soon-to-arrive T40 which I just bought off eBay.

Hey, I had great luck on a good eBay deal for a 600E/monitor/docking station/keyboard/mouse/software a few years ago ! (let's hope my luck holds!) ;=) .

Putting that aside - I'm looking at the specs side-by-side for the Dock II and Mini-Dock. Aside from the greater expense and a few extra capabilities (The UltraBay is nice!), I also see that Dock II is a little larger than the Mini-Dock. Seeing that my home workstation (I'm a consultant) is a bit on the small side, this looks like another good reason to buy a Mini-Dock. Am I on target with this point?