advanced mini dock vs. port replicator + 1 dumb question
Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 4:34 am
I recently acquired a IBM model M keyboard and a very nice (just $20, yes twenty, from CL!) 19" Mitsubishi Diamond Pro 930SB CRT monitor. I already have a mouse and an external USB HDD, and needless to say my table is a mess of wires. Not only that, I hate to unplug and plug each of the USB connectors and the monitor everytime I have to take my T60 away from home. I am considering a port replicator/mini-dock solution, and I have the follwoing questions:
1. Will the Essential port replicator (part #: 250510W) work with the T60 (Thinkwiki says so, but I want to confirm it here)? Does this come with a key? Or am I better off spending $30 more and getting the advanced mini dock(part # 250410U)? I will NOT need to use an external graphics card ever and I do not not need the full-fledged docking station.
2. Except for the extra serial/parallel/audio ports on the advanced mini dock, what are the other differences/advantages of the mini-dock over the essential port replicator?
3. This is a really dumb question - it sounds really stupid, but I am going to ask it. Is it possible anyway to power up the thinkpad without opening it, short of keeping it in standby all the time?
The reason why I am asking this is because, with my external monitor and keyboard, I don't need to keep my thinkpad open - I have set the latop not to standby/hibernate when I close the lid, but it'd be really nice if there is a way I don't have to open the machine everytime I come home just to boot up and close it back again. There are days when I work from home and there are days when I work fully in my lab (I do some experimental work) - there is no fixed schedule as such (i.e. I work in the lab depending on how and when the experiments get over).
<rant mode on>
Why don't laptop manufacturers have an additional power button outside the laptop? To prevent it from getting switched on accientally - well they can have a recessed switch that is really hard to push (like the wireless on/off on the T60) can't they? If they can do that for wireless, why not for power? Poeple with a docking station, don't you agree?
<rant mode off>
1. Will the Essential port replicator (part #: 250510W) work with the T60 (Thinkwiki says so, but I want to confirm it here)? Does this come with a key? Or am I better off spending $30 more and getting the advanced mini dock(part # 250410U)? I will NOT need to use an external graphics card ever and I do not not need the full-fledged docking station.
2. Except for the extra serial/parallel/audio ports on the advanced mini dock, what are the other differences/advantages of the mini-dock over the essential port replicator?
3. This is a really dumb question - it sounds really stupid, but I am going to ask it. Is it possible anyway to power up the thinkpad without opening it, short of keeping it in standby all the time?
The reason why I am asking this is because, with my external monitor and keyboard, I don't need to keep my thinkpad open - I have set the latop not to standby/hibernate when I close the lid, but it'd be really nice if there is a way I don't have to open the machine everytime I come home just to boot up and close it back again. There are days when I work from home and there are days when I work fully in my lab (I do some experimental work) - there is no fixed schedule as such (i.e. I work in the lab depending on how and when the experiments get over).
<rant mode on>
Why don't laptop manufacturers have an additional power button outside the laptop? To prevent it from getting switched on accientally - well they can have a recessed switch that is really hard to push (like the wireless on/off on the T60) can't they? If they can do that for wireless, why not for power? Poeple with a docking station, don't you agree?
<rant mode off>