Thinkpads Forum

I am considering purchasing an advanced mini dock for my thinkpad, but I don't know anyone who has one, does anyone recommend this product?

It only has value if you'd use it, like using your Thinkpad with an external monitor and other peripherals. If that fits you then it may be worth it.

I needed a parallel port for an EPROM programmer. It works great with that and an occasional external display. I got a clean unit with keys and an IBM power adapter from Ebay for cheap.

-Dutch

Look at review here http://www.forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopi ... 29&t=22358 (not mini, just advanced)

I'm using LPT + rs232 port in bb slot (FRU 40Y8124). All programmers work great. Cost about 100 USD (2-3 years ago).

Consider also usb eeprom programmer, sth like this. (also english soft, but description still in polish, use google translator or sth :p)

I'm seeing an Advanced Mini Dock on ebay for cheap, unfortunately missing keys, ac adapter and documentation. It's in the unlocked position so it still works though. My question is, does it use the same AC Adapter as the T61 itself? I know the dock for my old T43p had a special AC Adapter, but I can't tell if that's the case w/ the Advanced Mini Dock. I have 2 AC Adapters, one is a genuine Lenovo replacement P/N 92P1107, the other a cheap no-name replacement matching P/N 92P1113. Both work perfectly on the Thinkpad itself, just wondering if they should work fine with the dock. If so, that dock will be perfect!

the advanced mini dock uses the 90 watt version of the Lenovo Thinkpad adapter.

I have been using the mini-dock as I needed a serial port to interface my boat GPS unit. Works fine, but in contrast to my former dock for the T40/41 the T60 dock is powered. This has the consequence, that if the power disappears, the dock stops working (and I loose the GPS signal....). The T60 continues to run on the battery though.

hhmcsv wrote: This has the consequence, that if the power disappears, the dock stops working (and I loose the GPS signal....). The T60 continues to run on the battery though.

This in itself is good. My experience has been (at least with Windows XP), that when the laptop is docked and there is a power loss, it locks up. The culprit was in the serial/parallel ports on the dock, and the remedy was to disable them in the BIOS. Obviously, you did not do that, otherwise you would not be able to use the GPS. Which operating system do you use?

I'm on Win7 Ultimate!

tannerj wrote:I'm seeing an Advanced Mini Dock on ebay for cheap, unfortunately missing keys, ac adapter and documentation. It's in the unlocked position so it still works though. My question is, does it use the same AC Adapter as the T61 itself? I know the dock for my old T43p had a special AC Adapter, but I can't tell if that's the case w/ the Advanced Mini Dock. I have 2 AC Adapters, one is a genuine Lenovo replacement P/N 92P1107, the other a cheap no-name replacement matching P/N 92P1113. Both work perfectly on the Thinkpad itself, just wondering if they should work fine with the dock. If so, that dock will be perfect!

From some research I did, it has the same adapter as the t60, if the t61 has the same as the t60 it should work with the dock

I recommend it for a few peripherals. I have been doing some reading on the docking stations and port replicators over the past couple of weeks for various computers and alot of people are using the Advanced definitely.