X31 Ultrabase: How necessary?

[findrivr]

I bought an X31 [2672JXU]w/out an Ultrabase; I know I can find one here, FleaBay or CL, but do I really need one?
Is it simply a matter of need vs. convenience?

My intended use of this new [recycled] notebook is the same as my T41; web browsing, email and some word doc's, maybe spreadsheets or GPS programs. Along w/convenience to operate anywhere at home or on the road [even more convenient w/an X31], w/limitations. All that notwithstanding, the interface options with an ultrabase sound great, but at home I've setup a wireless print network and wireless shared network drive. My T41 has its original CD-RW/DVD rom, but I don't have a DVD writer [other than video processing, I can't justify the DVD writer yet].
I think it would be $ wiser to find a good USB or 1394 CD/DVD RW and/or at least, a very portable CD RW/DVDrom to take on the road w/the X31. By purchasing an aftermarket CD RW/DVDrom or CD/DVD RW, I wouldn't necessarily be repeating a collection of proprietary peripheral h/w all over again when I decide to move on from the X31 or T41 to the next Thinkpad.
Am I missing anything in this conclusion?
Just trying to keep it simple and as inexspensive as possible.
Thanks for listening.

[mfbernstein]

Sounds reasonable unless you plan on carrying your ultrabase around too. Might give the LG GSA-E50n a look. It's compact, reasonably fast, and doesn't need an AC adapter. My X61 only needed one USB port to power the thing, even for burning.

[DVormann]

Is it simply a matter of need vs. convenience?

It depends on how many cables you need to connect when at home. I use a large external display, keyboard, mouse, ODD plus a HDD inside ultrabay. In my case ultrabase is very useful: Everything is (dis)connected within 1.5 seconds.

If you only connect the power supply there is no point in purchasing a docking solution at all.

[Quattro]

As DVormann said, it is great if if you are constantly disconnecting monitor/USB mouse/external soundcard/external HDD/ethernet/etc... When I get home I simply drop the X31 into the dock. I don't need to re-attach all those wires. It will also charge a second battery.

[Voodle]

I used to use my X31 with the old style port replicator (only one USB port on the back) and a USB 2.0 DVDRW, which worked great for me since the X31 puts a lot of power through its USB ports and only needed the USB cable for power even when burning.

I had an X20 with an ultrabase and it was mostly useless and in my opinion very bulky, but necessary if you wanted to boot from a CD, since the X31 can boot from a USB cd drive that's not so important anymore.

One plus to the X31's ultrabay is that it can take an extra battery through it, but it's still very bulky.