IBM X31 - help needed

[pethr]

Hi,
while looking at this laptop and thinking about getting it, I found out one strange thing about it. Well, strange, anyway it does not have a DVD/CD-RW drive (optical bay). In terms of reducing its weight and making it more portable, it's great. But what do I need to get to be able to use DVD/CD-RW??? I found out I need to get some ultrabase or what. How does it look and mainly how big/heavy is it??? I need to take with me everytime I want to use my bay, don't I?? So I guess I buy this laptop, I will have to buy this ultrabase and then the bay itself in addition. Is this assumption right???

Anybody having experince with this little lappy???? How does it feel, how is the keyboard etc. Since I'm from the Czech republic, I don't have any possibility to 'put my hands on it' before I buy it. Not sure whether IBM laptops are displayed in shops in UK, though.

Thanks in advance for any replies regarding this topic. This is a great site for laptops!

pethr

[G-Man]

Yes, you need an UltraBase X3 UltraBase X3. But no CD drive comes with it, you have to buy it seperately. It supports Ultrabay 2000 and Ultrabay Plus devices. More picture here: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-44215 and more info here: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-44113

You can also just buy an external USB CD drive: http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/accessories/storage.html

Regards,
G-Man

[mpcook]

I have one and I love it. It has the typical great Thinkpad keyboard, light and powerful, well-built. You can get the Ultrabase, or just get a USB drive. You really don't need the Ultrabase. I use a port replicator for a T series most of the time, and never really use the Ultrabase.

--Mike

[Txiasaeia]

What I would do is simply buy a wireless router and install everything via a desktop. $100 fix, instead of a $200+ ultrabase + slim drive, plus wireless access at home.

[pat]

Or, if you already have a router, then just map a CD-ROM drive on your desktop and go through there!

[snappy]

Or, you could get the external USB from
http://www.bixnet.com/usbcddr.html
or just the internal drive
http://www.bixnet.com/in8xslimdvdr.html

I found this site while trying to help a friend upgrade the optical drive in the Aspire 1200x (extant in US).

They also have the slim case where you can pick either a DVD/CDRW COMBO drive or even a DVD writer!

I am using an X30 and am using an external USB (OEM) TEAC DW-224E. It works fine and boots up ok. Heard that the X30 is particular about booting from external USB that is non-IBM. Not tested with other brands though or the compatibility with X31, but I think should be somewhat similar.

[akeskira]

The ultrabase is completely useless, butt-ugly piece of [censored]. It doubles the size of your laptop and makes it look really cheap.

I've been very happy with a portable usb drive, Sony MPD-AP20U. It's not much bigger than a CD, plays MP3s, DVDs, wirtes CDs and even has a memory stick reader. One of many reviews:
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/storag ... ap20u.html

Antti