Docking station consideration and a question :)

[deckoff]

I use my x40 all the time. But more or less this damages my battery either it discharges, or the machine is powered all the time. I want to avoid that, and I hope a docking station will solve my problem. I've never seen the docking station with my eyes, though, so I have a few questions:
1. Can I power my laptop and charge my battery through the docking station
2. Can I plug the laptop while the battery plugged in, into the docking station
3. Will this actually save my battery
4. Can I use it with Ubuntu
Thank you

[rkawakami]

Just to be clear, are you referring to the X4 Ultrabase: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-53640 or the X4 Dock: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-59939? Both provide a means to charge the battery when the X40 is attached and both will accept the laptop with a battery installed. The main difference between the two is that the Ultrabase is meant to be portable, while the dock must remain on the table.

As far as "saving" the battery, if you are worried about putting the battery through multiple discharge-charge cycles or having the battery constantly charging, then simply remove it prior to putting it into the dock or Ultrabase. However, if you lose AC power while using the system, then you may also lose data or files.

I would assume that Ubuntu would support both the dock and Ultrabase but you may have to wait for someone with more experience to answer that.

ref: http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/X4_UltraBase
ref: http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/ThinkPad_X4_Dock

[deckoff]

Thank you!
1. I didnt know there are two different types of docking stations, but I would go for the portable one
2. My only concern is that I use my laptop with plug always on, which ruins my battery - I hope that charging it through the docking station will stop ruining the battery (I hope that there is a way the pc understands that it is docked, and stops using the battery until it is un-docked) This is the only thing I need the docking station for - no other fancy stuff.
3. Now I sport 2 batteries - one to be constantly ruined and the other waiting for long trips

[jronald]

On the x30 and x31, uBuntu supports every base/dock I have thrown at it. YMMV but Im betting it will handle it fine.

Ron