Thinkpads Forum

I ordered the 1709-7HU

Says expected ship date is March 29th.

ImSeeker wrote:

floyyed wrote:
yes, it comes w/ a X6 ultrabase for sure.

I guess I'm confused then - I thought the ultrabase was a separate item that clicked on the x60 and allowed you to carry a heavier computer that then included a slim device.

I thought the docking station was something else separate that ALWAYS sat at your home/work area and had all the wires hooked into it. And that you then sat the X60/ultrabase into the docking station. Or, if you were carrying around the x60 without the ultrabase, you'd plug the x60 into the ultrabase that was left connected into the docking station stuff.

Does that make sense? I see this as THREE pieces of equipment (X60, ultrabase, docking station) - not two.

I'd call the docking station a port replicator, but my impression is that is yet again a different item for the thinkpads.

Coming to this late and I am NOT an expert, but I see at least some of the confusion here.

The Ultrabase IS a version of a dock that includes (usually) a swapable optical drive. You can also (usually) put a 2nd HD in this slot, or a floppy, or god know what else. The Ultrabase on my X32, for example, has parallel port, serial port, CRT port, the round mouse port, a USB 2.0 port, modem/tel port, NIC/Ethernet port, and maybe something else.
The connectors on the X32 that are still accessible include PCMCIA, firewire, USB 2.0, what looks like a compact flash card slot, power input, and, in my case, a DVD-RW/CD-RW.

I also have another oddball dock I got somewhere years ago, about the size of a carton of cigarettes, and it has tel jack, ethernet jack, CRT out, digital video out, one USB port, power in, mouse port, keyboard port (1 each), serial port, parallel port, some wierd connector that i don't recognize (1/8" x 5/8"), two other female plugs that look like mini stereo jacks -- all in all 13 connectors on back panel. This is part number 02K8668. And it plugs into the same connector on the bottom of the X32 that the Ultrabase plugs into, meaning they cannot both be connected at the same time as there is no connector on the BOTTOM of the Ultrabase and it is the full size of the bottom of the X32.

Basically what it comes down to is that MOST THINGS YOU'D want are already on the Ultrabase Dock. I don't see a keyboard connector, though most of those are USB 2.0 now anyway.

I hope this helps a litte with the confusion. If not, accept my apologies for butting in (but give me marks for trying).

Cheers--

In the past there were often two docks available.

If you look at Lenovo's website today, you'll see two X4 docks.
X4 Dock & X4 Ultrabase.

They both appear to have the same connectivity, however, the dock is not designed to be portable and the ultrabase is.

X4 Dock - PN: 250610U
http://www-131.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/store ... 8425049828
This is what I would traditionally call a docking station.
It holds a CD Drive (ultrabay slim). It has a power button, and an big eject button, as well as a key to lock the laptop to the dock.
It has serial, parallel, VGA, usb, network, modem, PS2 & speakers.
It is NOT portable, and is really designed to just sit on your desk.

X4 Ultrabase - PN: 92P3429
http://www-131.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/store ... Id=8680482
This is what I would traditionally call an expansion base.
It is form-fitted to fit underneath the laptop and look like an integeral part of the laptop. It makes the laptop thicker, but does not make it wider or longer.
It has all the same connectors as the X4 dock.

Now, with the X60, IBM have only published details on the X6 ultrabase, and there has been NO MENTION of an X6 dock.

I would suspect that they have realized that there is no need to produce two versions of the same thing that have different shapes.
Instead they are just producing the ultrabase that is designed to be portable, but is just as happy sitting on your desk in the office.

I hope that this helps.

-=Nick=-

nickpoore wrote: Now, with the X60, IBM have only published details on the X6 ultrabase, and there has been NO MENTION of an X6 dock.

I would suspect that they have realized that there is no need to produce two versions of the same thing that have different shapes.
Instead they are just producing the ultrabase that is designed to be portable, but is just as happy sitting on your desk in the office.

Check "Why X Series has unique docking" on page 18 of the X60 Series Disclosure document, I think it's pretty much what you wrote above.
-Dominique

domi wrote:Check "Why X Series has unique docking" on page 18 of the X60 Series Disclosure document, I think it's pretty much what you wrote above.
-Dominique

Yeah, the PDF explains everything...
I just couldn't remember where downloaded it from.

I STRONGLY RECOMMEND that anyone with questions read the PDF.

-=Nick=-

Just noticed my X60 delivery date has been pushed out from 3/29/06 to 4/07/06 (order date of 2/14/06)..

You might want to check yours !

Gary Miyakawa

Gary Miyakawa wrote:Just noticed my X60 delivery date has been pushed out from 3/29/06 to 4/07/06 (order date of 2/14/06)..

My X60S date also shifted today, from 2/28 to 4/07.

Not sure if anyone has seen it yet, but there is now a $150 rebate available for ThinkExpress X60/s models purchased between Feb 1 and Mar 14.

That must be new, the "adding memory to a ThinkExpress model just throws the SODIMM in the box" thing...

My dad has an R50e, 1842-SLU, that had a free 512MB SODIMM thrown in. The SODIMM was preinstalled - I even pulled the RAM cover to check.

Now, this thing certainly didn't have it preinstalled - because I ordered the RAM from Newegg (and it wouldn't be a valid data point, 1843's not in the ThinkExpress program)

Shame I couldn't afford an X60, though...

nickpoore wrote: I STRONGLY RECOMMEND that anyone with questions read the PDF.

Except that it seems to have disappeared... the URL above doesn't work, and neither does the one I get from google searching.

Does anyone know where a live copy of this document is? Or can someone post it somewhere? Thanks!

- Korny

I searched for X60 Series Disclosure on google. It found the page but when I click on it as a pdf it said the file could not be found. Then I clicked back and selected convert to html. This worked! I can't post a link since it is a whole bunch of google hash info, but if you follow the steps I just told you, it should work, at least until google updates their cache. The document I read was dated though. Some of the info was out of date, but as for why the x60 has a special dock/base it makes some sense. Also since it was more of a purpose statement and not a Technical specification it is probably not out of date. I don't want to put the info on the page since the document is stamped with IBM confidential.

So to clarify, if I'm looking at 17065KU and decide to add: Does this mean that the Ultrabase X6 is automatically included? Or do I have to add the ultra base in the dock section?

As far as i can tell the 17065KU does not include the X6 base, but the 17097HU is $30 cheaper and includes both the base and bluetooth, but only a 1-year warrenty, or for $1999 you can get the X6 base a CDRW/DVD Player with the three year warenty.

That's unfortunate, I'll have to pay top dollar if I want a dvd-burner.

External drive is where I'm going I suppose...

I ordered the X60 170947U a few days ago and then found this website. It is humorous because I wish I had checked out some of the comments beforehand as it might have saved me some time searching out the answers.

I was originally going to order the X60 ultrabase but it was an accessory so I decided not to get it since traveling light(er) was my main priority. I had wanted the option to have a second hard drive. However, I thought this was not practical when I saw the extra weight which the ultrabase, much less the extra hard drive, internal CD/DVD or battery would add. Nevertheless, I wanted the option to transfer data from the laptop to storage even though the X60 comes with 60 GB hard drive. So I purchased the external portable CD/DVD burner. That way, I can also watch a movie if I am up to occasionally schlepping it around with me.

According to the sales representative, the ultrabase can be used as a portable accessory but it sounds as though one would use it primarily as the docking station.

After checking out the comments on this site I called Lenovo back to purchase the idiot proof warranty for a three year term. You know, with my luck . . . That way I can tell them, just fix it pronto. I do not enjoy spending money that I may never see value for (like a UPS) but then, I do not want to be in the position that I wish had shelled out the money. Anyway, the sales representative said I can get it within 30 days after I receive the X60. He told me yesterday that I might get the X60 in a couple of weeks! We shall see.

In the meantime I have decided that once I get the X60 I will order the 8 cell battery at the discounted price. Lenovo is discounting accessories and I think the sale will go to the end of the month. I already upgraded to 1.5 GB of memory even though I did not originally order it because it was discounted.

Hopefully, I will like this laptop. It will be my first Thinkpad.

LOUISVILLE, KY, US 03/22/2006 3:44 A.M. A PROCESSING ERROR AT DESTINATION CAUSED THIS DELAY;THE PACKAGE WAS MISSORTED AT THE HUB. IT HAS BEEN REROUTED TO THE CORRECT DESTINATION SITE

Stupid UPS!

Scheduled to ship today3/22... Just changed to 4/24

jimmcclarty wrote:Scheduled to ship today3/22... Just changed to 4/24

For what it's worth, mine was originally scheduled to ship 3/14, changed to 3/29 but it actually shipped on 3/21. Looks like it somewhere between Louisville and me right now.

PTzero wrote:

LOUISVILLE, KY, US 03/22/2006 3:44 A.M. A PROCESSING ERROR AT DESTINATION CAUSED THIS DELAY;THE PACKAGE WAS MISSORTED AT THE HUB. IT HAS BEEN REROUTED TO THE CORRECT DESTINATION SITE

Stupid UPS!

Yeah, my laptop went through all that crap...

bhtooefr wrote:

PTzero wrote:

LOUISVILLE, KY, US 03/22/2006 3:44 A.M. A PROCESSING ERROR AT DESTINATION CAUSED THIS DELAY;THE PACKAGE WAS MISSORTED AT THE HUB. IT HAS BEEN REROUTED TO THE CORRECT DESTINATION SITE

Stupid UPS!

Yeah, my laptop went through all that crap...

How many laptops can they manufacture a day?
Why we have to keep waiting and waiting or postpone for such #%!#$! time?

If they can not provide enough machines in the market, how can they beat any other company?

Order today, ship next two month?
fxxxx........



DELL will laugh at LENOVO any way..

....keep waiting.........

PTzero wrote:

jimmcclarty wrote:Scheduled to ship today3/22... Just changed to 4/24

For what it's worth, mine was originally scheduled to ship 3/14, changed to 3/29 but it actually shipped on 3/21. Looks like it somewhere between Louisville and me right now.

NNOOOOAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaa

My est hip date just moved from 3/24 to 4/14!!!!!!!
*gasp*

Ugh... My 4/7/06 has moved to 5/14/06.

Not good......

Gary Miyakawa

I have not moved from march 22 to may 16... (Seriously rethinking my thinkpad)

I mean "I have now", not "I have not" sorry

Take the shipping estimates with a grain of salt.

My x60s, ordered 3/2/06 was originally scheduled to ship last Friday (3/17/06). On that day, the shipping date was changed online to 4/20/06. Four days later (Tuesday), I got an email saying the computer had shipped!

Of course, the order was shipped directly from China, which means that there will be even more delays. Through UPS tracking, I see that it only took 1 day to get from Shanghai to Kentucky, but my shipment has been tied up in customs ever since. Maybe I will get it sometime next week?

Todd

TATaylor wrote:Take the shipping estimates with a grain of salt.

My x60s, ordered 3/2/06 was originally scheduled to ship last Friday (3/17/06). On that day, the shipping date was changed online to 4/20/06. Four days later (Tuesday), I got an email saying the computer had shipped!

Of course, the order was shipped directly from China, which means that there will be even more delays. Through UPS tracking, I see that it only took 1 day to get from Shanghai to Kentucky, but my shipment has been tied up in customs ever since. Maybe I will get it sometime next week?

Todd

I'd like to take it with a grain of salt but I just got moved to 05/18/06 after already being moved to 4/14!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'll wait a week, then call IBM to see what's up.
awful

I came from T-series (T20 and T41) and took the plunge to order my 1st X60 (1706-8DU) yesterday (3/23/2006). The expected shipment is 4/20/2006. I'll wait and see.

Does anybody switch from T to X series? Are you happy with the smaller form factor?

mcgyver wrote:I came from T-series (T20 and T41) and took the plunge to order my 1st X60 (1706-8DU) yesterday (3/23/2006). The expected shipment is 4/20/2006. I'll wait and see.

Does anybody switch from T to X series? Are you happy with the smaller form factor?

So, I am someone who just switched from a T40 to the X60s (had my X60s about three weeks now), and can say I am very happy with the smaller form factor. Battery, portability, etc. for me are much better in the X compared to T series. The main tradeoff for me was the screen size, and I've actually adapted pretty well. I had a 14.1" high res screen on my T40, and the only real difficulty on the smaller X60s is that I can't have two documents side by side on the screen at the same time. I do a lot of editing at my job, and found being able to see two documents at once was very helpful. But, again, the smaller form factor of the X series is worth that one issue for me. Also, I've found the keyboard on the X60s to be just as comfortable as my T40.

I ordered on 2/14/06 --- 17097HU

My ship date was 4/7/06

My new ship date is 5/15/06...........


Do they want us to get these????

I ordered it on march 15th, the ship date was set as april 13th.
Yesterday the ship date was changed to 4/21, and this morning it was changed to 4/22, but luckily enough it actually shipped this evening when I checked at work.

Some things you might find interesting if you're still waiting...when I ordered it, the IBM rep I talked to told me that they're really rushing to get these orders out, so you may get them well before the estimated ship date. They're rushing because the 31st is the end of their fiscal year, and until they ship it they can't include the sale on their year-end report, so they're doing all they can to get as many as they can out before then. He told me that when I ordered on the 15th, I was only the 4th down on the list. I'm not sure if he meant for my specific model (17023QU), or for the entire x60s line (which I find more difficult to believe).

Either way, I'm thrilled it shipped and can't wait to get it in my hands. I did get an incredible deal on it...let's just say it's good to work for an IBM reseller and warranty provider. (My dad felt a bit abandoned when I bought it through my job because my job's discount as a reseller and warranty provider is much better than my dad's discount as a high level employee for 17 years, but it's not like they didn't already screw him over on his pension...)

Anyway I also ordered this lacie portable combo drive http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6827187032

Also, I did splurge a bit...but I bought a really nice waterfield sleevecase (the stock model) that I could just stick it in to easily carry it around school without attracting too much attention or scratching it.

Hopefully when all this arrives, I plan to eventually set up a dual-boot to ubuntu...maybe running vmware with osx running under that....A bit of a frankenstein, I know, but there's beauty in it somewhere. Heck of a laptop for a future college student...I'm pumped. I'll keep my fingers crossed...maybe Oblivion will run on it so I don't have to buy an xbox 360 as well.