Thinkpads Forum

I'm just about to pull the pin and purchase an X301 with 128Gb SSD .
I'm pondering the issue of desktop connectivity though.
I've used an X41 for the past 2 years with quite good reliability, a major benefit having been instant desktop conenctivity to home network, external drive, 17" LCD and full keyboard, via the Ultrabase.
Have been frusrtated by the lack of info on the subject of the Adv Port Replicator, by suppliers, so I'm keen to hear from anyone using X300/301 with Adv Port Repl.
I'd like to connect the X301 to USB drive, LAN, 17" LCD and desktop KBD via the Port Replicator.
Can anyone advise the following:
When I arrive home back at my desktop;
Can I achieve connectivity by just the one USB cable from X301 to Port Repl?
or
Is there need to connect an AC power cable to X301 as well ?
What about switch-on, does the X301 have an external power switch enabling the device to be powered on whilst closed up?
Very grateful to hear from anyone on this subject.

Nigel, London UK

Nifill wrote: Can I achieve connectivity by just the one USB cable from X301 to Port Repl?
or
Is there need to connect an AC power cable to X301 as well ?
What about switch-on, does the X301 have an external power switch enabling the device to be powered on whilst closed up?
Very grateful to hear from anyone on this subject.

Nigel, London UK

Yes, one USB cable from X301 to dock.

Dock has its own power source - need to power it separately from X301.

I don't think that the X301 will charge via the USB.

Thanks Gaia,
I've also done some further research... here's what I deduced but still to be proven.
X300/301 does not support any std dock ( No connector on the underside). That's why they market the device compatible with Enh USB Port Repl.
Essentially this is a "software" docking solution using std USB as the interface, the Enh replicator and a software interface.
It should perform most of the functions of an Ultrabase dock .. within the constraints of USB and it's software.
One apparent function you get is switch selectable display mode.. ie Dual head display option vs External aux monitor only.
(PS, never tried to do that with an Ultrabase though)
With Dual head.. you can scroll from your X301 display to a larger desktop display.. essentially extending your screenspace.
In single head mode, you could use just the aux display (and close the laptop) to conserve desk space. You'd need to change the X301 power config though to prevent the X301 going into sleep mode.

With an X41/61/200/200s etc you get an Ultrabase Dock as an option.
Nice thing here is you just drop the device into the dock, hit the external on/off and boot the laptop from your aux screen/keyboard.

its not a great dock esp if u use vista 64. we don't use it for video bcause it can't do 1920x1280 as we'd like on a big 24" display. also the network connectivity is so so because AConnections doesn't know about it. all in all i think they really messed this up. they should have a std docking solution for it NOT usb so that it could be used as a desktop as well. the nb is nice, the docking unsolution is just plain bad

It's not a docking solution, period.

Standard USB "docks" have existed for years. To say "we have a USB docking solution" is the same thing as to say "we don't have a hard drive, but you can attach one via USB".

The X300/X301 cannot be docked. In that sense it is just like the el-cheapo R61e (or Thinkpad SL series for that matter).

This is one of my primary objections to these machines - I find it strange not to have this feature on a laptop that's $2000+ and otherwise packed with features.