Experience with USB Port Replicator 45K1611 and Win 7

[Edmond Dantes]

Hi

I'm using an X301 with the ThinkPad USB Port Replicator with Digital Video (EU) Part number: 45K1611.

When the port replicator shipped, no Win 7 driver was available, and the device was unuseful (blue-screen no-stop). With the new driver for Win 7, available by Support and Donwnloads of Lenovo, the replicator works with Win 7 32 bit.
But I have to say that when the data passing throug the USB connection are a lot (heavy network traffic, video, sound, keyboard, mouse), sometimes the laptop resets itself. I have to work with the network cable directly connected to the laptop and not to the port replicator.
Also, the speed of the mouse on the screen slows down when there are a lot of data passing through the USB.

Moreover, I have some complains about the hardware and the software of the product:

1.there's no button to turn the device off . Taking off the power-cable in not very easy (it is the first cable connected 1 cm from the base of the replicator, with my fingers I can barely handle it). This is strange: while X301 is energy star, the port replicator can't easily turned off.

2. there is no useful way to "eject" the port replicator (I mean, at the end of the day, switching from the "docked mode" to the "stand alone" mode with one (software) button.

All in all, I find this product not be well-engineered. One can even avoid buying it and manually connect kayboard, mouse and video every time (there's not a big difference).

Regards

Edmond

[Edmond Dantes]

I bought a Samsung Syncmaster Monitor, and I tried to use it throught the replicator (DVI connection) with full HD (supported by the replicator).
The image quality is awful and I have to use the monitor directly connected to the laptop via VGA cable.

I sent an email to Lenovo, and they told me I can have my money back.
Moreover, they suggested me to by a Targus port-replicator!

What a pity. Because my X301 performs great when standing alone or even when directly connected to monitor, mouse, network, etc.

Regards

Edmond

[Edmond Dantes]

I take this old post back, just to say that, after 7 months, the new version of the driver works now fine with Win 7 32bit:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-73088.

To be honest, I had a BSOD wich I'm inclined to ascribe to the use of the network through the USB connection.

So, apart this particular (I just connect the RJ45 cable to the laptop), the driver is now ok.

What can't be correct is the inconvenient design, the lack of a button tu turn off the thing, ...

Btw: I got no money back from Lenovo Switzerland...