PC Card/4-in-1 media reader slot in 4:3 LCD T61 - possible?

[underclocker]

I searched, but couldn't determine if anyone has successfully installed the PC Card/4-in-1 media reader slot assembly in a 4:3 LCD T61. In particular, I'd like to swap out the PC Card/Smart Card slot assembly in a 14" 4:3 LCD T61 and install the PC Card/4-in-1 media reader slot assembly.

This was an option for only the 14" T61 widescreen models. It does not appear to have been offered for the 14" 4:3 models. (All 15.4" T61 models have internal 4-in1 readers.)

I know there is a bezel part that goes along with the PC Card/4-in-1 media reader assembly. I'm just not sure if it will fit in the chassis without modification. Has anyone done this swap or explored it?

[rssb]

Both 14.1" wide and 14.1" standard have the same part numbers listed for
PC Card/ExpressCard slot -- 42X3827

PC Card/Smart Card slot -- 42X3829

For the standard one the following is never mentioned.
PC Card/4-in-1 media reader slot -- 42X3831

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So if 42X3827 & 42X3829 work in both, and all 3 share the same form factor. Question would be if 42X3827, 42X3829 can be interchanged with 42X3831 without any bezel modification in a 14.1" wide ??.

If yes then one would guess that 42X3831 should also work.PC Card/4-in-1 media reader slot
42X3831

[underclocker]

I had the spare parts from a 14" WS T61, so I opened up my 4:3 T61. While the multi-reader assembly certainly will fit and probably will work, considering even the BIOS is the same, I didn't try it. There was too much modification required to get the multi-reader bezel to fit properly in the base. I had a spare base available so I tried some mods on that one. Three sections of plastic on the base needed modification, which was the easy part. The bezel, which seems to be magnesium, needed much more. I stopped when I realized that the bottom of the bezel would need to be shaved/sanded to seat properly in the 4:3 base. The WS base slopes more from front to back than the 4:3 base, which is why.

Securing the bezel to the base would be the last piece to the puzzle. The multi-reader bezel is secured with two screws to the WS base. The two bezel options for the 4:3 base just clip in to plastic forms. So after all the modifications, I'm thinking that double-sided tape would do the trick, once everything is assembled, nothing would really move anyway.

So, bottom line, I believe it will work with modification to both the base and multi-reader bezel.

Now, if anyone can figure out how to retrofit an internal webcam, that would make this model perfect.

[EOMtp]

... swap out the PC Card/Smart Card slot assembly in a 14" 4:3 LCD T61 and install the PC Card/4-in-1 media reader slot assembly.

Won't one of these media readers that fits (fully) in the PC Card slot do the job?
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=%28 ... m270.l1313

[underclocker]

Won't one of these media readers that fits (fully) in the PC Card slot do the job?
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=%28 ... m270.l1313

Sure, but where's the sport in that?

< Moderator Note: Related thread on PC Card adapters and performance has been split from this thread to this location --> http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=100502 >