Essential Port Replicator vs USB Hub

[robert213]

In my office, I am moving from T30 with port replicator to T61 with "To Be Determined"

I have been very happy with corded IBM keyboard and PS/2 MS Mouse for many years.

At first glance, the ThinkPad Advanced Mini Dock (250410U/26R9063) seems like overkill.
http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/product ... MIGR-68424
http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/product ... MIGR-61297

The ThinkPad Essential Port Replicator (250510W/26R9065) seems like a glorified USB Hub with a PS/2 Mouse.
http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/product ... MIGR-61200

What do all of you prefer?
a. Advanced Dock
b. Advanced Mini-Dock
c. Essential Port Replicator
d. USB Hub

Since none of the above options include a traditional (non-USB) corded keyboard, I guess that the time has arrived to consider a wireless keyboard and mouse.

Does anyone have any experience with
Lenovo Enhanced Performance Wireless Keyboard and Mouse (73P4067/89P8730)?

http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/product ... MIGR-68427
http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/product ... MIGR-57923

Will the wireless keyboard still function while changing BIOS settings?

Will the wireless keyboard and mouse still function if I boot machine with DOS bootable CD?

[dr_st]

I prefer the advanced mini-dock, which actually adds useful ports (such as DVI), and isn't just a "glorified USB hub" as you say.

BTW, according to what I know, both the mini-dock and the port replicator have a PS/2 combo port, which means you can connect both a PS/2 mouse and a keyboard with a proper splitter cable.

[Radioguy]

+1 on Adv Mini Dock. Of the three, it's the best in value and can be found rather cheaply now; no need to settle for the port replicator due to cost.

One might think the Advanced Dock would be best, but unless you are determined to use a Blu-Ray drive with your T61 (still can via USB) or an external monitor (You can only go so far in compatible video cards, so it's not that much of an improvement), there seems little point in getting it. It's rather bulky, and has a noisier fan that what's on board your T61. If it somehow could drive the additional video card to the laptop LCD, it would be far more useful.

http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/ThinkPad_ ... _Mini_Dock <-Listing of ports

[RealBlackStuff]

To keep your wired KB and mouse, get the splitter cable dr_st mentioned, because all newer docks have only one PS/2 port.
Or bypass the use of a dock altogether, and use a USB-to-double-PS/2 adapter, such as this: http://www.amazon.com/Cables-Unlimited- ... B0006IBBLS
Wireless keyboard/mouse will most likely not function for changing BIOS or boot to DOS, but the USB-PS/2 adapter should work.

[http302]

I'm not sure if this means anything, but I can use my Lenovo N5901 and N5902 wireless keyboards just fine in BIOS and the ThinkPad Recovery partition on my X41 Tab. >.> USB keyboards and mice are recognised under a generic USB HID keyboard/mouse profile by default, so typically you can use a USB device (wired or wireless) just about anywhere.

[dr_st]

Generally, wired/wireless makes no difference. PS/2 versus USB might. But USB keyboards have been supported on a BIOS level for nearly a decade now...

[robert213]

I prefer the advanced mini-dock, which actually adds useful ports (such as DVI), and isn't just a "glorified USB hub" as you say.

BTW, according to what I know, both the mini-dock and the port replicator have a PS/2 combo port, which means you can connect both a PS/2 mouse and a keyboard with a proper splitter cable.

OK, I purchased the advanced mini-dock.

Is this an example of Y-splitter cable that will work?
http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-Keyboard ... B000067SLZ
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6812200078
http://www.amazon.com/Cables4PC-LAPTOP- ... _pr_sims_t
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6812296100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6812120669

[Radioguy]

Those should work, although not all look to be of the same quality. The cheapest one looks the same as the following:

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/ps-2-keybo ... cable-7791

That doesn't mean it won't work, though.