X4 UltraBase vs X4 Dock

Message

johnd04 · #1 Post by **johnd04** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 9:36 pm

I'm looking to get a dock for a shiny new X41Tablet.

As far as I can tell the UltraBase is thinner, lighter, and less expensive ($199 vs $219) than the X4 Dock. Also the UltraBase can take an extra battery.

So what's the deal with the X4 dock? Does it have any advantages over the UltraBase? And if not, what's with the higher price tag?

Also on a side note, both docks seem to only have a VGA monitor output. What does that mean for hooking it up to an external LCD screen? Is the picture going to be awful?

pphilipko · #2 Post by **pphilipko** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 12:30 am

Aren't they the same thing?

jolou · #3 Post by **jolou** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 3:59 am

X4 Dock and X4 Ultrabase are 2 different products.

The new (and large) X4 DOCK works with the X41Tablet.

But does anyone know for sure if the old (and small) X4 ULTRABASE is compatible with the X41Tablet?

(I have an X4 Ultrabase at home and another one at my office. I'm planning to sell my X40 and buy the X41Tablet. But obviously I'd prefer to keep the 2 Ultrabases for the Tablet.)

bhtooefr · #4 Post by **bhtooefr** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 7:16 am

AFAICT, it WILL work with the UltraBase.

However, I can't tell for sure. Lenovo's site won't let me get into the configuration for the model ("An error has occurred and the model 18695CU you selected is unavailable. Please make another selection."), because it is not available yet...

johnd04 · #5 Post by **johnd04** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 8:13 am

The accessories page for the tablet

( http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/thinkpad/xseri ... rades.html )

shows that both X4 Ultrabase and X4 Dock work for the tablet.

bhtooefr · #6 Post by **bhtooefr** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 8:30 am

Comparing these...

Both have key-locks. UBX4 and X4D tied 1, 1.
Both have Ultrabay Slims, but the UBX4 supports an UBSlim battery, whereas the dock does not. UBX4 2, X4D 1.

Ports:
UBX4: pass-through support including Gigabit ethernet (RJ-45), modem (RJ-11), three USB 2.0, serial, parallel, PS2-mouse/keyboard, VGA and power.
X4D: Three USB 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet (RJ-45), modem (RJ-11), serial, parallel, one PS/2 for mouse or keyboard, VGA for monitor, and power
New scores: UBX4 3, X4D 2

Both have speakers. UBX4 4, X4D 3.
Both have "ergonomic design" for a better typing angle. UBX4 5, X4D 4.
The UBX4 is "easy to pack", the X4D has "simple, quick-attach cable management and expansion". I'll give the point to the UBX4. UBX4 6, X4D 4.
The X4D "design accommodates the hinge on the ThinkPad X41 tablet system so you can alternate between portrait and landscape operating modes without repositioning the system on the dock". The UBX4 mentions nothing of the sort, but it looks like it doesn't matter... I'll still give the point to the X4D - the UBX4 still wins

UBX4 6, X4D 5.
The X4D comes with a power adaptor, the UBX4 doesn't. No big deal - the laptop COMES WITH ONE, after all... Nobody gets points. (Edit: Thinking about it, the X4D coming with a power adaptor suits the recommended usage pattern quite well. However, the UBX4 NOT coming with a power adaptor also suits its own recommended usage pattern quite well. It doesn't matter whether I leave off the points, or give both a point, as the UB still wins.)

Six points to the UltraBase, five for the dock.

snife · #7 Post by **snife** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 10:02 am

Unfortunately the tablet is slightly larger than the X4 ultrabase that is used with the X40 series and is therefore not compatable

johnd04 · #8 Post by **johnd04** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 10:47 am

IBM just changed the accessories website I linked to before. Now it only shows the X4 Dock as compatible. Wack!

http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/thinkpad/xseri ... rades.html

bhtooefr · #9 Post by **bhtooefr** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 11:07 am

NOO#$OOOO!!!!!

So, I js8@#$ust short*(#@ed o*@#u(t my De(#@)JDSll's ke9#$@)yboard with d923=3904#)(23rool for NOT*(@#@)ING?

Crap.

(if you can't read it, it's a joke. My keyboard is supposed to be shorted out with drool.)

beq · #10 Post by **beq** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 5:52 pm

I haven't checked back for a little while...

So it's definite that my existing X4 UltraBase won't work with the new X41 Tablet?

It's not only that I want to reuse my base, but I want to be able to run a CD or DVD movie while travelling, and the X4 UltraBase has been perfect for that (whereas the X4 Dock does not appear designed to be portable at all -- as evidenced by the lack of UltraBay Slim battery support).

So if I get the X4 Tablet, I can forget about having an optical drive on the go unless I choose a USB external drive?

jolou · #11 Post by **jolou** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 4:30 pm

I agree it's no fun that the Ultrabase, small and travel-friendly as it is, can't be used for the x41 Tablet. (By the way, I noticed the X40/41 batteries can't be re-used on the tablet either).

Anyway, if you still want to watch DVD's while traveling, there's really no need to take with you a DVD player, nor USB drive, nor the DVD discs themselves.

Provided you have space left on your hdd, make ISO files of the discs you want to watch (DVDshrink). Then you can play them directly from your hdd (DAEMON tools). Saves you a lot of weight to carry around.

snife · #12 Post by **snife** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 5:18 pm

The X41 should come with some Intervideo software that does a similar sort of thing (copies CD/DVD to your hard drive and allows you to mount them for use when travelling)

jolou · #13 Post by **jolou** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 6:08 am

If I recall correctly, it's not the X41, but the new X4dock that comes with this software

X4 UltraBase vs X4 Dock

X4 UltraBase vs X4 Dock

Who is online