advanced mini dock vs. port replicator + 1 dumb question

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#1 Post by **gator** » Sun Feb 18, 2007 4:34 am

I recently acquired a IBM model M keyboard and a very nice (just $20, yes twenty, from CL!) 19" Mitsubishi Diamond Pro 930SB CRT monitor. I already have a mouse and an external USB HDD, and needless to say my table is a mess of wires. Not only that, I hate to unplug and plug each of the USB connectors and the monitor everytime I have to take my T60 away from home. I am considering a port replicator/mini-dock solution, and I have the follwoing questions:

1. Will the Essential port replicator (part #: 250510W) work with the T60 (Thinkwiki says so, but I want to confirm it here)? Does this come with a key? Or am I better off spending $30 more and getting the advanced mini dock(part # 250410U)? I will NOT need to use an external graphics card ever and I do not not need the full-fledged docking station.

2. Except for the extra serial/parallel/audio ports on the advanced mini dock, what are the other differences/advantages of the mini-dock over the essential port replicator?

3. This is a really dumb question - it sounds really stupid, but I am going to ask it. Is it possible anyway to power up the thinkpad without opening it, short of keeping it in standby all the time?

The reason why I am asking this is because, with my external monitor and keyboard, I don't need to keep my thinkpad open - I have set the latop not to standby/hibernate when I close the lid, but it'd be really nice if there is a way I don't have to open the machine everytime I come home just to boot up and close it back again. There are days when I work from home and there are days when I work fully in my lab (I do some experimental work) - there is no fixed schedule as such (i.e. I work in the lab depending on how and when the experiments get over).

<rant mode on>
Why don't laptop manufacturers have an additional power button outside the laptop? To prevent it from getting switched on accientally - well they can have a recessed switch that is really hard to push (like the wireless on/off on the T60) can't they? If they can do that for wireless, why not for power? Poeple with a docking station, don't you agree?
<rant mode off>

tvsjr · #2 Post by **tvsjr** » Sun Feb 18, 2007 10:48 am

I've never played with the Port Replicator... I have an Advanced Dock for my 8741C4U and an Advanced Mini-Dock for my 2623DDU. The Mini-Dock and the full dock do have a power button on the dock which will power the system up without opening the lid... I do this every day at work.

For $30, I'd go with the Mini-Dock.

chordstrummer · #3 Post by **chordstrummer** » Sun Feb 18, 2007 12:51 pm

The Advanced Mini Dock comes with an AC adapter; the Port Replicator does not. This alone makes the Mini Dock worth it, IMO.

#4 Post by **gator** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 3:04 am

chordstrummer wrote:The Advanced Mini Dock comes with an AC adapter; the Port Replicator does not. This alone makes the Mini Dock worth it, IMO.

No, it does not.
http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/ThinkPad_ ... _Mini_Dock

khaivq · #5 Post by **khaivq** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 5:51 am

The Advanced Mini Dock (what I have) comes with an AC adapter, and an external Power On/Off button as well.

Another thought, if you work with the lid closed, Wifi reception will be terrible. You should keep the lid open, and use the laptop monitor as the secondary in a dual-monitor setup. That's the setup I have in my desk for the last two years, and I am very happy with it (no wasted LCD surface). Last year it was a T43 and a Port Replicator.

johnp126 · #6 Post by **johnp126** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 6:13 am

also it has a DVI connector vs VGA on port replicator. port replicator does not require a de-dock via the button or option in windows. it also has a audio connector for speakers but that is also off the port rep.

the bad thing they did (and they know it) was to take t43 and older models port rep and strip it of things and force you into a docking / dedocking situation and into the advanced mini if you want a full feature "port replicator". if you want external speakers and need a dvi go with the mini dock.. and a plus it does come with the a/c adapter that is needed..

skanky · #7 Post by **skanky** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 7:51 am

anyone know if i can plug a coaxial cable into the "SPDIF" labelled port on the right hand side of the advanced mini-dock and using the right filters, be able to output 5.1 sound without using any extra sound card related add-ins?

oh and the advanced mini-dock does come with a power supply, a 90w one iirc. the standard one is i think 65w..

tvsjr · #8 Post by **tvsjr** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 8:49 am

gator wrote:
chordstrummer wrote:The Advanced Mini Dock comes with an AC adapter; the Port Replicator does not. This alone makes the Mini Dock worth it, IMO.
No, it does not.
http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/ThinkPad_ ... _Mini_Dock

The post is in error. I ordered an Advanced Mini-dock from IBM about 8 months ago and received a power adapter to go with it in the box.

skanky wrote:anyone know if i can plug a coaxial cable into the "SPDIF" labelled port on the right hand side of the advanced mini-dock and using the right filters, be able to output 5.1 sound without using any extra sound card related add-ins?

The S/PDIF port is a digital audio interface. You should be able to interface it into a home theater system and have audio. I believe it will support 5.1, but don't quote me. Your other option would be to go with a full Advanced Dock and add a card in that is known to support 5.1.

skanky · #9 Post by **skanky** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 9:11 am

tvsjr wrote:
skanky wrote:anyone know if i can plug a coaxial cable into the "SPDIF" labelled port on the right hand side of the advanced mini-dock and using the right filters, be able to output 5.1 sound without using any extra sound card related add-ins?
The S/PDIF port is a digital audio interface. You should be able to interface it into a home theater system and have audio. I believe it will support 5.1, but don't quote me. Your other option would be to go with a full Advanced Dock and add a card in that is known to support 5.1.

currently i have a soundblaster zs notebook pcmcia card which has a SPDIF out (optical cable) hooked up to a yamaha rx-450 av reciever and whilst 5.1 sound works perfectly, i'd like to get shot of the soundblaster if its possible to output via the (coaxial) port on the docking station alone.

i just need to know if the standard t60 docked into the advanced mini dock with a coaxial cable from the port on the docking station to a suitable reciever will be able to output 5.1 sound or not.

chordstrummer · #10 Post by **chordstrummer** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 4:55 pm

gator wrote:
chordstrummer wrote:The Advanced Mini Dock comes with an AC adapter; the Port Replicator does not. This alone makes the Mini Dock worth it, IMO.
No, it does not.
http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/ThinkPad_ ... _Mini_Dock

In fact, look at the last item listed on the page you linked to:

AC-Adapter (same as with the TP)

skanky · #11 Post by **skanky** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 5:49 pm

chordstrummer wrote:
gator wrote: No, it does not.
http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/ThinkPad_ ... _Mini_Dock
In fact, look at the last item listed on the page you linked to:

AC-Adapter (same as with the TP)

i think thats incorrect as the TP one (for my T60 at least) is different to the advanced mini dock one.

i think its 90w compared to 65w, or thereabouts.

aaaaaakash · #12 Post by **aaaaaakash** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 8:38 pm

skanky wrote:
tvsjr wrote: The S/PDIF port is a digital audio interface. You should be able to interface it into a home theater system and have audio. I believe it will support 5.1, but don't quote me. Your other option would be to go with a full Advanced Dock and add a card in that is known to support 5.1.
currently i have a soundblaster zs notebook pcmcia card which has a SPDIF out (optical cable) hooked up to a yamaha rx-450 av reciever and whilst 5.1 sound works perfectly, i'd like to get shot of the soundblaster if its possible to output via the (coaxial) port on the docking station alone.

i just need to know if the standard t60 docked into the advanced mini dock with a coaxial cable from the port on the docking station to a suitable reciever will be able to output 5.1 sound or not.

anyone have any updates on this??? please?

advanced mini dock vs. port replicator + 1 dumb question

advanced mini dock vs. port replicator + 1 dumb question

advanced mini dock

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