Why would you want an ultrabase?

[alosito]

Do I understand it right that the main reason people buy an ultrabase for their X61 is a CD/DVD-ROM? I look at other features that the ultrabase offers, and as far as I understand, my X61 already has most of them (Eithernet port, modem port, USB ports, VGA, microphone in, headphone out, integrated speakers). For $150+ it is quite an expensive external CD-ROM. Where am I wrong?

[Ken Fox]

I have an X6 ultrabase with CDRW/DVD drive, that came as a package deal on an X60 I bought last year. I do occasionally use it, but it has few advantages over simply using using a freestanding USB optical drive.

The only real reason for buying this ultrabase is if you use the X6x machine as a laptop, then return home or to the office planning to use the laptop as a pseudo desktop machine as well. This would be most practical for a businessman who travels a lot, or perhaps for a student who uses the laptop in class and then at home as well. In this scenario, the X6x owner could have various other devices such as a monitor, a keyboard, freestanding hard disk and optical drives, printers, what-have-you permanently plugged into the ultrabase, which would serve as a docking station. With the simple action of undocking the laptop, all the peripherals at home or office are disengaged from the laptop, and are then reattached when the laptop returns back home or in the office.

Other than this sort of usage, it is hard to justify buying an Ultrabase plus optical drive, when a decent freestanding optical burner can be bought for $50 or so in full size or $70 or so in the slim/laptop form factor. The fact that the ultrabay can accommodate other devices such as a battery or a 2nd hard drive is of little value in the office, and even less value on the road, as carrying the ultrabase plus devices plus the X6x is going to be less appealing than simply using a larger laptop such as a T6x, which will not need an ultrabase to provide the same functionality.

[ducky2802]

Youre not. It is pretty much a docking station for the X6x series that does not offer too much beyond the host of ports on the X6x unit itself. But, it does have some perks too. For example, coming home after work and dropping the x6x into the dock automatically connects it up to the external monitor, secure LAN (as oposed to wifi), all of my USB peripherals, and not to mention my ultrabay HDD backup drive for near effortless file backup. Its nice that the base uses the same ultrabay as the 60 series computers so I can easily swap between file syncs on any of my machines. Oh, and program installations are easier that way too and go faster than USB.

Then when Im off for work in the morning, pop the x6x off the base, knowing I have a full charge on my battery, my files are backed up, and all my components are disconnected without ever removing a single plug from the machine. One downside to every base since the 570, is that none support dual battery charging, which I really miss.

[tboehme]

Hi alosito,

The main point of the ultrabase is ease of connection.

You just take your X61 and drop it onto the base. No need to handle any cables, as they are all attached to the base rather than the notebook.

It's expensive and for full convenience you even have to add another power supply. I love it and would buy it again.

If you don't mind the hassle and all you need is an external DVD, than go with a USB DVD drive. It's much cheaper that the base.

regards,
Thomas

[bill bolton]

Do I understand it right that the main reason people buy an ultrabase for their X61 is a CD/DVD-ROM?

The main reason is to use it as a dock for:

• Quick connection/disconnection to fixed external facilities
  
  Quickly secure an X61 in place to a device with its own physical security (via a locked tie etc)

If you don't need those capabilities, then you don't need an Ultrabase

Cheers,

Bill B.

[Trekk69]

My package deal that I ordered with Lenovo Canadian last year came with it and the burner as well.
Other than using the burner for my initial recovery CDs/backups I haven't used it since. I just keep my laptop docked in it and have my USB hookups through it. It works because I am constantly taking my laptop to class etc.
But in reality, if I had the option to go back and save the money I would, and not get it

[sorapp]

I love the ulrabase. When my X61 is docked I have a large monitor, full keyboard and mouse. I also have a large hard drive connect via USB for backups. It feels just like using my old desktop machine. I especially like the fact that my files are always in sync because I only have one computer now instead of 2. The X61 is so powerful that there is no perceptable difference, to me at least, from using this compared to my old desktop.

[spaznrq]

i am a student, and bring my x60 to school everyday. when i come home, i slap it back onto the dock and everything works just like a desktop (external lcd monitor, keyboard/mouse set, external hard drives). i don't even bring my AC adaptor because my 8-cell lasts me all day long at school. it also provides a convenient way to carry a CD-ROM with me when i need it on the go without having to bring my external DVD-RW drive that needs an extra AC adaptor and wall outlet.

my dock came as a package deal with my x60, so i didn't necessarily spend $200 or $150 for it. in my case, the dock is very valuable.

[lightweight]

I have an ultrabase and, frankly, have little use for it. For my needs its greatest value is for hotswapable batteries, but it's far from cost effective for that purpose. (And to this day I only have the DVD/CD burner bay.)

When at my desk at work I plug in ethernet if I have to do file transfer and clone the mouse and keyboard to a separate (desktop) computer. When at my desk at home I dock and clone to my desktop. I really do not find a difference, though I do prefer the former since I can take my laptop to go without waiting for the dock or pulling a lever to release.

[wgsohn]

The only thing I don't like about it is that it increases heat in the palm rest. Also, it makes X61 twice thicker.
Other than these two, it is a perfect companion to my X61 and I love it.

[proaudioguy]

Do I understand it right that the main reason people buy an ultrabase for their X61 is a CD/DVD-ROM? I look at other features that the ultrabase offers, and as far as I understand, my X61 already has most of them (Eithernet port, modem port, USB ports, VGA, microphone in, headphone out, integrated speakers). For $150+ it is quite an expensive external CD-ROM. Where am I wrong?

You are correct. When I bought mine, it was on sale for $79. with the order so I went ahead and got it since I have several hard drives for the UltraBay. If there was a viable USB ultrabay, for less money, it would have been a fine alternative. Later when I pass this computer to my wife the Ultrabase will be used in her office to connect another monitor, keyboard, and mouse, which will simplify her life a bit. I still don't have an optical drive for it, but I imagine I'll have one by then. If the media base accepted the UB 2000 devices it would really have been worth it because I have a lot of those drives.

[tilneford]

One other plus of the dock I didn't see mentioned above are the speakers. I suspect they are lousy for gaming, but for playing background music in the office or for playing a DVD while in a motel room, the dock speakers are far better than the built in mono speaker in the x60s.

[Tomplee]

The best feature of ultrabase I found is this setup:
When in ulrabase, the machine automaticly connects 2 displays (notebook+ external) with enhanced desktop.
When out of the ultrabase, when I connect external display, the default setting is same output to booth displays for presentation.
Everything without user intervention and without desktop icons movement.

[new2tablet]

Amd the RS-232 serial port! I don't own an ultrabase but I've considered buying one just for the serial out. Many older scientific and electronic equipment can be controlled that way.

[tilneford]

Yup. All things newer don't always work better. I have a parallel port printer to which I print duplex. I bought a usb2parallel adapter from a name-brand company. The driver for the adapter does not print the registers (edges aligned on both sides of a sheet of paper) correctly. The trusty parallel port on the ultrabase affords the capability I need.

I'm happy to have it.

[bigwormie]

perfect for speed and convenience. love it.