X300 dock

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amardeep · #1 Post by **amardeep** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 4:01 am

Are there any details on the docking station ? What capabilities it has, and whether there will be a "traditional style" Thinkpad dock too (I guess not as there is no suitable connector on the X300 ?).

I believe there is no dvi out on the X300 docking station, which is a big shame (nice to have a high quality way of driving a big display).

jamess · #2 Post by **jamess** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 8:30 am

It's USB 2.0 based dock as far as I know. It's in the tabook. I don't know whether it includes DVI though.

bdoviack · #3 Post by **bdoviack** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 3:42 pm

Looks like the final specs for the dock are 1400x1050. Too bad as that means we cannot run our 24" monitors off the dock.

Here are more details and specs about the dock.

link

mod edit: long link shortened

ComputerMinder · #4 Post by **ComputerMinder** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 5:33 pm

Wait. Are you serious? a USB 2.0 port replicator??? You mean no real dock like the X61s has ? That just fits so nicely. I hope they make such thing.

The USB port replicators I've seen perform on other platforms perform terrible for external displays. As slow as hell even on small monitors. No way it could drive my 1680x1050 monitor.

And I thought the 64gb HD was a deal breaker...

UPDATE: I just saw the link to the port replicator. It really only would drive 1440 x 900. LMAO or rather CMAO.

This port replicator solution is lame. Doesn't even come close to the X61s dock. Here's why:

When you come in and out of office I would have to connect 3 cables each time (what a pain) :
VGA cable (cause I have a big display)
Power supply (cause port replicators do not provide power)
Port replicator itself (for USB peripherals that I always want on)

Compare that with my X61s and dock which I simply just click it on the ultrabase and that's it. VGA is on, and Power is driven from the dock.

That's a huge disappointed. If I though I could let go of my 200gb 7200rpm hitachi drive for a 64gb SSD drive would be hard, but I pretty much got used to the idea in the past 24 hours. The idea of having to connect 3 cables 3 or 4 times a day is the real deal breaker here. Pitty.

#5 Post by **erik** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 5:36 pm

again, the X300 is made for business portability. there will be models in the future which more closely replace the current X6-series and have traditional docking options.

if the X300 doesn't fit your needs then you'll just have to be patient and see what comes down the pipeline.

ComputerMinder · #6 Post by **ComputerMinder** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 5:46 pm

erik wrote:again, the X300 is made for business portability. there will be models in the future which more closely replace the current X6-series and have traditional docking options.

if the X300 doesn't fit your needs then you'll just have to be patient and see what comes down the pipeline.

Do you know if the X300 even has the necessary connectors at the bottom so it would be able to connect to something more of a dock like the ultrabase? If it does have these connectors than I am sure willing to wait. But if it ain't there, it would never change with this model.

#7 Post by **erik** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 6:06 pm

no dock connectors exist on the X300.

ComputerMinder · #8 Post by **ComputerMinder** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 6:42 pm

Again, thanks a lot for the info. Much appreciated.

I got used to the idea of living with just 64Gb and was actually thinking of buying an X300 next month (although I wished for a bigger drive I could live with 64gb)

But the lack of ultrabase is the real deal breaker for me.

I'd have to wait for the next model. I am not in the mood to connect 3 cables, three to four times a day (power cable ,vga cable ,replicator cable) also the wear from plugging and uplugging a VGA cable that many times isn't any good.

bananaman · #9 Post by **bananaman** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 8:05 pm

ComputerMinder wrote:I am not in the mood to connect 3 cables, three to four times a day (power cable ,vga cable ,replicator cable) also the wear from plugging and uplugging a VGA cable that many times isn't any good.

Actually, it is just 2 cables, power and USB. The port replicator has the VGA.

#10 Post by **bill bolton** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 3:23 am

erik wrote:again, the X300 is made for business portability.

Which is precisely why the lack of a real dock is a very serious mistake, IMO!

Cheers,

Bill B.

Jackboot · #11 Post by **Jackboot** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 3:29 am

I would not be surprised if Lenovo release a UWB port replicator since the X300 (and likely future models) have UWB technology. Seems like it will be a real step up from old docking station technology.

Toshiba released one not long ago:

http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/pre ... oid=390808

#12 Post by **erik** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 11:13 am

bill bolton wrote:Which is precisely why the lack of a real dock is a very serious mistake, IMO!

bill, do you pack a dock with you on business trips? the X300, imo, seems to be made for the times when you're on the road, not at the office.

i have an ultrabase for my X61 and hate the fact that i have to pack the whole thing if i want a DVD burner on the road. having a small, light, integrated unit like the X300 would make much more sense for business travel.

but, that's just me. everyone's wants/needs are different.

bdoviack · #13 Post by **bdoviack** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 1:02 pm

I think we all agree that this machine is designed for mobility, but the biggest frustration is what do you when you head back to your home base?

How do you hookup your printer? Wired ethernet, external 24" monitor, external speakers, power cable, etc.? Sure you can plug in each cable one by one, but if you are truly mobile then you would be repeating this routine numerous times a week and/or day.

I've currently got a T61 and it is great to simply plop the unit in it's mini-dock and every possible connection I need is there. No need to hunt around for looking for cables to plug in.

The only possible thing that I think can save this notebook for a dock-dependent user would be a wireless USB Dock (as someone previously mentioned). The current USB listed dock is too limited for today's basic computing needs (limited resolution, 10/100 max Ethernet speeds, etc.)

beq · #14 Post by **beq** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 1:43 pm

Hmm, while a Wireless USB dock/port replicator would give you more freedom in terms of where you can place your laptop and not having to connect the USB cable to the dock, I don't think it will give you more performance than a wired USB version. Same theoretical bandwidth limit as USB 2.0 (even less at longer distances), same lack of power pass-through, etc.

#15 Post by **bill bolton** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 5:00 pm

erik wrote:but, that's just me. everyone's wants/needs are different.

My professional work involves business solutions for corporate/government organisations. In that business market, users get one-only computing device supplied, so if its a mobile computing device to cover both field and office use, a dock offering good performance/functionality and physical security is is essential... its show stopper if its not available.

Cheers,

Bill B.

#16 Post by **erik** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 6:11 pm

bill, in that scenario the X300 will never meet your needs. the upcoming X200 will likely be the better option.

amardeep · #17 Post by **amardeep** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 8:35 pm

It's a bit nuts. An expensive portable that includes an optical drive, but no docking station or dvi out. Small hard drive - ssd's will grow. Slow chip (though I'm not at all sure where the X300 cpu performs relative to a T61p), but that'll improve with subsequent revisions. But no dvi / docking ... can't get around that, and I guess if it isn't here now, it won't be added, so there's no point waiting.

The reasoning that this is a mobile machine and nothing else isn't good enough at this price. If it had a dock connector (which surely wouldn't add much to the physical packaging), it would be much better.

jamesdin · #18 Post by **jamesdin** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 9:33 pm

X300 without docking station is a very nice computer for geek warriors. No docking station is a deal breaker for me though, I just hate dicking around with cables

Is X200 going to have docking station?
Are there any leaked photos of X200?

#19 Post by **bill bolton** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 10:32 pm

erik wrote:the upcoming X200 will likely be the better option.

It would be helpful if you stayed on the topic, which is the X300 and its docking options, or it seems the lack of them!

Cheers,

Bill

#20 Post by **erik** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 11:24 pm

well, we know what the docking options are (or aren't) for the X300. i don't see this changing anytime soon.

i'll let everyone get back to complaining.

domi · #21 Post by **domi** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 6:19 am

erik wrote:the upcoming X200 will likely be the better option.

Where can we found additional info on the forthcoming X200? Does all this X200/X300 business means there will be no X62/X70?

Thanks, Dominique

jamess · #22 Post by **jamess** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 6:36 am

Is the USB/LAN dongle included in package of the USB replicator? I don't find it specifically mentioned in the PDF provided.

#23 Post by **erik** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 8:55 am

domi wrote:Where can we found additional info on the forthcoming X200? Does all this X200/X300 business means there will be no X62/X70?

not much is known right now besides a photo and some guesswork. there is a thread about it here.

X300 dock

X300 dock

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