Adding a PCI network card to my 600X. Newbie question

[Ossey33]

I have just bought a 600X (Machine Type 26454EG) thinkpad and would like to network it on my home network. It has no network port on the PC and I gather I need a PCI Ethernet card.

Do I need to look for a specific 600x card or is there a generic PCI card that will fit.

Thanks in advance for your help

Ian

[whizkid]

Ian,
The 600X does not have a network port. You do NOT need a PCI Ethernet card. PCI cards go inside desktop or tower PCs. You need a PC Card or CardBus Ethernet card. Those go in the PC Card slots on the right side of your 600X. You could also get one that attaches to your USB port, but that will be much slower.

Go to the FAQ section of this forum and find the User's Reference for your machine on IBM's web site. It has lots of great info on how to use your machine.

Ethernet cards are plentiful and cheap. Compuplus.com has a D-Link card for $24, several from LinkSys for $26 to $30 (I have the LinkSys PCMPC200), and a NetGear card for $19 after $10 rebate.

But since your name is Ian, and you have a model that ends with G, I'll guess you are not in the US. Maybe someone closer to you can provide names of local shops.

[Ossey33]

Thanks Whizkid,

I will follow that link.

I'm impressed that you can tell I'm not from the US with the name "Ian" I guess the ThinkPad number denotes an European model.

Regards

Ian

[monty cantsin]

Ethernet cards are plentiful and cheap. Compuplus.com has a D-Link card for $24, several from LinkSys for $26 to $30 (I have the LinkSys PCMPC200), and a NetGear card for $19 after $10 rebate.

I'll throw in a vote either for the Xircom/Intel/IBM Realport and Realport2 type 3 Cardbus ethernet cards (RBE-100...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 6730911800
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 6730281636

and R2BE-100, RBEM56G-100 for the Realport with modem http://i7.ebayimg.com/01/i/02/db/85/59_1_b.JPG ) or the type 2 3COM/IBM Megahertz XJACK...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 6730305586
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 6730534538

...models, if you also consider to add a WLAN PC-Card later. All these cards are very well manufactured, fast, and usually available in masses on ebay for little money. Their most important advantage is that they fit completely into the PC-Card slot. Other cards either use annoying dongles, or there's always a knob sticking out of the computer that requires you to remove the card when you move the notebook around in order to avoid damage. Therefore I would not want to use any other cards than the Xircom Realport or 3COM XJack ones.

[whizkid]

Their most important advantage is that they fit completely into the PC-Card slot. Other cards either use annoying dongles, or there's always a knob sticking out of the computer that requires you to remove the card when you move the notebook around in order to avoid damage. Therefore I would not want to use any other cards than the Xircom Realport or 3COM XJack ones.

That is precisely why I do NOT like the cards Monty recommends. They either take two slots, or make it impossible to use the other slot.

I like my LinkSys PCMPC200 wired NIC because it does have a dongle. Any XJack model will not work in a selectadock III because it has moldings that overhang the slots. (Not that I have that dock anymore...)

I'm glad we both get to be happy and buy what we each need to suit our own applications.