x31 ultrabase ...what to put in ultrabay 2000?

[toubib]

I have discovered there is a blu-ray device 43n3200 but it requires an Ultrabay Enhanced to Ultrabay 2000 adapter 73P3268. Further, some say the 16mb GPU (VPU) of the x31-2672XXL will not support blu-ray well. Any thoughts? My x31 is a P-IV-M1.4 w/2gbRAM and 120GBHDD.

[Jason404]

Sorry, but it really doesn't sound like you know what you are doing. First of all, you don't know what processor you have. You do not have a P4-M, you have a P-M (Pentium M) which is a much more efficient processor than the crappy P4-M, which was only used in much bigger and cheaper laptops with very poor battery life and which got very hot.

Blu-Ray drives are still rather expensive, and paying that much money for a drive to use on a relatively old laptop like a X31 is a waste of money in my opinion, even though I love mine to bits.

Decoding Blu-Ray discs requires a lot of processing power, and only quite new computers will have the power to do so (dual core at least). A lot of Ati graphics cards have onboard decoders for Blu-Ray, so these can take the strain off the CPU on desktop/media centre computers that have those.

And finally, you do know what's so good about Blu-Ray, right? How are you going to benefit from that on the X31's XGA screen??

[gongo2k1]

Sorry, but it really doesn't sound like you know what you are doing.

that's probably true of many people posting here for help, but we avoid pointing it out to them because it only sounds condescending.

if you're going to help someone, then just do it, no need to waste time explaining how much smarter you are.


back on topic... to the OP:
if you've got a x31, then you don't have an optical drive on your laptop. i assume you were looking to put this in the ultrabase? to jason's point, i don't think it'll work out for you because of the following reasons:
1) the x31 has discrete video, but it's pretty old too. it most likely won't handle the blu ray data very well, if at all.
2) because of the first point, you'll have to make up for it with cpu power, which unfortunately is also a bit lacking in this case. again, the x31 is great, but it's perhaps a little old for hd video playback.
3) blu ray data is (correct me if i'm wrong) 1920x1080, but your screen is only 1024x768. you won't reap any of the benefits of the added clarity because the screen won't show it. this is not a problem if you want to output to tv, but the experience won't be great.

bottom line:
stick with dvd and divx movies. you'll be fine without blu ray on your x31.

[Jason404]

if you're going to help someone, then just do it, no need to waste time explaining how much smarter you are.

Erm, okay, I'll fully accept my chastisement for being condescending. I was up all night, very stressed out working on something that had gone wrong, but that is no excuse. I have just noticed that it was toubib's first post, so that was especially unwelcoming of me.

Thanks for translating my post into a more decent manner of communication!

[toubib]

I was registered for a short time to this group some time ago but had to deregister because of the same problem. Information of this type is out there in abundance. Nobody is willing to tolerate such needless bloated superiority; those who ask for assistance do so inasmuch as the given being they are inquiring about "something they do not know." Pointing this out is rude. I came back to this group in hopes it had "matured." I am a member of a not dissimilar group based in the Washington, D.C. area of the USA. The members there are mostly highly tech savvy. Mostly, I lurk and learn from their back&forth. Occasionally, I ask an insipid question like this. For that, I often receive a flurry of very nice simplified explanations from people who live in a realm far above my level. I have NEVER been chastized for being a dolt; it is obvious from the nature of the query and needs no mention. Your hit count will suffer if you hit back!!

[toubib]

thanks for your nice post.

inasmuch as I changed from a port replicator to an ultrabase which takes much less real estate, I am investigating what to put in the ultrabay2000. I see blu ray is out. I have settled on a 2nd hdd sled inasmuch as I have the 40gb drive it came with which was replaced with a 120gb one. the question remaining is there are 2 "versions" of the sled on ebay (elsewhere advice is to get those as they are <$$$ and work fine...one version has a frame with no floor all plastic (aside PATA connector & screws) and the other (similarly priced) has a metal floor to it ...I would guess the former would maybe allow more air flow and the latter might sinc heat or trap it or provide shielding or noise abatement (though the drive was really quite silent) ...any advice?

Sorry, but it really doesn't sound like you know what you are doing.

that's probably true of many people posting here for help, but we avoid pointing it out to them because it only sounds condescending.

if you're going to help someone, then just do it, no need to waste time explaining how much smarter you are.


back on topic... to the OP:
if you've got a x31, then you don't have an optical drive on your laptop. i assume you were looking to put this in the ultrabase? to jason's point, i don't think it'll work out for you because of the following reasons:
1) the x31 has discrete video, but it's pretty old too. it most likely won't handle the blu ray data very well, if at all.
2) because of the first point, you'll have to make up for it with cpu power, which unfortunately is also a bit lacking in this case. again, the x31 is great, but it's perhaps a little old for hd video playback.
3) blu ray data is (correct me if i'm wrong) 1920x1080, but your screen is only 1024x768. you won't reap any of the benefits of the added clarity because the screen won't show it. this is not a problem if you want to output to tv, but the experience won't be great.

bottom line:
stick with dvd and divx movies. you'll be fine without blu ray on your x31.

[rkawakami]

I have settled on a 2nd hdd sled inasmuch as I have the 40gb drive it came with which was replaced with a 120gb one. the question remaining is there are 2 "versions" of the sled on ebay (elsewhere advice is to get those as they are <$$$ and work fine...one version has a frame with no floor all plastic (aside PATA connector & screws) and the other (similarly priced) has a metal floor to it ...I would guess the former would maybe allow more air flow and the latter might sinc heat or trap it or provide shielding or noise abatement (though the drive was really quite silent) ...any advice?

Either one of those will probably do what you want. The "plastic frame with no floor" are knock-offs. The genuine IBM part has a metal floor (and no ventilation holes). As I only use my Ultrabay HD adapters to backup my hard drive, I don't know if there's any risk of heat build up with leaving them in all of the time. Seeing as how your laptop's drive is encased in a caddy, the holes of which are usually covered with a plastic film rendering them non-functional for heat dissipation, I wouldn't worry too much about it. It comes down to how much you are willing to spend for original equipment vs. aftermarket stuff.

The other option to explore for Ultrabay 2000 devices would be a DVD burner. I personally use that device more than needing a second hard drive. Again, you can go the original-equipment route and pay $$$$$$ or "do-it-yourself" and pay maybe $$$. The DIY method would be to get a bare drive and then transfer the caddy from an Ultrabay 2000 optical drive onto it.

[Jason404]

Well, I already said that I regretted the tone of my post. Sorry again.

If you are looking to fill yor UltraBay with something, I think that the most useful thing would be a DVD-ROM drive, as the ultra-portable format of the X31 omits that, in the laptop itself. That is what I have in mine.

If your X31 is your main computer, then a DVD burner would be better - otherwise you could just burn your DVDs through network.

Your old HDD would be better placed in a 2.5" USB enclosure, in my opinion, which you can get on eBay for very little money (almost certainly less than an UltraBay housing, and it would be more more useful, being more portable, and which can be used with any computer).

What does your X31 not do, that you would like it to do?

edit: I actually think that the Ultradock/Media Slice or whatever they call it, is a bit of a waste of money (unless you use it slot in your laptop to a normal monitor, keyboard and mouse when you get home). I did not bother getting one for my X40 (and will not for my planned X200s purchase), as an external USB optical drive would be much more useful (as it can be used with any computer), more portable and cheaper.

[toubib]

I was thinking of the hdd as I could have it back up my stuff whenever I dock (apparently there's software to do that). I have the 40gb HDD now in the apricorn external case that came with the kit to clone it to the new 120gb hdd I have in the x31 now...I own an external IBM Lightscribe USB MultiBurner (DVD+/-RW or RAM) already which goes on trips...at home it's plugged into my desktop & the notebook is on my lan (wifi or wired ethernet depending where I lurk)...so the DVD in the ultrabay would be a duplication...the 40gig would do fine for my data...what do you think?

sled with open hole:

http://tinyurl.com/6cnu69

sled with metal base:

http://tinyurl.com/5c8n6w <<=== no good

thanks!!

[toubib]

oops...the one with metal frame is here:

http://tinyurl.com/63plm9

The stupid neither forgive nor forget; the naïve forgive and forget; the wise forgive but do not forget.

-Thomas Szasz psychiatrist and academic

[gongo2k1]

I was up all night, very stressed out working on something that had gone wrong

i totally and completely empathize with you. i've been there a number of times myself... probably too many times, but oh well, that's just the nature of the beast at times.

[toubib]

I still have open issues here ...anybody?

remember, a "freshman" member doesn't mean you hafta be fresh...

[toubib]

I have a physical challenge that makes plugging in all the wires in the back a big hassle ...this way, I drop the x31 in and I'm off to the races ...the reason for the x31 is the weight & trackpoint keyboard. The reason I got this Ultrabase x3 instead of the port replicator I had is the footprint (this thing sits under the notebook and doesn't stick out at all while the port replicator sat out the back adding about 1/2 foot to the depth of the thing). I put the old 40gb drive in the apricorn external case as on their site they recommended that while imaging to the new drive (seems backwards, but...hey, it worked) which is the case for the x31 and not for most applications. I never use it. It's a hassle to hook up and needs a power dongle or 2 usb ports to run. I think I would benefit from the backup ease of a 2nd hdd in that bay. I can buy the sled with or without the housing made of metal ...any ideas if there's an advantage...it's only a few bucks difference. The OEM from IBM is way overpriced, and elsewhere many say these work fine.

[proaudioguy]

I can buy the sled with or without the housing made of metal ...any ideas if there's an advantage...it's only a few bucks difference. The OEM from IBM is way overpriced, and elsewhere many say these work fine.

The quick release of the genuine IBM part is missing on both og those. Instead they have screw holes to mount the hard drive permanently (until you unscrew it).

[toubib]

now we're gettin' somewhere ...you've given me a clear reason to look at getting the original equipment...thank you.

I can buy the sled with or without the housing made of metal ...any ideas if there's an advantage...it's only a few bucks difference. The OEM from IBM is way overpriced, and elsewhere many say these work fine.

The quick release of the genuine IBM part is missing on both og those. Instead they have screw holes to mount the hard drive permanently (until you unscrew it).

[toubib]

I would be very interested in knowing about that quick eject feature ...do you know where to look for that? I've been all over Lenovo and don't see much...

[proaudioguy]

I would be very interested in knowing about that quick eject feature ...do you know where to look for that? I've been all over Lenovo and don't see much...

You drop the drive in, slide it toward the connector, then flip a plastic flap over that wedges the drive in place. When you want to remove the drive you use your fingernail to flip that flap open and then slide the drive away from the connector and pop it out. Takes about 10 seconds to swap drives. I have 1 UB2k adapter with multiple drives. I also have a pata UBslim, and a SATA UBslim.

[toubib]

I would be very interested in knowing about that quick eject feature ...do you know where to look for that? I've been all over Lenovo and don't see much...

You drop the drive in, slide it toward the connector, then flip a plastic flap over that wedges the drive in place. When you want to remove the drive you use your fingernail to flip that flap open and then slide the drive away from the connector and pop it out. Takes about 10 seconds to swap drives. I have 1 UB2k adapter with multiple drives. I also have a pata UBslim, and a SATA UBslim.

I fiddled around quite a bit yesterday finding it on LenovoIBM website as variously 08K6066 or 08K6067 or 08K6068 ...I am also sad to say their .pdf documents say nothing about the snap-in feature you describe which I want to get. If you would please be so kind as to put up the part number or FRU from the one you have I would be grateful so I don't get what I don't want...please be sure it's the Ultrabay2000 one and NOT the slim one ...tia!!

[rkawakami]

Looking at one in my hands, 08K6066 (P/N) or 08K6067 (FRU) is the Ultrabay 2000 HD adapter. Here's a page I put up before:

http://www.rkawakami.net/ibm_t2x/ub2khda/

[toubib]

I got it ...thanks!!