Some dock questions...

[matermark]

#1:
I have an A31p, but long before it, I had an A22m and bought a 2631 dock. When I asked IBM if I can use it on the A31p, they said NO, the electronics were different. Are there different versions of the 2631 (maybe revisions, like 01, 02), and is this true, it can't be used with an A31p 2653 model? The one I have (now somewhere in the attic?) was the one that didn't have the large base under the laptop for support. Maybe that's why?

What are the differences between the two 2631's and the other one (2877? 2878?) I've read the later one supports some of the later T4x, etc, but any feature differences?

#2:
I have an A31p with a bad power jack--it literally started to smell and melt the tip of the power supply cable... I think the center conductor on the jack (on the machine) was loose or broke.

If I put this machine in a dock, will it work without any problems?

#3:
Do the firewire ports on the dock work? The A31p DOES have firewire, the jack is on the side. Will the firewire ports on the dock supercede the stock firewire, not work at all, or ALL work?

#4:
Which docks have the ultrabay & PCI? I know mine had it and the PCI slot, I think it was a 2631 that ended in 8666. I'm pretty sure I have the port replicator too, with a similar part #, brand new in the box heaven knows where in the house, but I'd rather the dock.

#5:
Do redundant features still work? I mean, can you literally run 4 hard drives with something like an A31p (stock+ultrabay+ultrabay2k+the dock's ultrabay?) Or 4 PCMCIA cards?

#6:
I thought I read about DVI output, do they still have standard HD15 pin VGA output too?



Where can I get one cheap? Maybe I can save one of my A31p's.

Thanks for any help.

[Harryc]

I don't recall ever seeing Firewire in any dock. Get a dock II, it has the most features for your machine. Noisy fan though.
http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/ThinkPad_Dock_II

[matermark]

I don't recall ever seeing Firewire in any dock. Get a dock II, it has the most features for your machine. Noisy fan though.
http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/ThinkPad_Dock_II

I think they were the 6-wire connector, like an A-shape. Maybe that is the dfference in the two [revisions] of the 2631?

[matermark]

Anybody willing to take on the itemized questions?