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    Advanced Mini Dock Users?

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by magister, Dec 7, 2007.

  1. magister

    magister Notebook Consultant

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    How do you like the Advanced Mini Dock?

    Thinking of purchasing one(w/new laptop) as a cable solution, but have never seen it in person. Holw do you like it? How about the angle? I tried seraching for pictures/video with it in use and there's nothing really out there.

    My understanding is that with the mini dock ethernet and vga signals are the same speed and quality as if plugged into the machine. I've heard that the USB port replicator on the other hand is not the way to go because it degrades ethernet connection speeds and VGA signal. Can anyone confirm this?

    Ideally, I would take something like the USB port replicator and install it to underside of my desk in back. Then, only one clean cable would be attached to the notebook for acces to external monitor, speakers, printer, etc.

    I guess there is no such thing as a cable of some sort that would attach to the advanced mini dock and allow me to install it under the desk.
     
    magister, Dec 7, 2007
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  2. Lee N

    Lee N Notebook Guru

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    I absolutely love it ! The design is extremely clean and stable. It is by far the best Docking Station that I have used ( and seen )

    Hope this helps !
     
    Lee N, Dec 7, 2007
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  3. elfroggo

    elfroggo Notebook Evangelist

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    I have the T60 mini dock and it works great, no complaints for me. The main reason why I got one was for the DVI port and additional power adapter.

    It angles the laptop slightly higher at the back than the front.

    One thing I didn't totally like was the way the rear left edge ducts the laptop vents, but that might not really affect temps.

    I would recommend it if you want a convenient/fast dock/undock (no more cables to disconnect), want the DVI connector, or want the additional power adapter which is very handy.
     
    elfroggo, Dec 7, 2007
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  4. rhizop0d

    rhizop0d Notebook Enthusiast

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    It's a great docking station. I use it with both a Z61t and T61. Incredibly compact, with loads of useful outputs like 4 USB ports, DVI, Gigabit ethernet, and digital audio. So the mini dock actually adds features the laptop itself doesn't have (DVI, digital audio), without taking up too much room at all. Highly recommended.
     
    rhizop0d, Dec 7, 2007
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  5. KnightUnit

    KnightUnit Notebook Evangelist

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    I use the advanced mini dock aswell (check my sig), use the DVI, all usb ports, ethernet etc. Great device, just undock / dock the laptop with vista running. Works a treat.
     
    KnightUnit, Dec 8, 2007
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  6. toni2

    toni2 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I have one question about resolution of external monitor through Mini Dock (dvi). What is recommendet resolution (22" or 24" LCD)? I will use T61p 14".

    Thanks to all
     
    toni2, Dec 8, 2007
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  7. magister

    magister Notebook Consultant

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    Mini dock sounds great, didn't know about the audio. DVI will be handy. Does anyone have any pictures of the mini dock w/ notebook connected?
     
    magister, Dec 8, 2007
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  8. rhizop0d

    rhizop0d Notebook Enthusiast

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    rhizop0d, Dec 9, 2007
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  9. t61zenbvgq

    t61zenbvgq Notebook Enthusiast

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    I love it, same design characteristics as the ThinkPad itself. DVI output to drive a nice external LCD (too bad they only have VGA on the ThinkPad rather than a DVI out).

    rhizop0d: digital audio - does it use the same jacks for the regular audio out?
     
    t61zenbvgq, Dec 9, 2007
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  10. rhizop0d

    rhizop0d Notebook Enthusiast

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    No, though my Mac Mini has that feature (digital optical supported out of the headphone jack). If you look at my second photo, you will see a blue cable extending from the side of the case. That's a digital coaxial cable connected to a black RCA digital S/PDIF jack on the side of the docking station. The analog headphone jack is the green mini-plug on the back, to the right of the DVI cable (white connector).
     
    rhizop0d, Dec 9, 2007
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  11. t61zenbvgq

    t61zenbvgq Notebook Enthusiast

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    Oh cool, I expected everything to be on the back. Thanks for pointing that out.
     
    t61zenbvgq, Dec 9, 2007
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  12. magister

    magister Notebook Consultant

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    magister, Dec 9, 2007
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  13. magister

    magister Notebook Consultant

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    Does anyone know what the data transfer rate is on the Advanced Mini Dock. For example, this Targus dock:
    "has the capability to transfer data rates four times faster than USB..."
    http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsid=3558

    I guess I'm asking if the Advanced Mini Dock transfers data at the same speed as if plugged directly into the notebook- which should make it even faster than any non-proprietary dock such as this Targus.
     
    magister, Dec 9, 2007
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  14. rhizop0d

    rhizop0d Notebook Enthusiast

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    Transfers data on what interface? The notebook-to-dock connector passes USB and Gigabit ethernet. USB 2.0 supports up to 480mbps and Gigabit ethernet supports up to 1000mbps. There's no way to go "faster" than specification using a dock of any kind, only slower. I haven't noticed any appreciable slowdown in USB 2.0 or Gigabit ethernet throughput using the dock.
     
    rhizop0d, Dec 9, 2007
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  15. jimmygoon

    jimmygoon Notebook Enthusiast

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    jimmygoon, May 17, 2008
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