Anyone use the series 3 minidock with X220?

Considering picking one of these up for use at home. Pretty much goes without saying, but so that I can use the x220 as a desktop with propper monitor, keyboard, etc attached and just grab it off the dock and go for use on the road.

Of course it's supposed to be compatible, but I wonder about the fitment. X220 is 12" wide, and the dock is supposed to be 14". I would assume the extra 2 inches is from the top left area that sticks out and the X220 should cover the bottom plate area (for lack of better words) cleanly. I just havent seen any pictures of an X220 sitting on one. I would probably pass on it if the X220 doesnt cover that main area thus looks a little goofy.

Lenovo - Docks & Port Replicators - 433710U (Won't be buying from Lenovo as they are much cheaper elsewhere)

Also one other question with these....they can be used without ever needing to open the lid correct? In other words I could pull out the laptop, slap it in the dock, hit the power button on the dock and go to town....and vs versa shut down windows, grab the laptop off the dock, and throw it in the bag?

 

Page is in Chinese, but there is a photo of X220 docked into Mini Dock Series 3.

TP??????Blog Archive ThinkPad X220????(?)?(X220????-4)

About your second question: yes, you should be able to use the laptop with the lid closed when it is docked (with external monitor, keyboard, and mouse connected to the dock, of course).

 

Nice, thanks. Looks like a good fit. I guess I will be picking one up.

 

Look closer. It's actually offset from the edge where the ports are on the back by about 1.5". It's really no big deal but I thought you should be aware because the pic doesn't show it that well. It uses position 2 on the dock.

The ThinkPads seem to breathe and run quite well with the lid closed.

 

With it being closed and all, does it really matter how it looks? Just set it aside somewhere out of sight if it isn't appealing.

The docks are awesome though. I can't imagine working at a desk without one - well without large monitors.

 

You should see mine. It's turned around backwards so the ports on the back face me because I am plugging and unplugging stuff so often in them. It's on a rack behind my monitors. With all the wires it looks like a monster.

I personally could care less about the looks. I need it to be functional. Mine is and I like the fact it works for nearly all the thinkpads.

 

Don't worry about that...It looks perfectly on my desk. when the laptop is docked the only thing you actually see of the docking station is the right part with the release part.

 

One thing to note: The ThinkPad Port Replicator Series 3 does not include a DisplayPort jack, External Microphone jack, Headphone jack, or Ultrabay Slim device bay. All these are included in the ThinkPad Ultrabase Series 3. However the ThinkPad Port Replicator Series 3 is compatible with other model ThinkPads besides the X220 models - unlike the ThinkPad Ultrabase Series 3. It all depends upon what you are looking for.

Lenovo Support - ThinkPad Port Replicator Series 3 - Overview

Lenovo Support - ThinkPad Ultrabase Series 3 - Overview

EDIT: Oops! The OP was referring to the Mini Dock Series 3, not the Port Replicator Series 3. The ThinkPad Mini Dock Series 3 has 6 USB ports (instead of only 4), but does not include the Ultrabay Slim device bay. One Single-Link DVI-D digital monitor port is included.

Lenovo Support - ThinkPad Mini Dock Series 3 - 90W - Overview

 

If you need more video outputs, the plus version has 2 DP and 2 DVI outputs.

 

True, but apparently you can use only 3 at any one time. The plus version also includes an eSATA port.

Lenovo Support - ThinkPad Mini Dock Plus Series 3 - 90W - Overview
Lenovo Support - ThinkPad Mini Dock Plus Series 3 - 135W - Overview

 

The proliferation of docks seems crazy as it is so totally confusing. However if you sell to folks with 10,000 plus workstations I suppose all these choices are necessary.

I have the mini dock plus 3 with the 170w adapter for my W520. I suppose the X220 will work in it but haven't yet tried it.

 

That's the dock I use with my T420s, the X220 should work in position 2 like the T420s.

Just wish I had gotten Optimus for my work laptop so I could hook up 4 monitors.

 

Because of this thread I did pull the W520 from its docking station and put on the X220. Other than it only doing one external monitor and the LCD it works perfectly. (the W520 will do 2 ext and the LCD.)

And I don't see any of the base other than the control pod.

Mine is the Mini Dock 3 Plus. And the X220 doesn't so far have any problem with the 170 W brick.

 

Picked up the middle 433710U dock w/90 watt adapter today for $110 shipped. X220 just shipped recently as well. Will be interesting to see which gets here first. haha.

 

Anyone with a x220 TABLET try it out on the minidock series 3? I'm looking to get the Series 3 Plus because of the displayports on it, but the website lists it as incompatible with the x220t, which doesn't make sense to me. Can somebody confirm/deny the fit?

 

The series 3 minidocks work FINE with the Tablet, you just need to alter the dock a little (completely reversible modification). See this thread here for more info, I just posted the 5-minute version of the modification in addition to a longer version (with video):
http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo-ibm/638559-x220-tablet-minidock-series-3-plus.html

 

Since I have a X201, I think the only unit that will work with it is the Port Replicator.

I could of course look to eBay, but that is currently not an option. So, my question is for those folks who have used the replicator...does it work well? Any problems? Anything out of the ordinary that I should be looking out for?

Thanks in advance.

 

X200 and X201 is only compatible with Ultrabase X200 and nothing else.

 

Wait a sec! I thought the port replicator which I linked to above is compatible with the X201.

 

Works perfect with my X220 Tablet.

 

It's not really a dock. The only dock that will work (using the replicator port on the bottom) is the one Lead_Org listed.

Your linked USB port replicator is a USB device and should work with any Windows based computer. As far as I know it doesn't use anything built into the laptop itself beyond the USB port.

 

you are talking about the usb port replicator, yes it is compatible with all computer that runs the correct OS.

 

Yeah...that's the one. I can't buy the Ultrabase (except from eBay, which is not possible at the moment). So, it has to be the port replicator.