ThinkPad Mini-Dock

IBM ThinkPad Mini-Dock The ThinkPad Mini-Dock (Model 2878) offers a good compromise of features and price. It contains basic pass-through connections for all the notebook ports like the ThinkPad Port Replicator II does. Features everything the ThinkPad Port Replicator II has 4 port USB 2.0 hub Integrated external power supply Integrated key-lock for securing the ThinkPad to the dock Pros & Cons Positives: Integrated Power, Integrated 4-port USB, security Negatives: Price ($199 Retail) Compatibility: X20/30, T20/30/40, R30/50, and A20/30 series (Does not support X40/41, R40/40e/50e, or G40/41) Warranty: One Year IBM Website for Mini-Dock ThinkPad Docking Solutions HMM (February 2003) (248,638 Bytes) User's guide for the ThinkPad Port Replicator II and ThinkPad Mini-Dock (196,180 Bytes)

4 port USB 2.0 hub

Note that the USB provider is a hub - a few people have reported some USB peripherals (such as Palms) having problems due to it being a hub, although the majority of people do not have this problem, and the usefulness of the 4 port hub outweighs any potential downside. If you encounter problems, you can always use the USB ports on your Thinkpad to get a direct connection.

DVI pass-through

LCD monitors are getting larger and higher-resolution. Currently, DVI based on 165MHz TDMS transmitters can only (officially) support 1600x1200x32 at 60Hz, which is the resolution of your average 20" non-widescreen LCD. IBM's driver support for this resolution through DVI ports on docks has been inconsistent. Also in Linux you might experience problems even with this resolution and IBM officially states that the pass-through DVI port only supports resolutios up to 1280x1024. Read our page of information on how to solve these troubles.

Supported ThinkPads

• A20m, A20p, A21m, A21p, A22e, A22m, A22p
• A30, A30p, A31, A31p
• R30, R31, R32
• R50, R50p, R51, R52
• T20, T21, T22, T23
• T30
• T40, T40p, T41, T41p, T42, T42p, T43, T43p
• X20, X21, X22, X23, X24
• X30, X31, X32