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Essential Port Replicator vs USB Hub

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robert213
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Essential Port Replicator vs USB Hub

#1 Post by robert213 » Sat Jan 14, 2012 4:14 pm

In my office, I am moving from T30 with port replicator to T61 with "To Be Determined"

I have been very happy with corded IBM keyboard and PS/2 MS Mouse for many years.

At first glance, the ThinkPad Advanced Mini Dock (250410U/26R9063) seems like overkill.
http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/product ... MIGR-68424
http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/product ... MIGR-61297

The ThinkPad Essential Port Replicator (250510W/26R9065) seems like a glorified USB Hub with a PS/2 Mouse.
http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/product ... MIGR-61200

What do all of you prefer?
a. Advanced Dock
b. Advanced Mini-Dock
c. Essential Port Replicator
d. USB Hub

Since none of the above options include a traditional (non-USB) corded keyboard, I guess that the time has arrived to consider a wireless keyboard and mouse.

Does anyone have any experience with
Lenovo Enhanced Performance Wireless Keyboard and Mouse (73P4067/89P8730)?

http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/product ... MIGR-68427
http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/product ... MIGR-57923

Will the wireless keyboard still function while changing BIOS settings?

Will the wireless keyboard and mouse still function if I boot machine with DOS bootable CD?
TuuS-built T61: T8100 2.1 GHz, SXGA+, NVS140M, Patriot 4GB PC2-6400 DDR2-800, Samsung 840 Pro; Thinkpad T30: P4M 1.8 GHz, HYNIX 512 MB PC2700S DDR, Hitachi Travelstar 7K100; SilverStone Raven RVS01; 97 Volvo 850-R, 85 Mitsubishi Starion-ES, Keilwerth SX-90R, Ensoniq TS-12, Kawai EP-608

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Re: Essential Port Replicator vs USB Hub

#2 Post by dr_st » Sun Jan 15, 2012 4:36 am

I prefer the advanced mini-dock, which actually adds useful ports (such as DVI), and isn't just a "glorified USB hub" as you say.

BTW, according to what I know, both the mini-dock and the port replicator have a PS/2 combo port, which means you can connect both a PS/2 mouse and a keyboard with a proper splitter cable.
Thinkpad 25 (20K7), T490 (20N3), Yoga 14 (20FY), T430s (IPS FHD + Classic Keyboard), X220 4291-4BG
X61 7673-V2V, T60 2007-QPG, T42 2373-F7G, X32 (IPS Screen), A31p w/ Ultrabay Numpad

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Re: Essential Port Replicator vs USB Hub

#3 Post by Radioguy » Sun Jan 15, 2012 7:37 am

+1 on Adv Mini Dock. Of the three, it's the best in value and can be found rather cheaply now; no need to settle for the port replicator due to cost.

One might think the Advanced Dock would be best, but unless you are determined to use a Blu-Ray drive with your T61 (still can via USB) or an external monitor (You can only go so far in compatible video cards, so it's not that much of an improvement), there seems little point in getting it. It's rather bulky, and has a noisier fan that what's on board your T61. If it somehow could drive the additional video card to the laptop LCD, it would be far more useful.

http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/ThinkPad_ ... _Mini_Dock <-Listing of ports
240, 380ED, 760C, 760CD, 760E, 760EL, 760LD, 760LD, 760XD, 760XD, A30, E520, G40, I1300, P53, R31, R40, R51, R52, R61, T20, T30, T40, T41, T42, T43, T43P, T60, T61, T400, T410, T420, T430, T460, X1C2, X30, X40, X220, X301 and on, and on, and on...

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Re: Essential Port Replicator vs USB Hub

#4 Post by RealBlackStuff » Sun Jan 15, 2012 7:39 am

To keep your wired KB and mouse, get the splitter cable dr_st mentioned, because all newer docks have only one PS/2 port.
Or bypass the use of a dock altogether, and use a USB-to-double-PS/2 adapter, such as this: http://www.amazon.com/Cables-Unlimited- ... B0006IBBLS
Wireless keyboard/mouse will most likely not function for changing BIOS or boot to DOS, but the USB-PS/2 adapter should work.
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
Lenovo: X240, X250, T440p, T480, M900 Tiny.

PS: the old Boardroom website is still available on the Wayback Machine
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Re: Essential Port Replicator vs USB Hub

#5 Post by http302 » Tue Jan 17, 2012 5:18 pm

I'm not sure if this means anything, but I can use my Lenovo N5901 and N5902 wireless keyboards just fine in BIOS and the ThinkPad Recovery partition on my X41 Tab. >.> USB keyboards and mice are recognised under a generic USB HID keyboard/mouse profile by default, so typically you can use a USB device (wired or wireless) just about anywhere.
600X (2645-9WU), X41 Tablet (1866-6SU), W520 (4270-CTO)

Yes, I have been jaded by (purported) technocrats. Almost as jaded by the tech itself.

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Re: Essential Port Replicator vs USB Hub

#6 Post by dr_st » Wed Jan 18, 2012 4:43 pm

Generally, wired/wireless makes no difference. PS/2 versus USB might. But USB keyboards have been supported on a BIOS level for nearly a decade now...
Thinkpad 25 (20K7), T490 (20N3), Yoga 14 (20FY), T430s (IPS FHD + Classic Keyboard), X220 4291-4BG
X61 7673-V2V, T60 2007-QPG, T42 2373-F7G, X32 (IPS Screen), A31p w/ Ultrabay Numpad

robert213
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Re: Essential Port Replicator vs USB Hub

#7 Post by robert213 » Mon Jan 23, 2012 1:20 pm

dr_st wrote:I prefer the advanced mini-dock, which actually adds useful ports (such as DVI), and isn't just a "glorified USB hub" as you say.

BTW, according to what I know, both the mini-dock and the port replicator have a PS/2 combo port, which means you can connect both a PS/2 mouse and a keyboard with a proper splitter cable.
OK, I purchased the advanced mini-dock.

Is this an example of Y-splitter cable that will work?
http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-Keyboard ... B000067SLZ
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6812200078
http://www.amazon.com/Cables4PC-LAPTOP- ... _pr_sims_t
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6812296100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6812120669
TuuS-built T61: T8100 2.1 GHz, SXGA+, NVS140M, Patriot 4GB PC2-6400 DDR2-800, Samsung 840 Pro; Thinkpad T30: P4M 1.8 GHz, HYNIX 512 MB PC2700S DDR, Hitachi Travelstar 7K100; SilverStone Raven RVS01; 97 Volvo 850-R, 85 Mitsubishi Starion-ES, Keilwerth SX-90R, Ensoniq TS-12, Kawai EP-608

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Re: Essential Port Replicator vs USB Hub

#8 Post by Radioguy » Mon Jan 23, 2012 2:30 pm

Those should work, although not all look to be of the same quality. The cheapest one looks the same as the following:

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/ps-2-keybo ... cable-7791

That doesn't mean it won't work, though.
240, 380ED, 760C, 760CD, 760E, 760EL, 760LD, 760LD, 760XD, 760XD, A30, E520, G40, I1300, P53, R31, R40, R51, R52, R61, T20, T30, T40, T41, T42, T43, T43P, T60, T61, T400, T410, T420, T430, T460, X1C2, X30, X40, X220, X301 and on, and on, and on...

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