SPONSORED LINKS
In conjunction with the release of the 760E Thinkpads, IBM is now offering a new "SelectaDock" docking system designed for the 760E's PCI bus architecture. The new unit consists of a port replicator (SelectaDock Base Model I) and a modular attachment (SelectaDock I) that adds one shared (PCI or ISA) full -size PC Card slot, aSCSI-2 port, a game port, a Type IIICardBus slot, and one Ultrabay (for HDD, FDD, CD-ROM). I had planned to purchase a 760ED with the current Dock II station. This station offers considerably more capabilities than the new Selectadock system -- 2 ISA slots, 2 PCMCIA slots, built-in stereo speakers, 2 device bays, etc. -- at roughly the same price as the Selectadock. But the announcement letter on the 760ED notes that "When using the Thinkpad 760E and 760ED with the ThinkPad DockI or Dock II, the Thinkpad IDE Conversion Card optional feature (46H5994) must be used to access the IDE devices (HDD and CD-ROM) in these IBM docking solutions." Because of the added features, I would still like to get the Dock II if that makes sense. However, I have the uneasy feeling that the line quoted above is really not directed at new buyers like myself, but rather at current Dock II owners, reassuring them that they need not toss out their $700 stations if they upgrade to a 760E. Thus, I have a number of questions on which I am hoping that members of this list might have some useful facts and/or opinions: 1. Will the Dock II, equipped with the above-mentioned conversion card, perform as well with the 760E as it does with the 760C? 2. Will the Dock II with conversion card perform as well with the 760E as the new SelectaDock system? 3. If the answer to the above 2 questions is "yes," what is the price of a conversion card? 4. Is the lack of CardBus support on the Dock II something to worry about? Is it something that can be "fixed" later on? 5. Does the "Selectadock I" designation imply the future release (no doubt within days of the expiration of my 30-day MBG on SelectaDock I) of a "SelectaDock II" which incorporates the Dock II features? If so, is there any way besides investing in a $300 SCSI PC card to meet my short-term need for a SCSI port (so as to use my Zip drive) while waiting for a more complete SelectaDock system to be released? 6. Are there other advantages/disadvantages of the SelectaDock system vs. Dock II that I have missed? Thanks in advance for thoughts, opinions, even facts. Of course, in addition to the above, I would also like to hear opinions of current Dock II users on their units. Regards, Dane Tyson