Port Replicator Series 3 vs Series 3 Docking station. What's the difference?

[#1]

Question

I've just received a port replicator for my T410, and I find that I can't lock the Thinkpad to the unit. Is this the difference between a replicator and a dock.... ?

However, looking at the description of the port replicator, it says that it has "a cable lock slot to secure  both your port replicator and your notebook".

I see that the Kensington Lock on the Port Replicator does lock the laptop to the unit. Thus the only differences I can see is that a D/Station has some extra ports (Parallel printer, couple more displays, headphone & microphone). Is that all?

Answer

Thinpad Port replicator series 3 (433610W) just replicates the port choices on the laptop, while the docks offer more port choices that are not available on the laptop itself.

The port replicator have the following port choices:

• Left corner alignment for easy system attachment
• Convenient eject button for one-step system removal
• 4 USB 2.0 ports
• VGA analog monitor port
• RJ-45 Ethernet port
• Cable lock slot physically secures the ThinkPad notebook and ThinkPad Port Replicator Series 3.

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/MIGR-72865.html <--- more information on the Port replicator

Description	Machine - Models
ThinkPad L412, L420, L421, L512, L520	All
ThinkPad T400s, T410, T410s, T420, T420s, T510	All
ThinkPad T520	Dual Core models only
ThinkPad X220	All

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While, the Mini Dock Series 3 (i.e. 4337-10U) 

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/MIGR-72871.html <-- For more information on the Dock

Have more port options than the port replicator, namely it have 2 more usb ports, 3 video port choicies (displayport, vga, dvi). If you are using a Thinpad T4x0 or T5x0 or T4x0s with Optimus graphics technology, you can use 2 of the 3 video ports on the dock and at the same time the internal thinkpad LCD, for 3 LCD simultaneous support (note if you have the intel only or the nvidia only model, then you can only use 1 internal LCD + 1 of the port option or NO internal LCD + 2 video ports = 2 display support).

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-76617 <-- more information on dock + optimus technology.

The main port options on the Mini Dock Series 3 are:

• Six USB 2.0 ports
• Three video ports:
  • Any two, of the three, video ports can be used simultaneously:
    • ThinkPad systems with NVIDIA Optimus technology: ThinkPad display is enabled. For more information: NVIDIA Optimus - ThinkPad Multiple Monitor Configurations
    • ThinkPad systems with integrated graphics, or other discrete graphics: Disables the ThinkPad display. The ThinkPad display is blank.
  • VGA analog monitor supporting 1920 x 1200 resolution
  • One Single-Link DVI-D digital monitor supporting 1920 x 1200 resolution
    • Single-Link DVI-D port does not support attachment of a DVI-to-VGA monitor adapter.
  • One DisplayPort monitor supporting 2560 x 1600 resoltion
    • Supports attachment (compatibility varies by ThinkPad system) of DisplayPort monitor cables; Using DisplayPort monitor cables reduces resolution to 1920 x 1200
• Audio ports*: Analog microphone in, headphone out
• RJ-45 Ethernet port

Description	Machine - Models
ThinkPad L412*, L512*, L420, L520	All
ThinkPad T400s, T410, T410i, T410s, T410si, T420, T420s, T510, T510i	All
ThinkPad T520	Dual Core Models only
ThinkPad X220	All
Lenovo Easy Reach Monitor Stand (55Y9258)	All

P.S. You should use the 90 watt adapter with this dock to get the optimal performance.

• ThinkPad L412, L512: ThinkPad Mini Dock Series 3 dock audio ports are inactive, ThinkPad audio ports are active.
• ThinkPad L412 does not support ThinkPad Mini Dock Series 3.

===================================================================

There are other versions of dock with more advanced features, such as the Thinkpad Mini Dock 3 Plus Series 3 (with 90 watt adapter), a version with 135 watt adapter (for W510 + other models listed in the compatible list), and there is a new 170 watt adapter version (for W510/W520 + other models listed in the compatible list).

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-72873 <-- more information on the Mini DOck Plus Series 3.

This dock adds extra video display support (VGA + 2 displayport/2 DVI) and eSATA support that the Dock Series 3 does not have. This gives 4 display support with the optimus equipped version of the following Thinkpads:

• ThinkPad T410, T410i, T420, T410s, T410si, T420s
• ThinkPad T510, T510i
• ThinkPad T520 Dual-core models

For more information on Optimus technology + 4 monitors support -> http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-76617

In addition you can use the eSATA port on the dock to connect a eSATA device.

Here are some of the ports and features on this version of the dock.

• Six USB 2.0 ports
• Five video ports:
  • Up to three, of the five, video ports can be used simultaneously:
    • ThinkPad systems with NVIDIA Optimus technology: Up to three monitors can be attached and ThinkPad display is enabled (ThinkPad display is active). For more information:NVIDIA Optimus - ThinkPad Multiple Monitor Configurations
    • ThinkPad systems with integrated graphics, or other discrete graphics: Up to two monitors can be attached and the ThinkPad display is disabled (ThinkPad display is blank).
  • VGA analog monitor supporting 1920 x 1200 resolution
  • Two Single-Link DVI-D digital monitor supporting 1920 x 1200 resolution
    • Single-Link DVI-D port does not support attachment of a DVI-to-VGA monitor adapter.
  • Two DisplayPort monitor supporting 2560 x 1600 resolution
    • Supports attachment (compatibility varies by ThinkPad system) of DisplayPort monitor cables; Using DisplayPort monitor cables reduces resolution to 1920 x 1200
• Audio ports*: Analog microphone in, headphone out
• e-SATA* storage connector
• RJ-45 Ethernet port
• Integrated key lock and cable lock slot physically secures the ThinkPad system and ThinkPad Mini Dock Plus Series 3

Hardware compatibility (for the version equipped with 90 watt adapter)

Description	Machine - Models
ThinkPad L412*, L512*, L420, L520	All
ThinkPad T400s, T410, T410i, T410s, T410si, T420, T420s, T510, T510i	All
ThinkPad T520	Dual Core Models only
ThinkPad X220	All
ThinkPad Easy Reach Monitor Stand	All

For the version shipped with 135 watt adapter, it is compatible with all the laptop above + W510, while the version equipped with the 170 watt adapter is compatible with all the above laptops listed + W510 & W520.

The 170 Watts adapter and 135 Watts adapter are different, therefore you can't use the 170 watts adapter in the dock that is designed or the 135 Watts adapter. 

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-74447  <---- more information on the 135 watt equipped Thinkpad Mini Dock Plus Series 3

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-76767 <---- more information on the 170 watt equipped Thinkpad Mini Dock Plus Series