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IBM ThinkPad docking stations |
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he IBM ThinkPad series of computers, especially the 760, 770 and 600 series, have been a mainstay at Pangolin for many years.
Here is information on these
computers for use with both the newer LD2000
system (QM2000 PCI-bus board) and the older Lasershow
Designer for Windows system (QM32 ISA-bus board). |
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Rear view of the Series A attached to the new ThinkPad Dock 2000 docking station, which can hold one QM2000 board. |
IBM ThinkPad 770 showing how the port
replicator and docking station work together. The screen size is XGA, or 1024
x 768.
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IBM SelectaDock III with SelectaBase 770 on top. Click the photo to see three QM2000 PCI boards inside this SelectaDock III. |
PCI bus for Lasershow Designer 2000 (QM2000 board)
For controlling a single projector...
The newest IBM ThinkPad computers are the Series A and Series T,
introduced May 1, 2000. The "A" is intended as a desktop
replacement, with some models having video in and out ports. The
"T" is intended as a powerful thin-and-light notebook.
Both Series A and Series T use
the new ThinkPad Dock 2000. This is a small wedge-shaped docking station that
holds one half-size PCI card (the same as the QM2000 board). Pangolin has
not seen or tested the QM2000 with this docking station, but based on the
specifications, a single QM2000 should fit.
The IBM ThinkPad Dock 2000 model
number is 2631-10U. The size is 66.4 mm (2.6") high, 317 mm (12.5")
wide, and 196 mm (7.7") deep. It weighs 2.2 kg (5 lbs). It is
supposedly available now (as of May 1, 2000) at a list price of $499 USD.
So if you like ThinkPads (they do
well in computer magazine ratings), and you are only controlling a single
projector, then consider a Series A or Series T with the ThinkPad Dock 2000.
For controlling more than one projector...
IBM ThinkPads such as
the 600 and 770 series (about $3500-5000), use a port replicator (about $200) AND
the SelectaDock III (about $700). The SelectaDock III is big. Its exact size
is 16.3" wide, 17" deep and 5.5" high. It weighs a whopping
20 pounds (including a required port replicator).
The price as of January 2000 is
$700 for the SelectaDock III and $200 for a required port replicator.
The SelectaDock III has three slots. Two can hold either an ISA
or PCI bus card, the third slot is PCI only. This means the SelectaDock III can run
three QM2000 PCI cards.
The following ThinkPads work with the IBM
SelectaDock III. Each needs a special port replicator/interface in addition to the
SelectaDock III.
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ThinkPad 770 series (interfaces through the SelectaBase 770)
-
ThinkPad 600 series (interfaces through the SelectaBase 600)
-
Older models: ThinkPad 760E, 760ED, 760EL, 760ELD, 760XD, and 760XL; ThinkPad 765D and 765L (interfaces through the SelectaDock Base Model I). For the 760 and 765 notebooks, you must first copy the INF files included with the SelectaDock, then update the system (flash BIOS), install the Battery Check Utility, update the ThinkPad Configuration program, and update the PC Card Director.
Click here to go to IBM's U.S. website for information on current ThinkPad models.
770ED: 266 MHz Pentium, 14.1" active-matrix, 1024 x 768 max resolution, 16 million max colors at 1024 x 768; 8.1 gigabyte HD; 32 MB RAM standard, 56,600 bps modem; DVD-ROM drive; speakerphone; SoundBlaster compatible audio; full-motion and still-video capture (good for digitizing faces to be rasterized), NTSC/PAL video out (for videotaping Showtime previews -- no camera needed!), full-size keyboard with palm rest; MIDI; two infrared ports, two PC Card slots, lithium-ion battery with 1.5 - 3 hr work time. Typical cost when new: $3599 (IBM part # IBT-9549-5AU).
IBM ThinkPad 760CD on a Dock I docking station. Screen size: 12.1" SVGA (800 x 600). |
ISA bus for Lasershow Designer for Windows (QM32 board)
You can use either an older 760-series or the newer 770- or 600-series notebooks. We recommend the 760-series if portability is important to you. This is described immediately below.
IBM ThinkPad 760-series
The best notebook/docking station
combination for Lasershow Designer (QM32 board) is the IBM ThinkPad 760CD or 760ED with a Dock I
docking station. This is the smallest and lightest ISA-bus notebook/docking station
around.
Unfortunately, the ThinkPad 760CD and 760ED are
older models no longer sold by IBM. They are available on the used/refurbished market for
about $1000. The Dock I is available for $100 to $250. So at least these are
economical. The processor is slow by today's standards (90 to 133 MHz) but it is OK for
use with LD since the QM32 handles the laser signal processing.
Click here to go to IBM's
U.S. website for refurbished equipment. Other companies, such as JP Computers, also sell refurbished IBM ThinkPads.
Pangolin has provided TP 760CD- and 760ED-based
docking systems to clients recently (1999). We buy them, check them out, load Windows 95
or 98, load the LD software, install the QuadMod and make sure everything is working
right. For this we add 15% to our costs for the computer, docking station, shipping to us,
etc.
760ED: 133 MHz Pentium; 12.1" active-matrix, 800 x 600 max resolution, 64,000 max colors at 800 x 600; 1.2 gigabyte HD; 16 MB RAM standard, 64 MB RAM maximum; 28,800 bps modem; 6x CD-ROM drive; speakerphone (!); SoundBlaster compatible audio; full-motion and still video capture (good for digitizing faces to be rasterized), NTSC/PAL video out (for videotaping Showtime previews -- no camera needed!), full-size tilting keyboard with inadequate palm rest, plays MPEG movies on CD-ROM (the coolest -- not needed for laser use but great for watching on airplanes, etc.), MIDI (but practically does not work with LD since MIDI is blocked when in the Dock 1), two infrared ports, two PC Card slots, lithium-ion battery with 1.5 - 3 hr work time. Typical cost when new: $5999 (IBM part # IBT-9546-U9A).
760E: Feature-reduced model of 760ED. Does not have built-in CD-ROM (not a problem -- put it into the Dock 1), has smaller memory and hard drive, no video input or output, no MPEG movies. Typical cost when new: $4349 (IBM part #IBT-9546-U4B, 810 MB HD, 8 MB RAM); $4899 (IBM part # IBT-9546-U4A, 1.08GB HD, 16 MB RAM)
760EL and 760ELD: Feature-reduced
models of 760ED. 100 MHz Pentium, 11.3" dual-scan (on EL; probably VGA) or 12.1"
active-matrix (on ELD; probably SVGA)), 810MB HD, 8 MB RAM ($129 for additional 8 MB), 4x
CD-ROM (ELD only), no video input or output, no MPEG movies, no built-in modem (use a PC
Card). Typical cost when new: $2499 (760EL, IBM part # IBT-9547-U6G), $4499 (760ELD, IBM
part # IBT-9547-U3F).
IBM ThinkPad 770 showing how the port
replicator and docking station work together. The screen size is XGA, or 1024
x 768.
|
IBM ThinkPad 770- and 600-series
If you want to use newer IBM ThinkPads such as
the 600 and 770 series (about $3500-5000), you must use a port replicator (about $200) AND
the SelectaDock III (about $700). The SelectaDock III is big. Its exact size
is 16.3" wide, 17" deep and 5.5" high. It weighs a whopping
20 pounds (including a required port replicator).
The price as of January 2000 is
$700 for the SelectaDock III and $200 for a required port replicator.
It has three slots. Two can hold either an ISA
or PCI bus card, the third slot is PCI only. This means the SelectaDock III can run two
QM32 ISA cards.
The following ThinkPads work with the IBM
SelectaDock III. Each needs a special port replicator/interface in addition to the
SelectaDock III.
-
ThinkPad 770 series (interfaces through the SelectaBase 770)
-
ThinkPad 600 series (interfaces through the SelectaBase 600)
-
Older models: ThinkPad 760E, 760ED, 760EL, 760ELD, 760XD, and 760XL; ThinkPad 765D and 765L (interfaces through the SelectaDock Base Model I). For the 760 and 765 notebooks, you must first copy the INF files included with the SelectaDock, then update the system (flash BIOS), install the Battery Check Utility, update the ThinkPad Configuration program, and update the PC Card Director.
Click here to go to IBM's U.S. website for information on current ThinkPad models.
770ED: 266 MHz Pentium, 14.1" active-matrix, 1024 x 768 max resolution, 16 million max colors at 1024 x 768; 8.1 gigabyte HD; 32 MB RAM standard, 56,600 bps modem; DVD-ROM drive; speakerphone; SoundBlaster compatible audio; full-motion and still-video capture (good for digitizing faces to be rasterized), NTSC/PAL video out (for videotaping Showtime previews -- no camera needed!), full-size keyboard with palm rest; MIDI; two infrared ports, two PC Card slots, lithium-ion battery with 1.5 - 3 hr work time. Typical cost when new: $3599 (IBM part # IBT-9549-5AU).
This page last updated: Tuesday, June 19, 2007 08:50 PM
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