The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Lenovo Docking Solutions - Smallest, Lightest Laptop Capable of 2560x1440/1600

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by gizmo22, Nov 24, 2013.

  1. gizmo22

    gizmo22 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    147
    Likes Received:
    46
    Trophy Points:
    41
    Believe I may have been limiting myself in my previous searches, so going to lay it all out here and get some drastically more informed opinions and perspectives than my own.

    Lenovo/IBM fan boy here, no question about that. ThinkPad preferred, IdeaPad acceptable. I have been hot after an X1 Carbon, Yoga, or Yoga 2 Pro for some time, with the notion of a 440s being attractive as well - for the following "wants"

    • 1600x900 or higher screen resolution
    • Backlit keyboard preferred
    • mSATA and 2.5" bay ideal, but can be excused (reason 440s is so attractive, as well as FHD)
    • X1 and 440s have Mini DP, allowing connection to 27"/30" screens

    The last point has been the big kicker for me. I have left a very nice screen in the closet recently because I am currently pecking away from a Sony with only HDMI and VGA. A DVI-D, DP, or mDP would allow me to put it back into use. Thus docks come into play, but I cannot understand too much from looking at the three options currently on Lenovo's site.

    Are they effectively using USB3.0 like Apple uses Thunderbolt, and transmitting video, data, and others through one line? If I could get a Yoga or Yoga 2 Pro, which only has HDMI or mHDMI, to push one or two 2560x1440 screens, I would be ecstatic.

    Can it be done is the question?
     
    gizmo22, Nov 24, 2013
    #1
  2. phamhlam

    phamhlam Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    32
    Messages:
    405
    Likes Received:
    33
    Trophy Points:
    41
    A Yoga or Yoga 2 Pro can't have two external monitors in use unless you use USB 3.0 which I dislike due to CPU usage and latency. A T440s with an UltraDock can have two 2560 x 1600 monitors connected and used simultaniously. Even if you didn't get the dock, Amazon sells DisplayPort MST HUB with support for three external DP monitors (Intel will limit you to two external + 1 internal). You can even go with the x240 in the future with a FHD screen. At 12.5in, it will be very small, light, and capable of those resolution. I wish the Yoga 2 Pro had a DisplayPort instead of HDMI.

    PS. why not just get a HDMI to DVI cable for your VAIO.
     
    phamhlam, Nov 24, 2013
    #2