Uh Oh with T400 ! (dual display?)

So I just ordered my T400 @ a great price..

The person I spoke with informed me that i'd be able to connect TWO LCD monitors to my T400.....

I asked my friend about this about 5 minutes ago, and he said that this is impossible w/o a docking station.

Is this true? Or can you get an adapter that will allow you to use 2 external displays independently ?

Thx

 

It depends on what you want to do. If you want the same image on every screen then you just need an SVGA splitter/switch.

If you want multi-screen (desktop expansion) then it gets more complicated.

This will allow you to use your usb output to output DVI/VGA to your LCD screen. But it's quire expensive at $100..
http://www.vibook.it/eng/ordina/index.php

There is also a solution from matrox
http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/products/gxm/dh2go/

Alternatively you can buy 2 usb monitors

 

As mythos1453 said, you will need to use either a dock or some USB video-out solution. There is no way to have a dual extended monitor (which I assume is what you would want) through a single VGA-out.

 

I play online poker and want 1 screen to be able to hold all my tables im playing and 1 screen to showcase all the lobbys... would the vbook work for that? is it possible to use the laptop screen to showcase lobbys while using only 1 external to show the tables?

 

Although I've never actually done that, I think its pretty easy. Just connect the external monitor to the VGA,

right click on desktop=>properties=>setting=> click on the 2nd monitor
=> check "extend my windows desktop onto this monitor"

Hope this works

 

A used dock isn't that expensive, probably $50-70. They're a pretty low tech part so just get a 30 day DOA warranty.

 

how much u get it for? what specs

 

I got my for ~$90 to my door and it allowed me to use 2 24in LCDs. Withing a matter of seconds I can turn my t400 into a fully featured workstation. But right now I have my LCDs split between work and home so i just dock at home and plug in a VGA at work and it seems to get the job done just fine.

 

can I get the link to the docking station you bought for that price?

thanks

 

I got mine through ebay. If you search for thinkpad dock look for a part number 250410U.

 

and with this dock, you're able to connect two seperate LCD monitors to the T400?

reaaaaaaalllyyyy

sounds interesting

 

You get a DVI and a VGA connectors. With the Advanced Dock and a GPU, I believe you can do four monitors.

 

the person probably thought that the T400 had the displayport out like the T500 and R500, must be a newbie sales person.

 

just get another lenovo usb2dvi and you have an extra LCD, up to 3 (since you have 3 primary usb ports on your laptop) + internal LCD + vga (so 5 screens in total if you need that much). If you got the discrete gpu (ATI) then you can get up to 8 screens, i doubt you will need that much LCD space.

 

why can you keep your lobby windows on your laptop screen, and put your table windows on your single external monitor?

then you dont need 2 monitors or usb convertors

 

thought about doing this...didnt realize my t400 came w/ 3 usb's big advantage to my current macbook w/ only 2....

is there such thing as usb->multi-usb connectors nowadays? sry for nub questions...

only because i have a external HD, mouse, keyboard & cell phone charger/dock

 

could i use something like this:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/p..._id=1011403&p_id=5324&seq=1&format=4#feedback

..considering the t400 only has 1 VGA and no DVI ports, I can virtually connect one monitor to the stock VGA port, and the second through that thing, right? In which case.. having two VGA monitors... right?

If so, I will be buying this item!

 

I have a USB monitor, and its great for things like AIM, radio and such. But it will not work with video. This is a disappointment for me as Id love to run sling off it and use my internal for work. Either way still a great addition, but I wouldn't rely on it for much more then very basic tasks. Personally I would get a dock or use the VGA out and not rely on USB monitors.

Here is a quick picture to show its size. USB powered and 100% mobile. Left thinkpad t400 right 24in LCD.

 

I would also highly recommend the dock solution. It makes the overall experience of using your notebook a whole lot better.

I have mini dock plus for T400s (probably different from the one for T400) and I have two LCD monitors and an LCD TV hooked up. In addition to that I have several USB devices, audio out etc. Taking my computer away is now a breeze as I don't have to unplug and plug everything all the time.

It even came with its own AC adapter, so I left the one that came with computer at work and now I don't even have to carry the extra (though little) weight of the adapter.

My portability experience has never been the same!

 

wow! how many USB ports does the dock have? will be buying one of these!

 

The one that I mentioned is the minidock plus for T400s...not for T400. For the T400 you should be looking at this one. The dock for T400s comes with 6 usb ports, two DVIs or two displayports, vga, audio out, RJ-45 etc.

The advanced dock for T400 is different. For a good pic of the ports for the advanced dock, see this thread. It has 4 usb ports, a dvi and a vga, etc.

 

can you use the three USB's on the t400 in addition to the 4 on the dock for a combined 7?

 

I can't be sure about the advanced dock and T400. With my setting (T400s and minidock plus) I can use the usb ports on the dock and the ones on my laptop simultaneously. I have never used all of the ports at the same time..i.e. i have never used more than 6 ports at a time. Not sure if that's is going to be a problem though. At the moment I don't have more than 6 devices to try.

 

yes you can use the combined 7 usb port, but the usb on the dock is not root usb ports, so the 4 of them are sharing the single 400 mbps bandwidth. As i have said the other alternative for you is to use the Lenovo usb2dvi converter or the usb enhanced port replicator with digital video.