[Thinkpad] 2647-81U Ethernet Question & Other Ideas

I have been exploring for the past several weeks upgrading my T-20 IBM
ThinkPad model 2647-81U laptop. I have added a 60 GB 7,200 RPM Hitachi hard drive,
added a TEAC W28E CDRW and loaded W2K with the latest drivers. My system has a
lot of zip it had seemed to have lost. The one question I have left is the
onboard Ethernet port. The laptop has a Lucent Win Modem with an RJ-11 port
which has always worked fine plus an RJ-45 Ethernet connector that never did. I
have always used a 3Com PCMCIA card but I am wondering if the RJ-45 port on
the back of the computer can be made to work with the proper drivers? This
would allow me to add a new PCMCIA card for video capture; i.e., IEEE 1394
Firewire and USB 2.0 with the last remaining slot. I have a Sony DV Camcorder. I
will be going shortly to XP Pro OS, 1.0 GHz CPU, T-21 CPU Fan and 512 MB ram.
I need one PCMCIA slot for a PCMK card for my Allen Bradley PCL 5.0 and
SLC-500 software. Do I really have the option of using the back located Ethernet
connection or will I have to keep using the existing 3Com PCMCIA card? It's not
the end of the world but I would really be hooked up if I can use the onboard
RJ-45 connector.

Finally, is there anything I can do to upgrade my video chip from 8MB to 16
MB without going over the top? Then I would have a full fledged T23 instead of
my T20 ThinkPad. I know what your saying... give a guy and inch and he takes
the whole ruler. If I wasn't obsessive compulsive do you think I would be a
member of this site?

Thanks again for all the great information you all have provided..this has
been a real learning experience. I figure I spent about $540 total dollars so
far for the system parts and software. What I have now will last at least two
more years maybe even three thus avoiding $2,650 in capital till mid
2006/2007. I didn't do the math put that's way above our hurdle for capital money ROI.
 

I will be running a T20 ThinkPad, 1.0 GHz PIII, 512 MB ram, 60 GB 7,200 RPM
Hitachi hard drive, Ultra Bay CDRW drive, DVD drive, Floppy drive, PCMK PCMCIA
card, XP Pro OS, networked with the possibility of Firewire 1394 video service
and USB2.0. Life could be worse.

Regards,
Mike Scott
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Received on Thu Feb 12 00:59:35 2004