pfschim
join:2001-08-30
Livermore, CA
| using a Thinkpad in Europe
My daughter will be at college in the Netherlands for the fall semester. She has an IBM/Lenovo Thinkpad R51e that is in fine working order, and I'm trying to figure out what she will need, if anything, to be able to power her laptop over there. I have searched the web with no clear results.
Is she good to go as is ?
Will she need a new power supply of some sort ?
Can she use the current power supply, but use a new EU outlet adapter/plug ?
all assistance is appreciated
thanks
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sechs
Premium
join:2001-07-19
Left Coast
 ·AT&T Yahoo
 ·Astound Broadband
 ·AT&T U-Verse
| She may need a new A/C adapter. You could get an adapter for her existing NEMA plug, but I'd suggest shelling out for the appropriate cord from Lenovo.
If she has an Intel wireless adapter, she may not be able to use WiFi networks using the higher channels available in Europe. Ethernet works the same everywhere.
If she wants to be able to type special characters found in European languages, she will need to change her keyboard driver to more easily allow that.
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It's not what you know but who you know... |
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dadkins
Can you do Blu?
Premium,MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA
·Comcast
| reply to pfschim
Many power bricks are rated from 100 - 240V(my VAIOs are)
The plug may need an adapter to match their outlets.
Look at the brick and see what it's rated input is.
A plug adapter set is pretty cheap.
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Think outside the Fox... Opera |
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broccoli
join:2007-11-29
Portland, OR
| reply to pfschim
I have had 3 ThinkPads, all of which have universal power supplies. In fact that applies to all laptops I have had (3 IBM ThinkPads, a Fujitsu Lifebook, a Toshiba Libretto, an Acer Aspire One, and 3 Sony VAIOs). I would be very surprised if your daughter's ThinkPad does not have a universal voltage power supply.
A plug adapter would be fine for temporary use, but I suggest the power cord be replaced if she will be there for a whole semester. Most, if not all, power supplies have detachable power cords that can easily be swapped, and they are cheap. |
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pfschim
join:2001-08-30
Livermore, CA
| reply to pfschim
ok, thanks for all the replies. I will check to see if the power brick for the laptop is universal voltage.
For the removable portion of the power cord (plug side), where can I get one that will match European, specifically Netherlands, plug config. Can anyone give me a clue on the plug type used in NL ? I will look on the Lenovo site, but any other suggestions are welcome.
Thanks |
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broccoli
join:2007-11-29
Portland, OR
| Continental Europe has an array of plugs that are somewhat interchangeable, provided they are ungrounded. Plugs with ground (earth) pins could be problematic.
Try googling for 'Europlug' and 'cord'. You most probably want the 2-prone (ungrounded) CEE 7/16 variety. If your daughter can wait, it might be a good idea to get it after she arrives in the Netherlands. |
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pfschim
join:2001-08-30
Livermore, CA
| reply to pfschim
ok, I determine that the Lenovo power supply is 100-240v 50-60hz, so she should only need a power plug adaptor to fit the local power grid. I will try and grab one of the multiple EU stacked sets that one of the responders mentioned upthread.
Re: Wireless, if it's true as one poster suggested, that there is a higher freq used for wireless, what is the best way to address that ? Wireless is an internal feature on the R51e. Would she just look locally in the Netherlands for a wireless card to pug into the USB or express card slot on the laptop ?
Any suggestions for this issue ? |
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Jahntassa
What, I can have feathers
Premium
join:2006-04-14
Conway, SC | If it becomes an issue she can look locally for a USB wireless card.
I ran three laptops in London and had no problem working with the Wifi over there. More than likely she won't have a problem. |
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sechs
Premium
join:2001-07-19
Left Coast
·AT&T Yahoo
·Astound Broadband
·AT&T U-Verse
| reply to pfschim
said by pfschim  :Re: Wireless, if it's true as one poster suggested, that there is a higher freq used for wireless, what is the best way to address that ? It's true. In Europe, there are two more channels available for 802.11b/g wireless. Channels 1 through 11 are the same in both locations, and there will be no problem accessing networks using these channels.
Whether and how easily the computer can deal with these additional channels depends on what kind of wireless chipset she has. If it is Intel, then the region is hard-coded into the firmware, and you'd have to hack it to get access to the additional channels. If it has an Atheros chipset (which I think all of the more recent generic "Thinkpad" wireless cards have been), it may be necessary to install a region specific driver, or it may just work as-is.
I can't speak to any others.
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It's not what you know but who you know... |
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rgoltsch
join:2001-03-04
Caldwell, NJ
·Verizon FIOS
| I regularly travel overseas. As longs as your power supply supports 220VAC and you have the correct plug adaptor, you will be fine.
As for the wireless, I have used wireless access points in no fewer than 30 different places. All worked with no issues using my standard wireless card built into my US laptop.
I lived in Germany for three months back in 2005. Europe is a wonderful place. However, electronics seem to always be more expensive over there than here in the US. It would be best if she might need something to buy it over here and bring it with her.
I would really recommend that she bring a second power supply, since it might be difficult to find one quickly and cheaply over there, plus it easier to leave one at home in her dorm/apartment, and the other to keep in her laptop bag.
Tell her good luck, and make sure she takes lots of pictures.
Ron |
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BA
The Old Man's Gonna Roll the Hard Six
Premium,MVM
join:2001-05-24
Vancouver, BC
clubs:  | reply to pfschim
Best one I've worked with:
»us.kensington.com/html/5519.html |
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