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Laptop Ports: Is USB-C only fine, or should I get HDMI,USB,Audio if I need them?

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Re: Laptop Ports: Is USB-C only fine, or should I get HDMI,USB,Audio if I need them?

#41

Post by dietr1ch »

sam29681749 wrote: post #11

I think carrying around dongles is a hassle (I know some people are very organised with their peripherals, but I'm not one of them). I like the idea of the docking stations some people have posted about, but it doesn't really account for needing the ports when you're away from your desk. It's not often, but I do find myself needing them now and then.

The hack is to leave a USB hub that gets you power, ethernet and monitors from a single cable.

It's not truly portable, but it's a nice setup for having a desk and carrying your laptop with you to meetings and home.

Re: Laptop Ports: Is USB-C only fine, or should I get HDMI,USB,Audio if I need them?

#42

Post by buildbot »

blahlabs wrote: post #39
oefnak wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, you're talking about Thunderbolt. USB-C is the shape of the port, but Displayport over USB-C is called Thunderbolt. I have had laptops that had USB-C ports that didn't support video.

I don't think this is correct either. The USB C port has to support DP Alt Mode, which not all do, but it doesn't have to be a Thunderbolt port. More than anything this probably highlights what a mess the standards are.

You are correct: https://www.cablematters.com/Blog/USB-C/what-is-dp-alt-mode

Re: Laptop Ports: Is USB-C only fine, or should I get HDMI,USB,Audio if I need them?

#44

Post by hnbad »

sam29681749 wrote: post #11

I think carrying around dongles is a hassle (I know some people are very organised with their peripherals, but I'm not one of them). I like the idea of the docking stations some people have posted about, but it doesn't really account for needing the ports when you're away from your desk. It's not often, but I do find myself needing them now and then.

If you need a docking station while away from your desk you can use one through the magic of buying two of them. The Lenovo ones (USB-C/Thunderbolt) are fairly lightweight and don't take up much room in a backpack or travel bag, though I can imagine you'd want something more compact if you want to travel extremely light.

Re: Laptop Ports: Is USB-C only fine, or should I get HDMI,USB,Audio if I need them?

#45

Post by hnbad »

taylodl wrote: post #5

I have a Windows laptop with a two USB-C ports - and I only use 1 - and it's connected to my monitor. My monitor acts as a dock. My monitor is powering my laptop, handling the video output, and has the keyboard, mouse, headset, and camera connected to it. All I have to do is plugin one cable and I'm done. It's a good setup. The monitor even has a monitor-to-monitor hub so if I get a second monitor, all I have to do i…

I have a Windows laptop with two USB-C ports and a Surface Connect port. The Surface Connect port is connected to the docking station at work or the charger when travelling (I can also charge with the USB-C ports actually). One of the USB-C ports is usually occupied by a key dongle, the other rarely sees any use. The only time I wished for more ports was when I had to juggle files between more than two external storage devices without a dock.

Re: Laptop Ports: Is USB-C only fine, or should I get HDMI,USB,Audio if I need them?

#46

Post by asplake »

I went from MacBook Air to Pro mainly for the sake of a dedicated, dongle-free HDMI port. Your mileage may vary, but I found USB just too unreliable when going from place to place for speaking and training engagements, to the point that it became a source of stress.

Re: Laptop Ports: Is USB-C only fine, or should I get HDMI,USB,Audio if I need them?

#47

Post by microflash »

With the right dongle and monitor combination, you can definitely get by USB-C (I’ve a BenQ DesignVue which has built in support for USB-C altmode and works nicely with HDR). However, for better compatibility, I’d definitely go for an HDMI port as well (All my machines have HDMI port).

Dongles are a hassle and I avoid them as much as I can.

Re: Laptop Ports: Is USB-C only fine, or should I get HDMI,USB,Audio if I need them?

#48

Post by kgabis »

taylodl wrote: post #12
sam29681749 wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What monitor do you use?

ASUS ProArt Display 27" Monitor Amazon had a good deal on it a few months ago

It's only 75Hz. Why can't they make a decent pro monitor with a reasonable refresh rate?

Re: Laptop Ports: Is USB-C only fine, or should I get HDMI,USB,Audio if I need them?

#50

Post by timrichard »

solardev wrote: post #16
sharpshadow wrote: post #3

Look for docks instead of dongles. Check the usb-c spec of the laptop and dock capabilities.

I've tried a variety of those on various Thinkpads and Macs, and they've all had problems of one sort or another. Spent anywhere from $100 to $300 on different brands and never found one that "just works". It's a huge pain... IMO only.

I went for one of the cheaper Thunderbolt 3 docks (Orico), and no problems so far. It handles my Ethernet and HD webcam connections amongst other things. Intel Macbook.
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