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

25 points johnnybzane | 6 comments | 18 Oct 24 19:31 UTC | HN request time: 1.16s | source | bottom

I'm on the market for a new laptop (with windows OS) and I've noticed quite a few laptops are USB-C ports only now.

I even saw one laptop that only had 2 USB-C ports, with 1 of them to use for charging. (Dell XPS 13 for example)

It's very important for me to connect my laptop to a monitor, and to use earbuds, be connected to ethernet, and to have a charger going, all at the same time. I have an old laptop with an HDMI output port, USB, and direct audio jack for earbuds.

I'm struggling to accept that dongles are fast enough or reliable enough. What if I get a HDMI dongle or audio dongle and the connection keeps dropping on my video calls? A direct connections feels "safer" to me than a USB-C splitter.

What do you think. Should I still look for laptops with direct HDMI/Audio/USB connections, or are USB-C only laptops still reliable enough even if you need a dozen different dongles?

1. taylodl ◴[18 Oct 24 20:00 UTC] No.41882934[source]▶
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 is connect the two monitors. Still only one cable coming to my laptop.

replies(3): >>41885372 #>>41922411 #>>41922578 #
2. sam29681749 ◴[19 Oct 24 03:12 UTC] No.41885372[source]▶
What monitor do you use?
replies(1): >>41888025 #
3. taylodl ◴[19 Oct 24 14:41 UTC] No.41888025[source]▶
ASUS ProArt Display 27" Monitor

Amazon had a good deal on it a few months ago

replies(1): >>41922845 #
4. ljf ◴[23 Oct 24 06:34 UTC] No.41922411[source]▶
We have exactly this set up at work and I've never had a single issue with it. One usb c cable from one monitor to my laptop, which provides power and gets me two 24 inch monitors. I take video calls all day and never have any lag across the 3 screens (including tbe laptop screen).

If I wanted to I could plug my headphones (3.5mm or usb) into the monitor which is also a USB hub.

5. hnbad ◴[23 Oct 24 07:05 UTC] No.41922578[source]▶
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.
6. kgabis ◴[23 Oct 24 07:59 UTC] No.41922845{3}[source]▶
It's only 75Hz. Why can't they make a decent pro monitor with a reasonable refresh rate?