Laptop Ports: Is USB-C only fine, or should I get HDMI,USB,Audio if I need them?
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?
USB-C will work fine for these things. I've found it very reliable. But will the dongle be a nuisance for you?
If you're only going to be using them in one place (e.g. your home office) then go for a dock - it's nice to have everything connected with a single cable and a number of monitors have suitable docks built in these days.
If you'll want them on the go then yes, I'd at least look for something with the audio and hdmi ports built in just for the convenience factor.
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.
Look for docks instead of dongles. Check the usb-c spec of the laptop and dock capabilities.
I second this, I'd recommend looking on ebay for used thunderbolt docks, I've had good experiences with those made by dell.
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.
What monitor do you use?
ASUS ProArt Display 27" Monitor
Amazon had a good deal on it a few months ago
USB-C for audio works fine. I use a usbc to trs adapter with my wired ones.
For display out, the HDMI out is generally more consistent, but nothing really wrong with Display port over usbc, it just sometimes needs plugging/replugging.
High-quality dongles today are just as reliable as built-in ports. Consider the Framework laptop and its expansion slots. All of its other kind of ports are basically just USB-C dongles that are recessed into it.
I have two thunderbolt cables plugged into my Mac.
One goes to a dock, providing most of the connectivity and charging, the other goes to two daisy-chained thunderbolt displays.
I'd use a single port if it could drive four monitors.
Forgot to mention: I have my laptop connected to a USB keyboard and USB mouse
The laptop I'm currently using (Acer Chromebook Spin 13) has two USB-C ports, one USB-A 3.0 port, one audio jack and one microSD slot. Additionally, I carry in the sleeve a USB-A to USB-C adapter, a USB-C to USB-A adapter and a USB-C dongle with a smattering of ports (4x USB-A, audio jack, Ethernet, SD, microSD, HDMI, VGA, USB-C).
Except for one ancient HP Z24 screen whose USB-C port is infuriatingly finicky, I'm docking with one USB-C cable without issues with all of my modern equipment (plus USB-C switchers to switch between the desk PC and a mobile device). On occasions where I need the extra I/O, the added weight and volume of the adapters and the dongle inside the sleeve are negligible ; I always have them on hand and can't recall the last time I had an issue with them.
If anything, it's actually cables I usually have problems with.