I’ve ran into this situation multiple times at my current and previous jobs. I really want to avoid Windows and use something better, but I can’t live without two external monitors.

On Windows, it “just works”. I don’t have to do anything.

On Linux (I tried Linux Mint today) it doesn’t work. First, it only connected one of the monitors, the other one did not register. Then I switched to a different cable from the computer to the docking station and it connected both screens - however, they were locked to 30fps. I could not make them work at 60fps (and this is a major dealbreaker, I cannot live with 30fps).

This isn’t really a tech support question, I’m more trying to understand what fundamentally causes this situation. Why is Linux still struggling with pretty basic functionality that Windows does with zero setup? Is it the vendor of the laptop and docking station that aren’t properly supporting Linux? Or is it some other problem?

    • BaroqueInMind@lemmy.oneEnglish
      9·
      7 months ago

      You must be an Arch user, because not only were you humorous, you also did it in a way that was confusing, rude and correct at the same time.

      • where_am_iEnglish
        18·
        7 months ago

        I’m very confused about your deduction skills. But I confirm, even the arch wiki cannot help with making a docking station work on a random consumer laptop powered by shintel thunderbolt non-standard. It’s an unbelievable rare occasion, but we must admit, the arch wiki has failed their followers here. It cannot be blamed, yet we still mourn.

        • where_am_iEnglish
          13·
          7 months ago

          I’m lying ofc. I’m running 3k displays out of an old Thinkpad. They only need to display terminals and vim, so I don’t care too much about tearing or whatever. I have easily set it up by following this guide: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/DisplayLink