It would be pretty annoying to have to unplug/plug in everything that the previous commenter mentioned every time you wanted to move your laptop. So for something that’s meant to be a portable work station, I think it makes sense to use a stationary adapter over a bunch of individual ports on the laptop itself. It would be nice if it was common for laptops to come with an adapter that includes all the ports that are commonly used though.
Counterpoint…if you’re so regularly using a dock, you should probably just be using a desktop. And yes, I know a lot of employers assign employees laptops and then tell them to work hybrid and not have an office to give them. (I won’t accept “devices should be stupid because bosses are stupid” lol)
You can still use a dock and have enough ports though. You don’t lose the ability to use a dock just because you have extra ports, lol
It depends… if you have multiple hires monitors, you may need an active dock for £200+.
I’m cheap though so I use a £50 passive dock and just plug in the last monitor separately.
Yeah, mine cost $30 or so and has HDMI, USB-C PD, USB-A x2, USB-C data, and SD/micro-SD. That same one is $25 today, and there are similar options for <$20.
The one thing I really miss is RJ-45. Most reasonably priced hubs don’t have it, most laptops don’t have it, and I’m going to lose that dongle. I’m keeping my old ThinkPad for now in those rare cases were I need to fix my router because I messed something up.
they start around $10 or $20. don’t think you need to waste hundreds for a few extra ports
For an Apple-branded one?
It would be pretty annoying to have to unplug/plug in everything that the previous commenter mentioned every time you wanted to move your laptop. So for something that’s meant to be a portable work station, I think it makes sense to use a stationary adapter over a bunch of individual ports on the laptop itself. It would be nice if it was common for laptops to come with an adapter that includes all the ports that are commonly used though.
Counterpoint…if you’re so regularly using a dock, you should probably just be using a desktop. And yes, I know a lot of employers assign employees laptops and then tell them to work hybrid and not have an office to give them. (I won’t accept “devices should be stupid because bosses are stupid” lol)
You can still use a dock and have enough ports though. You don’t lose the ability to use a dock just because you have extra ports, lol
Exactly my situation. My laptop has enough ports that I don’t strictly need a dock. I still have and use two though, one for home and one at work
We bought some for work to trial and they cost 65€, so hardly hundreds
That’s how much the official Apple docks cost?
Few hundred? What, are you stuck in 1995?
Less than $100 for my current one, and it supports our Dell, Lenovo, and Mac (and I’m no Mac fan).
That said, you’ll take my USB A ports from my cold, dead, hand.
How much does an Apple-branded one cost?
It depends… if you have multiple hires monitors, you may need an active dock for £200+.
I’m cheap though so I use a £50 passive dock and just plug in the last monitor separately.
Yeah, mine cost $30 or so and has HDMI, USB-C PD, USB-A x2, USB-C data, and SD/micro-SD. That same one is $25 today, and there are similar options for <$20.
The one thing I really miss is RJ-45. Most reasonably priced hubs don’t have it, most laptops don’t have it, and I’m going to lose that dongle. I’m keeping my old ThinkPad for now in those rare cases were I need to fix my router because I messed something up.