Kind of like the title suggests. I’m in the market to buy a new laptop. Budget is under $900 USD. It’s a deal breaker if the laptop can’t support 2 external monitors. I’m looking for someone how has recently bought a laptop and is actually running 2 external monitors. I know some of you are going to suggest brands / models based on just your knowledge, but this is a big purchase for me so I want to hear from folks that are actually running 2 external monitors.
If that’s you, would you please let me know the make / model / config of your laptop and where you bought it. I’d like the same info on the external docking station / USB-C “hub” you’re using too.
Usually the older Dell system (i.e. latitude e 65XX series or newer with the correct bigger docking station, not the usb-c connection) with docking station could perform this task. And display on the notebook screen totaling three. Which I’m sure with the Thinkpad series one could do the same. As like the Dell the IBM /Lenevo had the ability to connect via the bus slot on the bottom of the notebook on some models.
Here is a example if the Thinkpad
scroll through the pictures till you get to the picture of the bottom next to the battery you will see the external PCI bus connection for the docking station. In the Dell family it’s in the same location just a longer connector.
Which would I say pick the one you like get the docking station that is designed for the notebook.
I Know some of the Dell docking stations even allow for a pci card (IIRC I think its just two models that do that , and no to installing GPU’s in there either. But things like a HBA to expand the amount of hard drives yep can do)
here is a example of the Dell E-dock The pci bus connector is highly visible.
Ohh because I just wanted to know for sure the Dell Docking station with the PCI connector was the Dell D-dock which sadly didn’t carry forward in the E series.
But the Thinkpad series is a definate solid choice as well
Generally, and I cannot recommend this enough: kfocus.org
I have two of them (an original M1 and an first generation XE, they don’t sell either anymore, but have comparable models) and they are both amazing. They’re made especially for Linux and specifically for Kubuntu and by members of the Kubuntu community.
I looked at that but ended up going with an Lenovo LOQ with a Ryzen 7 8845HS and 32GB of RAM and nVidia. Still waiting for it to arrive. I spent a bit more than I wanted, but when don’t you. LOL