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> 1. I like big, big monitors. 2. I prefer a full size keyboard. 3. I prefer a separate mouse. You can have these with a laptop too. At home I use my laptop wi

> 1. I like big, big monitors. 2. I prefer a full size keyboard. 3. I prefer a separate mouse. You can have these with a laptop too. At home I use my laptop with an external screen, keyboard, mouse (the latter two are wireless), because it's much more comfortable.

WalterBright 6y ago
It's hard to find a full size bluetooth keyboard. I think I went through every keyboard on Amazon and found only one. If you use a USB wireless keyboard, well, there goes one of the two USB slots on the laptop. It's not just the monitor being big, I want lots and lots of pixels. I'm currently running 3840*2160, and have a second monitor attached set up in portrait mode (so I can display a manual page while I work on the other one). Of course, I'd get an even bigger monitor with more pixels if they didn't cost so dang much :-) How big, you ask? A wall size retina display! I've wanted one for 40 years.
- mycall 6y ago
  > there goes one of the two USB slots on the laptop. With Thunderbolt/USB-C hubs, this is easily fixed.
- grayclhn 6y ago
  I plug my full sized USB keyboard into my monitor, along with my yubikey and wireless mouse dongle -- one USB C cord connects it all to my laptop. edit: two monitors is still a pain, though.
  - ryukafalz 6y ago
    This is the dream setup. When you’ve got lots of USB-C devices, plugging in one cable and connecting to everything feels great. I’ve got a USB-C dock hooked up to my TV too with a wireless KB/mouse combo connected into that, if I want to plug my laptop in on the couch. Even works with your phone, if you've got one that supports it. Recent flagship Samsung phones with DeX do, but I'm really holding out for more external monitor support in Phosh so I can plug in a Librem 5 like this.
  - AdrianB1 6y ago
    2 monitors are easy if your laptop has Display Port and you use daisy chaining, you can have 4 full HD monitors from a single DP 1.2 port. I did that with the previous laptop, the new one has HDMI and USB-C with extended mode supporting DP, so I can link probably 5 FHD monitors in total.
  - BeniBoy 6y ago
    If you are on Windows, some USB-C hub allow to have two external display (and not mirror ones, for three different display). Not compatible with OSX though.
  - franga2000 6y ago
    I really wanted to do this, but then got screwed over by HP every step of the way. My laptop has a full-sized HDMI port and I figured it wouldn't be able to work alongside the one over Type-C, but as it turns out, it doesn't work over Type-C at all! It also, despite supposedly supporting Thunderbolt, which includes charging in the spec, does not charge over Type-C (despite many of their other models supporting both fast charging over barrel jack and standard charging over Type-C).
- formerly_proven 6y ago
  Are there even any decent BT keyboards at all off the shelf?
  - tshoaib 6y ago
    I have the Logitech MX Master Keys, although I use a receiver with it instead of Bluetooth which is also connected to my Logitech mouse. The keyboard is good for people who like the shallow press laptop like keyboards instead of a long travel mechanical keyboard. It's similar looking to a Magic Keyboard but the keys have dimples in them so it's more comfortable.
  - Hackbraten 6y ago
    I love Filco’s. They make mechanical Bluetooth keyboards. They’re 60% (I think), which is certainly not for everyone. But I love mine so much!
  - musicale 6y ago
    Matias' laptop pro ticked all the boxes for me (tenkeyless, full travel, damped ALPS-clone key switches, macOS layout/markings, clunky retro-inspired design, long battery life) and it really was fantastic (though the keys do have a tiny bit of play) but then one of the brightness keys stopped working. :( I'm still using it though. Prior to that I used Apple keyboards which work fine but have low-travel chiclet-style keys which aren't as nice to type on (they are much quieter for office environments though.)
- Polylactic_acid 6y ago
  Just use a usb hub. I have all my accessories on the hub and then when I finish work I move the hub usb to my desktop so my kb/mouse/mic are all switched over.
- bleepblorp 6y ago
  I don't see a lack of USB ports as a complete dealbreaker for using a laptop. USB hubs work fine to attach large numbers of lower-speed USB devices to a laptop.
  - WalterBright 6y ago
    Not any one thing is a dealbreaker. It's the combination. Once the laptop is festooned with hubs, external drives, cables everywhere, might as well just buy a desktop.
    - balfirevic 6y ago
      I think it just comes down to how important you find the convenience of using the same machine when you're at your desk and when you're not. I used an external monitor, keyboard and mouse when at the desk, even when I only owned a laptop. But I also use the laptop a lot on the couch, not just for traveling - so I wondered if I would find it annoying to have a separate desktop machine. So far it's been well worth it. The desktop performance is much better (especially for gaming) and Dropbox, git, Chrome sync and VS Code sync make having multiple machines relatively painless. Edit: I see in previous comments you were looking for a full sized bluetooth keyboard. I recently got a Logitech G915 [0] and I'm pretty happy with it. Expensive though. [0] - https://www.logitechg.com/en-eu/products/gaming-keyboards/g915-low-profile-wireless-mechanical-gaming-keyboard.html https://www.logitechg.com/en-eu/products/gaming-keyboards/g9...
      - klyrs 6y ago
        I've gotten used to the convenience of a laptop, but I'm never happy with them. Now that I'm working remotely, the lappy just doesn't cut it. But I want to veg on the couch with my laptop once and a while. My solution is to use my older laptop as a thin client for my desktop.
        balfirevic 6y ago
        I tried that (using Windows Remote Desktop) but the latency was just high enough to be annoying. What do you use?
- prawn 6y ago
  Connected to my 15" laptop, I have directly connected a 34", 24" and a portrait 24". Four displays total; two via DisplayPort, one via HDMI. Plus external BT mouse and keyboard. Then I have a powered Anker dock with eight external drives connected (photo and video for editing work). At home, I have a similar setup but with a 27" colour-calibrated screen in place of the 34" curved. When travelling, I use an unpowered four port dock which means I can connect five external drives without needing the powered dock and its power brick. The unpowered dock only struggles if I have more than a couple of platter drives (instead of SSD) connected.
  - Krasnol 6y ago
    Your desk must be large.
- tuatoru 6y ago
  > It's hard to find a full size bluetooth keyboard. not only is that hard, it's hard to find a bluetooth keyboard that isn't laggy as heck and doesn't occasionally freeze for a second or five. Or just give up until you re-pair it. Maybe one of the next 20 that I try... > How big, you ask? A wall size retina display! I've wanted one for 40 years. I have always thought, since Digital Research GEM, that the "desktop" in GUIs should be your desk's top. We're nearly there...
  - Aaargh20318 6y ago
    > it's hard to find a bluetooth keyboard that isn't laggy as heck and doesn't occasionally freeze for a second or five Never had any issue like that with my full-size Apple Magic Keyboard. It Just Works™
    - TimC123456 6y ago
      This has been my experience, too. The full size Apple Magic Keyboard Works great with my MacBook Pro, no lag, no delays waking up, charge lasts weeks, plug it in with a lightning cable, and it charges while it works like as an USB HID keyboard, even works with my Raspberry Pi. The only challenge is that after about 5 years of daily use, a few of the keycaps are wearing down.
  - zarkov99 6y ago
    Bluetooth sucks for keyboards. Logitech has a proprietary wireless standard for their high end wireless keyboards and the difference is massive.
- mkl 6y ago
  > It's hard to find a full size bluetooth keyboard. Microsoft make at least two, the Surface Keyboard [1] and the Ergonomic version [2]. I own several of the standard ones, and they're the best-made keyboards I've ever owned (and the only ones my joints can currently cope with), but the fact that they're Bluetooth instead of USB drives me insane. I'd pay extra for a wired version that just instantly sends the keystroke every time instead of going to sleep after a while (while it's awake it's instant, it just wants to save battery after being idle). [1] https://www.microsoft.com/en-US/p/surface-keyboard/8r3rqvvflp4k https://www.microsoft.com/en-US/p/surface-keyboard/8r3rqvvfl... [2] https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/surface-ergonomic-keyboard/90pnc9ljwpx9 https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/surface-ergonomic-keyboard...
  - fyfy18 6y ago
    I've use the Surface Ergonomic keyboard as my daily driver, and agree it is great. My only complaint is the indicator lights on Caps and Fn are not bright enough. If you really want a dongle the previous Sculpt Ergonomic has a dongle but the Num Pad is separate :-/ It doesn't have the delay you talk about, and has much better battery life than the Surface version (had it for three years and have't changed them yet). https://www.microsoft.com/accessories/en-us/products/keyboards/sculpt-ergonomic-desktop/l5v-00001 https://www.microsoft.com/accessories/en-us/products/keyboar...
elisaado 6y ago
That just sounds like a desktop with extra steps.
- rhino369 6y ago
  With a docking station it’s not problem at all.
  - HeadsUpHigh 6y ago
    So a couple hundred dollars extra. For functionality that has existed since forever.
    - wtetzner 6y ago
      Except that you can take the laptop with you when you leave your desk. Obviously there's a tradeoff, but the point is you can get many of the advantages of both fairly easily.
- dmortin 6y ago
  A desktop which you can take with you if needed.
linsomniac 6y ago
Agreed. I spent 18 years working primarily on a laptop, and was happy with it. But then I gradually switched to a desktop for the last 7 year with tons of screen space (46" 4K plus 2 24" "wing" monitors. But for the last 6 months I've been working at home, and having my primary machine be able to move to and from the office easily, sounds pretty good what with the pandemic situation. My setup now is a laptop with the USB-C docking station. So I plug in one USB-C cable and get: 30" external display, ErgoDox Ez, USB mouse, bigger speakers, 120W power, Mic for zoom calls.

WalterBright 6y ago

It's hard to find a full size bluetooth keyboard. I think I went through every keyboard on Amazon and found only one. If you use a USB wireless keyboard, well, there goes one of the two USB slots on the laptop. It's not just the monitor being big, I want lots and lots of pixels. I'm currently running 3840*2160, and have a second monitor attached set up in portrait mode (so I can display a manual page while I work on the other one). Of course, I'd get an even bigger monitor with more pixels if they didn't cost so dang much :-) How big, you ask? A wall size retina display! I've wanted one for 40 years.

mycall 6y ago
> there goes one of the two USB slots on the laptop. With Thunderbolt/USB-C hubs, this is easily fixed.
grayclhn 6y ago
I plug my full sized USB keyboard into my monitor, along with my yubikey and wireless mouse dongle -- one USB C cord connects it all to my laptop. edit: two monitors is still a pain, though.
- ryukafalz 6y ago
  This is the dream setup. When you’ve got lots of USB-C devices, plugging in one cable and connecting to everything feels great. I’ve got a USB-C dock hooked up to my TV too with a wireless KB/mouse combo connected into that, if I want to plug my laptop in on the couch. Even works with your phone, if you've got one that supports it. Recent flagship Samsung phones with DeX do, but I'm really holding out for more external monitor support in Phosh so I can plug in a Librem 5 like this.
- AdrianB1 6y ago
  2 monitors are easy if your laptop has Display Port and you use daisy chaining, you can have 4 full HD monitors from a single DP 1.2 port. I did that with the previous laptop, the new one has HDMI and USB-C with extended mode supporting DP, so I can link probably 5 FHD monitors in total.
- BeniBoy 6y ago
  If you are on Windows, some USB-C hub allow to have two external display (and not mirror ones, for three different display). Not compatible with OSX though.
- franga2000 6y ago
  I really wanted to do this, but then got screwed over by HP every step of the way. My laptop has a full-sized HDMI port and I figured it wouldn't be able to work alongside the one over Type-C, but as it turns out, it doesn't work over Type-C at all! It also, despite supposedly supporting Thunderbolt, which includes charging in the spec, does not charge over Type-C (despite many of their other models supporting both fast charging over barrel jack and standard charging over Type-C).
formerly_proven 6y ago
Are there even any decent BT keyboards at all off the shelf?
- tshoaib 6y ago
  I have the Logitech MX Master Keys, although I use a receiver with it instead of Bluetooth which is also connected to my Logitech mouse. The keyboard is good for people who like the shallow press laptop like keyboards instead of a long travel mechanical keyboard. It's similar looking to a Magic Keyboard but the keys have dimples in them so it's more comfortable.
- Hackbraten 6y ago
  I love Filco’s. They make mechanical Bluetooth keyboards. They’re 60% (I think), which is certainly not for everyone. But I love mine so much!
- musicale 6y ago
  Matias' laptop pro ticked all the boxes for me (tenkeyless, full travel, damped ALPS-clone key switches, macOS layout/markings, clunky retro-inspired design, long battery life) and it really was fantastic (though the keys do have a tiny bit of play) but then one of the brightness keys stopped working. :( I'm still using it though. Prior to that I used Apple keyboards which work fine but have low-travel chiclet-style keys which aren't as nice to type on (they are much quieter for office environments though.)
Polylactic_acid 6y ago
Just use a usb hub. I have all my accessories on the hub and then when I finish work I move the hub usb to my desktop so my kb/mouse/mic are all switched over.
bleepblorp 6y ago
I don't see a lack of USB ports as a complete dealbreaker for using a laptop. USB hubs work fine to attach large numbers of lower-speed USB devices to a laptop.
- WalterBright 6y ago
  Not any one thing is a dealbreaker. It's the combination. Once the laptop is festooned with hubs, external drives, cables everywhere, might as well just buy a desktop.
  - balfirevic 6y ago
    I think it just comes down to how important you find the convenience of using the same machine when you're at your desk and when you're not. I used an external monitor, keyboard and mouse when at the desk, even when I only owned a laptop. But I also use the laptop a lot on the couch, not just for traveling - so I wondered if I would find it annoying to have a separate desktop machine. So far it's been well worth it. The desktop performance is much better (especially for gaming) and Dropbox, git, Chrome sync and VS Code sync make having multiple machines relatively painless. Edit: I see in previous comments you were looking for a full sized bluetooth keyboard. I recently got a Logitech G915 [0] and I'm pretty happy with it. Expensive though. [0] - https://www.logitechg.com/en-eu/products/gaming-keyboards/g915-low-profile-wireless-mechanical-gaming-keyboard.html https://www.logitechg.com/en-eu/products/gaming-keyboards/g9...
    - klyrs 6y ago
      I've gotten used to the convenience of a laptop, but I'm never happy with them. Now that I'm working remotely, the lappy just doesn't cut it. But I want to veg on the couch with my laptop once and a while. My solution is to use my older laptop as a thin client for my desktop.
      - balfirevic 6y ago
        I tried that (using Windows Remote Desktop) but the latency was just high enough to be annoying. What do you use?
prawn 6y ago
Connected to my 15" laptop, I have directly connected a 34", 24" and a portrait 24". Four displays total; two via DisplayPort, one via HDMI. Plus external BT mouse and keyboard. Then I have a powered Anker dock with eight external drives connected (photo and video for editing work). At home, I have a similar setup but with a 27" colour-calibrated screen in place of the 34" curved. When travelling, I use an unpowered four port dock which means I can connect five external drives without needing the powered dock and its power brick. The unpowered dock only struggles if I have more than a couple of platter drives (instead of SSD) connected.
- Krasnol 6y ago
  Your desk must be large.
tuatoru 6y ago
> It's hard to find a full size bluetooth keyboard. not only is that hard, it's hard to find a bluetooth keyboard that isn't laggy as heck and doesn't occasionally freeze for a second or five. Or just give up until you re-pair it. Maybe one of the next 20 that I try... > How big, you ask? A wall size retina display! I've wanted one for 40 years. I have always thought, since Digital Research GEM, that the "desktop" in GUIs should be your desk's top. We're nearly there...
- Aaargh20318 6y ago
  > it's hard to find a bluetooth keyboard that isn't laggy as heck and doesn't occasionally freeze for a second or five Never had any issue like that with my full-size Apple Magic Keyboard. It Just Works™
  - TimC123456 6y ago
    This has been my experience, too. The full size Apple Magic Keyboard Works great with my MacBook Pro, no lag, no delays waking up, charge lasts weeks, plug it in with a lightning cable, and it charges while it works like as an USB HID keyboard, even works with my Raspberry Pi. The only challenge is that after about 5 years of daily use, a few of the keycaps are wearing down.
- zarkov99 6y ago
  Bluetooth sucks for keyboards. Logitech has a proprietary wireless standard for their high end wireless keyboards and the difference is massive.
mkl 6y ago
> It's hard to find a full size bluetooth keyboard. Microsoft make at least two, the Surface Keyboard [1] and the Ergonomic version [2]. I own several of the standard ones, and they're the best-made keyboards I've ever owned (and the only ones my joints can currently cope with), but the fact that they're Bluetooth instead of USB drives me insane. I'd pay extra for a wired version that just instantly sends the keystroke every time instead of going to sleep after a while (while it's awake it's instant, it just wants to save battery after being idle). [1] https://www.microsoft.com/en-US/p/surface-keyboard/8r3rqvvflp4k https://www.microsoft.com/en-US/p/surface-keyboard/8r3rqvvfl... [2] https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/surface-ergonomic-keyboard/90pnc9ljwpx9 https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/surface-ergonomic-keyboard...
- fyfy18 6y ago
  I've use the Surface Ergonomic keyboard as my daily driver, and agree it is great. My only complaint is the indicator lights on Caps and Fn are not bright enough. If you really want a dongle the previous Sculpt Ergonomic has a dongle but the Num Pad is separate :-/ It doesn't have the delay you talk about, and has much better battery life than the Surface version (had it for three years and have't changed them yet). https://www.microsoft.com/accessories/en-us/products/keyboards/sculpt-ergonomic-desktop/l5v-00001 https://www.microsoft.com/accessories/en-us/products/keyboar...

elisaado 6y ago

That just sounds like a desktop with extra steps.

rhino369 6y ago
With a docking station it’s not problem at all.
- HeadsUpHigh 6y ago
  So a couple hundred dollars extra. For functionality that has existed since forever.
  - wtetzner 6y ago
    Except that you can take the laptop with you when you leave your desk. Obviously there's a tradeoff, but the point is you can get many of the advantages of both fairly easily.
dmortin 6y ago
A desktop which you can take with you if needed.

linsomniac 6y ago

Agreed. I spent 18 years working primarily on a laptop, and was happy with it. But then I gradually switched to a desktop for the last 7 year with tons of screen space (46" 4K plus 2 24" "wing" monitors. But for the last 6 months I've been working at home, and having my primary machine be able to move to and from the office easily, sounds pretty good what with the pandemic situation. My setup now is a laptop with the USB-C docking station. So I plug in one USB-C cable and get: 30" external display, ErgoDox Ez, USB mouse, bigger speakers, 120W power, Mic for zoom calls.