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While the article makes some good points I still prefer having a laptop with a decent desktop setup (docking station with external monitor and wired networking,

While the article makes some good points I still prefer having a laptop with a decent desktop setup (docking station with external monitor and wired networking, mouse, keyboard; the laptop sits on a stand and doubles as a second display) my two main reasons are : I only need to manage a single machine (I have little time or patience to look after a flock of computers) and when I do need to travel I just unplug the laptop and off I go.

CPLX 4y ago
Any docking station recommendations? I have a current model maxed out MBP 16” and have been meaning to merge it with my aging Mac Mini dual monitor setup.
- adamparsons 4y ago
  If you can afford the caldigit, it’s a premium unit but seriously good and quite popular.
  - skrtskrt 4y ago
    It gets REALLY hot though which sketches me out. Also the USB ports put out hardly any power if you’re hoping to charge from them, it can even keep up with light phone usage.
- loloquwowndueo 4y ago
  I looked at the Caldigit but had some reservations based on online reviews. Ultimately a coworker recommended a Dell WD19S and specifically said to look for one on eBay - took about a week of hunting and bidding but I scored one for about half retail and have been quite happy with it, it just works all the time. The laptop in question is a Dell xps13 running Ubuntu 20.04.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
- jjcm 4y ago
  I use this dock along with a 5120x1440 monitor as my main docked environment. Had absolutely zero issues: https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/owc-thunderbolt-dock https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/owc-thunderbolt-dock Bought it four times now (two cities, one setup for each myself and my partner). Neither of us have had an issue with any.
- SvenL 4y ago
  I use 2 Thinkpad P27u-20 monitor, they have thunderbolt 4 with daisy chaining, ethernet and power delivery. Basically the docking station is in the monitor.
midoridensha 4y ago
>While the article makes some good points I still prefer having a laptop with a decent desktop setup The article is stupid, because in the mind of the article's writer, docking stations do not exist. He talks about things like nice mechanical keyboards, multiple monitors, how bad laptop ergonomics are, etc. But none of those are issues when you have a good docking station; it's exactly like having a desktop, though possibly with a higher price tag (but not higher than having a desktop + a laptop). The writer seems to not even know about the very existence of docking stations, or else he would have said something about them. >I only need to manage a single machine (I have little time or patience to look after a flock of computers) and when I do need to travel I just unplug the laptop and off I go. These are the exact reasons I now refuse to own or use a desktop PC. My docking station setup with dual 27" monitors and mechanical keyboard is fantastic, but if I need to go somewhere, it's trivial to just unplug the single Thunderbolt cable and go (just make sure not to forget the travel power adapter!).

CPLX 4y ago

Any docking station recommendations? I have a current model maxed out MBP 16” and have been meaning to merge it with my aging Mac Mini dual monitor setup.

adamparsons 4y ago
If you can afford the caldigit, it’s a premium unit but seriously good and quite popular.
- skrtskrt 4y ago
  It gets REALLY hot though which sketches me out. Also the USB ports put out hardly any power if you’re hoping to charge from them, it can even keep up with light phone usage.
loloquwowndueo 4y ago
I looked at the Caldigit but had some reservations based on online reviews. Ultimately a coworker recommended a Dell WD19S and specifically said to look for one on eBay - took about a week of hunting and bidding but I scored one for about half retail and have been quite happy with it, it just works all the time. The laptop in question is a Dell xps13 running Ubuntu 20.04.
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
jjcm 4y ago
I use this dock along with a 5120x1440 monitor as my main docked environment. Had absolutely zero issues: https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/owc-thunderbolt-dock https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/owc-thunderbolt-dock Bought it four times now (two cities, one setup for each myself and my partner). Neither of us have had an issue with any.
SvenL 4y ago
I use 2 Thinkpad P27u-20 monitor, they have thunderbolt 4 with daisy chaining, ethernet and power delivery. Basically the docking station is in the monitor.

midoridensha 4y ago

>While the article makes some good points I still prefer having a laptop with a decent desktop setup The article is stupid, because in the mind of the article's writer, docking stations do not exist. He talks about things like nice mechanical keyboards, multiple monitors, how bad laptop ergonomics are, etc. But none of those are issues when you have a good docking station; it's exactly like having a desktop, though possibly with a higher price tag (but not higher than having a desktop + a laptop). The writer seems to not even know about the very existence of docking stations, or else he would have said something about them. >I only need to manage a single machine (I have little time or patience to look after a flock of computers) and when I do need to travel I just unplug the laptop and off I go. These are the exact reasons I now refuse to own or use a desktop PC. My docking station setup with dual 27" monitors and mechanical keyboard is fantastic, but if I need to go somewhere, it's trivial to just unplug the single Thunderbolt cable and go (just make sure not to forget the travel power adapter!).