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> We feel that the machine also needs at least one USB-A, a fold-down Ethernet socket, and a mini DisplayPort or micro-HDMI socket. I agree that a USB-A port w

> We feel that the machine also needs at least one USB-A, a fold-down Ethernet socket, and a mini DisplayPort or micro-HDMI socket. I agree that a USB-A port would be nice. Ethernet, maybe, but it's a stretch to ask for that in a thin fanless form factor. But asking for mini Display port or micro HDMI is insane. If you're going to need a dongle to connect to your monitor anyways, then using Type-C for the display output makes way more sense. DisplayPort alt mode is way more common and useful than the miniature versions of dedicated DP or HDMI ports.

temp2022account 4y ago
> Ethernet, maybe, but it's a stretch Same delta as the engineers who insist smartcard on laptops is optional; yes it _is_, but only for a subset of cheaper customers.
- wtallis 4y ago
  No matter how far up the price range you go, smart card slots in a laptop remains a very niche feature. Especially since many smart card capabilities are easily handled by USB dongles like Yubikeys.
lproven 4y ago
I really don't think so, no. The X13s is only a bit slimmer than my cheap-ass work Dell, and it has one. My £35 Raspberry Pi 4 (I got in early, OK) has not one but two mini-HDMI ports. So does my 2nd hand RP 400. It's why I own a mini-HDMI to HDFMI adaptor. This stuff is not hard, it's not expensive, and it's not difficult. It's standard in cheap laptops. If you only have 2 USB ports at all, using one for power and one for screen means that's it. You're out. No wired keyboard or mouse or network for you. You can't pass a screen or charging through a generic USB 2 hub, the sort of thing most of us have lying around immediately to hand. 4 USB-C ports, and I might say OK to this: one for power, one for screen, one for network, and one with a hub with the legacy kit plugged in. If it had plenty of ports, then OK, but it doesn't, it has two, and you can't use them both for non-USB type jobs like power or display and still use anything else.

temp2022account 4y ago

> Ethernet, maybe, but it's a stretch Same delta as the engineers who insist smartcard on laptops is optional; yes it _is_, but only for a subset of cheaper customers.

wtallis 4y ago
No matter how far up the price range you go, smart card slots in a laptop remains a very niche feature. Especially since many smart card capabilities are easily handled by USB dongles like Yubikeys.

lproven 4y ago

I really don't think so, no. The X13s is only a bit slimmer than my cheap-ass work Dell, and it has one. My £35 Raspberry Pi 4 (I got in early, OK) has not one but two mini-HDMI ports. So does my 2nd hand RP 400. It's why I own a mini-HDMI to HDFMI adaptor. This stuff is not hard, it's not expensive, and it's not difficult. It's standard in cheap laptops. If you only have 2 USB ports at all, using one for power and one for screen means that's it. You're out. No wired keyboard or mouse or network for you. You can't pass a screen or charging through a generic USB 2 hub, the sort of thing most of us have lying around immediately to hand. 4 USB-C ports, and I might say OK to this: one for power, one for screen, one for network, and one with a hub with the legacy kit plugged in. If it had plenty of ports, then OK, but it doesn't, it has two, and you can't use them both for non-USB type jobs like power or display and still use anything else.