[PLUG] Looking for a new ubuntu laptop to connect to 2 external monitors

Chuck Hast wchast at gmail.com
Thu May 3 03:51:22 UTC 2018


Same here good old Thinkpad with a dock and you are good, I have tried
several other laptops and always come back to the Thinkpad for all of my
doin's.

On Wed, May 2, 2018 at 9:31 PM, Tomas Kuchta <tomas.kuchta.lists at gmail.com>
wrote:

> I use Thinkpad + dock for exactly that setup.
>
> It works without any trouble, does not need discrete graphics - saving
> power and weight, external monitors + headset + ... stays connected, no
> messing with cables, just positives. No drivers, no Linux problems.
>
> My office HP elite book with dock works similarly well.
>
> Tomas
>
> On Wed, May 2, 2018, 5:06 PM Matt McKenzie <lnxknight at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > On Wed, May 2, 2018 at 3:56 PM c <cbpurcell at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > If it would only take you a few minutes to see if the external monitors
> > > worked on the 7450 with a mint usb stick, I would definitely appreciate
> > it.
> > >
> > > I thought Dell wasn't making anything but the usb-c and thunderbolt
> docks
> > > now and I read some pretty bad reviews that led me to believe I needed
> to
> > > give up on using a dock and just get something with 2 decent video outs
> > on
> > > it.
> > >
> > > Purcell
> > >
> > >
> > OK I put the 7450 on a dock with 2 monitors connected by DVI, and booted
> a
> > live Linux Mint USB.
> > All 3 screens (including the built in) work normally, with extended
> display
> > so I could put program windows on all 3.
> > So basically, Linux report on 7450, it works like a champ :)
> >
> > You are correct, Dell does not *currently* make any more e-docks or
> > computers that support them.
> > Thus my caveat if you were OK to get something "pre-owned".
> >
> > The 7450 is not a current model but is still new-ish, it has available i5
> > 5300 CPU, I think maxes out at 16GB DDR3 RAM, SSD capable, and lots of
> > ports including ethernet.
> > Plus it has the important e-dock connector as mentioned.  They can be had
> > on eBay or other second hand sources.
> > Since this is a Latitude it is the "business" line instead of the "home
> > user" line so is built to last a bit better IMHO.
> >
> > Also as a point of reference, the new models like 7480, which use USB-C
> > dock, work well enough. With our Windows users, yeah there are issues
> here
> > and there.
> > But then the older style docks weren't 100% perfect either. But like many
> > others I do personally prefer the real dock with the PCI-connected
> e-port,
> > instead of the USB-C port replicator.
> >
> > I have tested a 7480 with Linux (worked fine) but not with the dock yet.
> >
> > If I were in the market for a good reliable laptop, a slightly older
> > Latitude like a 7450 would be my choice, since it can still use the
> e-port
> > dock, has many built in ports, etc.
> > YMMV, my $0.02 etc.
> >
> > Matt M.
> > LinuxKnight
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > > On Wed, May 2, 2018 at 2:31 PM, Matt McKenzie <lnxknight at gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > > On Wed, May 2, 2018 at 12:19 PM c <cbpurcell at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > I'm starting to research laptop options for my new work machine. I
> > like
> > > > to
> > > > > run ubuntu and I really want to get a laptop that I can connect to
> > my 2
> > > > > desktop monitors for most of my use. (yes I basically want
> something
> > > that
> > > > > functions like a docked machine/desktop, except for the ability to
> > take
> > > > it
> > > > > to meetups, travelling, etc.)
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > For this kind of use case, I would suggest look into a laptop that
> can
> > > use
> > > > a dock.
> > > > You mention Dell Precision, that is one way to go.
> > > >
> > > > I would also suggest looking into Dell Latitude, if you are not
> opposed
> > > to
> > > > used models.
> > > > The current Latitudes no longer have the Dell e-port that supports
> the
> > > > hardware dock (that connects directly to the motherboard PCI bus, not
> > > USB).
> > > > The last e-port capable Latitudes I think are 7470 or somewhere
> around
> > > > there.
> > > > Our current issue laptops at $work are 7480s and have USB-C for
> > docking,
> > > no
> > > > more e-port dock.
> > > >
> > > > But if you go with say a 7470, or 7450, and an e-dock, you can
> connect
> > > dual
> > > > monitors with DisplayPort or DVI, and its connected directly to PCI
> bus
> > > and
> > > > not USB.
> > > >
> > > > I have a 7450 here with dock and monitors, I can throw a live Fedora
> or
> > > > Mint USB stick on it and test if you would like the results.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > > I think that as long as I get something with a discrete video
> card, I
> > > > > should be fine with connecting 2 external monitors with one rotated
> > 90
> > > > > degrees. I tried with a laptop with onboard graphics and rotated
> > > monitors
> > > > > would never work. From some research it looks like. Other people
> have
> > > had
> > > > > luck with multiple external monitors and rotation on linux as long
> as
> > > > they
> > > > > were using nvidia cards.
> > > > >
> > > > > Anyone on the LUG running a Dell precision laptop with multiple
> > > external
> > > > > monitors? Just curious if anyone had found they had an easy or a
> > > > miserable
> > > > > time with them.
> > > > >
> > > > > Thanks,
> > > > > Purcell
> > > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Matt M.
> > > > LinuxKnight
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > PLUG mailing list
> > > > PLUG at pdxlinux.org
> > > > http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Darkness spoons with you.
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-- 

Chuck Hast  -- KP4DJT --
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Ph 4:13 KJV
Todo lo puedo en Cristo que me fortalece.
Fil 4:13 RVR1960



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