Having separate dongles for network, audio, video etc. is even worse than just having specific cables for each

dx1@lemmy.world to Showerthoughts@lemmy.world – 135 points –

Maybe belongs in /c/extremelypopularthoughts

26

I think the annoyance comes from not having that many ports to begin with. If I had a whole bunch of ports, it wouldn't matter as much if I had to snap on a usb-c adapter to all the cables.

What is annoying is having to unplug something i need so I can plug in a flash drive

Why not using small usbc splitter? Like 7 in 1

Edit:

The splitter or hub gives you 3 usbs, usbc, hdmi, Ethernet, sd card reader and charge your device.

Similar to laptop docks for 1/10th of the price.

check it out

Using a dongle to fix your dongle problems. 🤔 (you're not wrong, just thought it was funny)

Instead of having many dongles just buy a splitter and that’s it.

It’ll have 3 usbs, usbc, hdmi, Ethernet, sd card reader and power pass through.

Similar to laptop docks for 1/10th of the price.

Check it out link

Because they heat very easily, suffer throttleneck problems (Ethernet+HDMI+copytoUSB = sudden drop in Ethernet)

By splitter I mean small docking station. I use it daily and never had issues. I plug a mouse, hdmi, and Ethernet cable as well as power pass through.

yeah i have a few of them and they all get extremely hot, plus they look ugly as hell. usually a super short cord so right where my mouse would be is a blazing hot ugly box with a bunch of cables and junk sticking out. and if you accidentally jiggle it or move the laptop too much the whole thing blanks out for a second interrupting work flow.

Some do, others don’t. It helps to check out reviews and ask around before buying.

You can also have both, all the different ports PLUS one or two USB-C where you can connect a dongle.

Some of both. I remember a time where it felt like every time I got a new computer it had some different ports because they kept evolving. Modem/Ethernet, firewire 400/800, keyboard/mouse/USB, VGA/DVI/Displsyport(and mini versions of some). Sure, my old computer might have had a lot of different ports, but I might never have used some of them. For something like a laptop, I think 2x USB-C on each side is good for most, plus add hubbing to larger peripherals like HDD enclosures and displays and docks wouldn’t have to be so popular.

I feel like we’re just in the middle of a good transition period. Few years from now almost everything that can will be USB-C, we’re really just waiting out the replacement of all the existing devices and their incompatible ports.

Just get 1 dongle that you have everything plugged into. Then you only need to plug your laptop into 1 thing. Bam. Super convenient.

What’s more convenient is everything using the same connector, but who knows when/if that will ever come about…

You can get laptop "hubs" which usually have a few USB ports, a video connector or two (often HDMI and/or DisplayPort), ethernet, and some will function as a power cable, too (one of mine does and one doesn't).

I remember dongle life, they popped up in the very late 90's and survived until like 2008ish. They sucked then, and they really suck now. And yes, I still think having an all in one USB "dongle" is worse than having built in functionality.

then again, I have a framework, so it's kinda moot lol.

I don't understand why there's no splitter modules for the framework. I'm sure it's possible to put 2 USB C ports into 1 module

If you're referring to connecting a computer to the things you mentioned, just get a laptop docking station and you'll be just fine.

I'm confused, why do you need audio and video USBs? I'm not even sure what's meant by that like your computer has no audio without the Dingle?