Not that way back, docking a laptop computer was a brand new concept to me. Since then, I’ve arrange two totally different laptops for docking, and I’ve been greater than happy with how this configuration works. This article describes how I arrange the laptop computer docking stations and offers ideas and steering for anybody contemplating the identical.
How I found docking
I started 2020 with one laptop computer: a Darter Pro bought from System76 the 12 months earlier than. It had been greater than satisfactory, and I loved the liberty of motion that toting a laptop computer gave me. Then, in fact, every thing modified.
Suddenly, I used to be at dwelling on a regular basis. Instead of an occasional video convention, distant conferences and get-togethers grew to become the norm. I grew uninterested in the little sq. photos of colleagues on the Darter Pro’s 15.6-inch show, and the included 256 GB Non-Volatile Memory categorical (NVMe) drive was a restricted quantity of storage for my wants.
I bought an Intel NUC (Next Unit of Computing) package and a 27-inch LCD show, rearranged my workplace with a desk, and settled into this new paradigm. Later within the 12 months, I constructed one other, extra highly effective NUC with an i7 processor, 32 GB of RAM, and a terabyte NVMe drive to accommodate video video games and the video transformed from previous household 8mm motion pictures and VHS tapes.
Now I had a laptop computer and a desktop (each working Linux distributions, in fact). I repeatedly met with colleagues and buddies on quite a lot of video conferencing platforms, and I totally loved the elevated desktop actual property afforded by the 27-inch show.
Fast-forward 18 months to summer time 2022, after I found laptop computer docking stations.
Docking a Linux laptop computer
I did not notice I may have docked my Darter Pro utilizing its USB-C port. My urge for food for brand new {hardware} had me pining for the brand new HP Dev One, which comes with Pop!_OS preinstalled, a Ryzen 7 processor, 16 GB of RAM, a terabyte NVMe drive, and two USB-C ports.
Opensource.com alumnus Jay LeCroix has an excellent video explaining learn how to use USB-C docking with Linux laptops. That’s after I started to understand the utility of USB-C docking {hardware}. After watching the video and doing a little extra analysis, I made a decision to buy a USB-C docking station for the Darter Pro.
System76 has a list of community-recommended docks, together with the Plugable UD-CA1A dock. The Plugable dock claims to work with all Intel and NVIDIA techniques, so I made a decision to order a unit. The dock was simple to arrange, and as soon as related to the Darter Pro, I had the very best of each worlds. I had the liberty to maneuver after I needed to and the power to dock if I needed to. But I wanted extra cupboard space than the 256GB drive within the Darter Pro.
My success with the docking station led me to buy the HP Dev ONE, looking forward to the elevated storage and velocity. When it arrived, I shortly set it up. I backed up all of the recordsdata on the NUC and restored them on my new Dev ONE. The new laptop computer was simply related to the docking station.
Docking the Dev ONE
The Dev ONE has two USB-C ports, and both one connects to the dock. It nonetheless amazes me that energy and video cross by means of this single port. In addition to the 2 USB-A ports on my laptop computer, I now have the extra ports on the docking station. The Plugable dock comes with a headphone jack, microphone jack, 4K high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) output, one USB-C port on the rear, three USB-A 3.0 ports within the entrance, two USB-A 2.0 ports on the again, and a Gigabit Ethernet port. My new laptop computer has a webcam, however I plug an exterior webcam into one of many rear USB ports to accommodate video conferencing when I’m docked.
I benefit from the flexibility and energy that docking has added to my workflow. I take advantage of video conferencing every day, and after I do, I’m docked and related to a 27-inch show. I like how simple it’s to transition from one setup to a different. If you are utilizing a laptop computer with a USB-C port, I like to recommend trying into a very good docking station. It’s nicely value it.
Or are you already utilizing a dock together with your Linux laptop computer? What are your USB-C docking station suggestions? Be positive to share your expertise within the feedback under.
