That's a Lenovo E480. There are two other USB-A and a USB-C and HDMI on the other side, plus you can't see behind the dongles but there's an ethernet port on the laptop as well.
I only have two complaints with what I'm looking at. One is there's probably not enough power for whatever you have connected to all of those USB things. And two, there's not enough support for the port that you're plugging this into to resist the weight of all of the dongles, which could damage the motherboard.
The worst one was the pre Raspberry Pi 3 boards. The early ones used an on board Ethernet chip set that was slaved directly to the USB controller. It was USB 2.0 so it could negotiate 100, but really run much less than that.
Then, if you put in a keyboard, mouse, and a USB thumb drive the USB host would multiplex over them and your bandwidth for data transfer would drop precipitously.
I was so happy when they moved to a real Ethernet chip instead of a USB adapter. The new limitation became the microSD... Of course they also introduced the grounding reset issue on the USB port, but just don't plus or unplug anything and it'd be fine.
Depends. Modern keyboards, mice and controllers use just a few milliamps and the laptop must be able to supply 500 mA. However, just about anything that charges will use the whole 500 mA or even try to negotiate more. There are even non-compliant devices like heating pads that draw 2 A without asking.
Not always. Some laptops use a daughterboard for ports on one side. It might be connected over USB 3.0 and contain one or more USB ports, a SD reader and even audio jack.
Ehhh I deploy a lot of these thin and light machines in place of desktops. The goal is to use a dock and have the IO that is needed at a desk but also have the portability of the small laptop that can do work remotely. The benefit is that you don't have to remote into your work PC.
Portability? If you want a desktop replacement laptop, don't buy one with a single USB port. If you want a machine you can easily carry, has a keyboard and can run a slide deck? 1 USB port and Bluetooth will get you there.
I wish.. unpopular opinion but I love Apple's approach with the MBAir. I want a skinny device with 2-3 C Ports max.
I'm done with USB A, on the rare occasion I need it I gladly use an adapter to improve portability the other 90% of the time.
Any hardware made for Linux by non-US companies has several A ports, a few C, ethernet, HDMI, SD card... nope, I got a tower with all the ports. My portable should stay portable.
And luckily there are plenty of options out there for people who want to attach peripherals to their laptops.
I'm just not one of them.
My ideal device has two C ports on each side and a solid trackpad like the mac books do, just without all the apple bullshit of locking stuff down. @tuxedocomputers, pretty please 👀
Good to know Dell makes these. I am running CachyOS on the 2020 Intel MacBook Air and it's okay.. she runs a bit hot, so battery life is about half of what I would get with macOS.
As much as I like the look of Apple hardware, I despise them locking everything down. I'm glad there are smart people out there, like the Asahi project, cracking those macs open.
The Dell I have (few years old; I don't keep up with models) looks very much like a MBA. It works great, and I'm glad it runs Linux well (so far). I'm thinking about moving to CachyOS on my desktop.
Asahi is great for putting fedora on the Apple silicon macs. But there are quite a few limitations (e.g. steam won't work) so I would not recommend anyone to buy a mac for linux
Probably not a ton, the controller can handle a quite a bit. Really depends what you are doing with each cable. If all are transferring data to a separate thing on each cable then yes it could be bad. Power is more of the problem, only has so much juice per slot. If those are all phone charger cables, possible hardly any of them actually charging a device.
USB can handle 127 daisy chained items. However, there's like an absolute maximum of the amount of data and power that can go over any one USB port.
Assuming this is USB 3, that would typically be capped somewhere around 5 gigabits per second and usually, 5 to 15 watts of power, so they would all have to divvy up that between themselves.
USB is pretty smart, so it probably won't automatically divide down based on the number of attached items like Wifi used to and instead the controllers should dole out the in-out requests on an as needed basis.
I really wish there was a way to find where someone legitimately has a need to nest, like, 16 levels of USB devices and find out WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH THEM. But also what possible legitimate need might force such a nightmare. lol.
I know a degraded binary search tree when I see one. Stop inserting presorted data you yabbos! Otherwise, you'll need to pull out a Red-Black tree and nobody's got time for those kinds of rotations.
Keyboard, mouse, wacom tablet, external hard drive, another external hard drive thing, plasma lighter charger, ... Yup, that's what I have here... already got that many, before needing more space for pendrives.
Though, I use a single 1-6(or more) expander hub. I'm sensible like that.
Plus a wired game pad, secondary gaming specific keyboard, a phone charger, a wireless phone charger, a thumb drive, a gaming specific mouse, a racing rig, and a little usb fan.
63 Comments
bleistift2@sopuli.xyz · 112 pts · 155d
3000€, 1000 GB HDD, 32GB RAM, 15" screen, 1 port.
I hate laptop manufacturers.
bizarroland@lemmy.world · 47 pts · 155d
That's a Lenovo E480. There are two other USB-A and a USB-C and HDMI on the other side, plus you can't see behind the dongles but there's an ethernet port on the laptop as well.
I only have two complaints with what I'm looking at. One is there's probably not enough power for whatever you have connected to all of those USB things. And two, there's not enough support for the port that you're plugging this into to resist the weight of all of the dongles, which could damage the motherboard.
azimir@lemmy.ml · 7 pts · 155d
What if they're external drives with their own power supplies? I've done things nearly this convoluted, but used self powered devices.
bizarroland@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 155d
Then you're just constrained by the data bandwidth
azimir@lemmy.ml · 3 pts · 155d
I'm quite familiar with that one.
The worst one was the pre Raspberry Pi 3 boards. The early ones used an on board Ethernet chip set that was slaved directly to the USB controller. It was USB 2.0 so it could negotiate 100, but really run much less than that.
Then, if you put in a keyboard, mouse, and a USB thumb drive the USB host would multiplex over them and your bandwidth for data transfer would drop precipitously.
I was so happy when they moved to a real Ethernet chip instead of a USB adapter. The new limitation became the microSD... Of course they also introduced the grounding reset issue on the USB port, but just don't plus or unplug anything and it'd be fine.
ChaoticNeutralCzech@feddit.org · 4 pts · 154d
Depends. Modern keyboards, mice and controllers use just a few milliamps and the laptop must be able to supply 500 mA. However, just about anything that charges will use the whole 500 mA or even try to negotiate more. There are even non-compliant devices like heating pads that draw 2 A without asking.
SatansMaggotyCumFart@piefed.world · -6 pts · 155d
It's plugged into the USB port not the motherboard.
bizarroland@lemmy.world · 28 pts · 155d
The USB port is attached to the motherboard.
SatansMaggotyCumFart@piefed.world · 14 pts · 155d
And the leg bone connected to the knee bone.
deacon@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 155d
There is a generic leg bone?
Ziglin@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 155d
Yup totally it probably just means femur, tibia, or fibula.
daychilde@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 155d
duh, do you not know the song? idiot
(I'm kidding) <3
ulterno@programming.dev · 3 pts · 155d
Ohh! Now I get why my knees hurt when I stomp my feet!
SatansMaggotyCumFart@piefed.world · 2 pts · 155d
No that’s because you’re old.
ulterno@programming.dev · 1 pts · 154d
But then shouldn't it just be my foot that hurts?
What does it have to do with my knee?
It is yet to take an arrow.
ChaoticNeutralCzech@feddit.org · 4 pts · 154d
Not always. Some laptops use a daughterboard for ports on one side. It might be connected over USB 3.0 and contain one or more USB ports, a SD reader and even audio jack.
dohpaz42@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 155d
dohpaz42@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 155d
What do you think will break first with enough downward force? The port, or the motherboard solder joints holding the weight?
SatansMaggotyCumFart@piefed.world · 9 pts · 155d
No this is a schooner.
Remember_the_tooth@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 155d
I hope you're remembered like Ken M. I always find these funny, even when, or perhaps especially when, they don't land well in the thread.
deacon@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 155d
I will never not upvote the ‘Fart
Digit@lemmy.wtf · 6 pts · 155d
For over 17 years or so, I've envisioned a laptop (and, later, also SBC) design where the entire sides are jam packed with usb ports.
Your hate reinvigorates this idea, knowing other people also hate the shortage of usb ports on laptop designs.
Fiery@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 6 pts · 154d
Hey it's fine if you have a docking station which totally defeats the purpose of a laptop.
Jyek@sh.itjust.works · 5 pts · 154d
Ehhh I deploy a lot of these thin and light machines in place of desktops. The goal is to use a dock and have the IO that is needed at a desk but also have the portability of the small laptop that can do work remotely. The benefit is that you don't have to remote into your work PC.
sploosh@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 154d
Portability? If you want a desktop replacement laptop, don't buy one with a single USB port. If you want a machine you can easily carry, has a keyboard and can run a slide deck? 1 USB port and Bluetooth will get you there.
ZILtoid1991@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 155d
You guys got 32 gigs of memory?
db_null@lemmy.dbzer0.com · -2 pts · 155d
I wish.. unpopular opinion but I love Apple's approach with the MBAir. I want a skinny device with 2-3 C Ports max.
I'm done with USB A, on the rare occasion I need it I gladly use an adapter to improve portability the other 90% of the time. Any hardware made for Linux by non-US companies has several A ports, a few C, ethernet, HDMI, SD card... nope, I got a tower with all the ports. My portable should stay portable.
Honytawk@discuss.tchncs.de · 5 pts · 155d
USB-C isn't a straight upgrade of USB-A though. Both have their pros and cons.
USB-C has much higher bandwidth and allows more power draw. 2 nice features, but totally useless on something like a mouse.
USB-A is soo much cheaper and more sturdy. A much better connector for simple peripherals like mouses and keyboards.
So a laptop with only USB-C is quite dumb. It costs nothing to add a couple of USB-A ports, and it will save you a lot of money.
db_null@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 155d
And luckily there are plenty of options out there for people who want to attach peripherals to their laptops. I'm just not one of them.
My ideal device has two C ports on each side and a solid trackpad like the mac books do, just without all the apple bullshit of locking stuff down. @tuxedocomputers, pretty please 👀
OldChicoAle@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 155d
My dell is that. Runs Mint rn
db_null@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 155d
Good to know Dell makes these. I am running CachyOS on the 2020 Intel MacBook Air and it's okay.. she runs a bit hot, so battery life is about half of what I would get with macOS.
As much as I like the look of Apple hardware, I despise them locking everything down. I'm glad there are smart people out there, like the Asahi project, cracking those macs open.
OldChicoAle@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 154d
The Dell I have (few years old; I don't keep up with models) looks very much like a MBA. It works great, and I'm glad it runs Linux well (so far). I'm thinking about moving to CachyOS on my desktop.
I'll look into Asahi project!
db_null@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 154d
Asahi is great for putting fedora on the Apple silicon macs. But there are quite a few limitations (e.g. steam won't work) so I would not recommend anyone to buy a mac for linux
Aneb@lemmy.world · 37 pts · 155d
Me stacking my deck with 'Draw 2 cards' with no damage or money cards in my hand
Kolanaki@pawb.social · 18 pts · 155d
Pot of Greed, Pot of Greed, Pot of Greed, I ASSEMBLE EXODIA. I WIN.
FosterMolasses@leminal.space · 3 pts · 155d
EXODIA?! I-IT'S NOT POSSIBLE!
NO ONE'S EVER BEEN ABLE TO SUMMON HIM!
FalschgeldFurkan@lemmy.world · 26 pts · 155d
Stairway to USB heaven
AgentOrangesicle@lemmy.world · 17 pts · 154d
I'm not usually that kinda guy, but 5 volts is 5 volts.
ragebutt@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 5 pts · 154d
Voltage drop is a thing. That’s why powered hubs exist
AgentOrangesicle@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 154d
I'm a power bottom, thanks. It's a little dehumanizing to call people, "hubs".
Sculptor9157@sh.itjust.works · 6 pts · 154d
Yes, but their point is any port in a storm will suffice.
ragebutt@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 5 pts · 154d
Until voltage sags below 4.7 and stuff starts acting weird or sags below 4.4 and just stops working ig
Sculptor9157@sh.itjust.works · 7 pts · 154d
someguy3@lemmy.world · 16 pts · 155d
So does each successive one become slower or how does that work?
Jackusflackus@lemmy.world · 19 pts · 155d
Probably not a ton, the controller can handle a quite a bit. Really depends what you are doing with each cable. If all are transferring data to a separate thing on each cable then yes it could be bad. Power is more of the problem, only has so much juice per slot. If those are all phone charger cables, possible hardly any of them actually charging a device.
someguy3@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 155d
I imagine power is split evenly. I wonder if speed is split evenly or successively slower.
bizarroland@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 155d
USB can handle 127 daisy chained items. However, there's like an absolute maximum of the amount of data and power that can go over any one USB port.
Assuming this is USB 3, that would typically be capped somewhere around 5 gigabits per second and usually, 5 to 15 watts of power, so they would all have to divvy up that between themselves.
USB is pretty smart, so it probably won't automatically divide down based on the number of attached items like Wifi used to and instead the controllers should dole out the in-out requests on an as needed basis.
daychilde@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 155d
I really wish there was a way to find where someone legitimately has a need to nest, like, 16 levels of USB devices and find out WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH THEM. But also what possible legitimate need might force such a nightmare. lol.
DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social · 2 pts · 154d
The only two honest answers would be wartime measures and laziness
Well, 3. "To see if I could."
Jackusflackus@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 155d
Not really, it depends on what each device is doing. There is a shared aggregate bandwidth to draw from. It’s not a 50/50 type of thing
InFerNo@lemmy.ml · 4 pts · 155d
The bus is shared so yes. Theoretically you can daisy chain 127 devices.
ConstantPain@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 155d
The problem here is not even speed, it is the current draw.
bitcrafter@programming.dev · 13 pts · 155d
It's not even an balanced tree! What a monster!
azimir@lemmy.ml · 5 pts · 155d
I know a degraded binary search tree when I see one. Stop inserting presorted data you yabbos! Otherwise, you'll need to pull out a Red-Black tree and nobody's got time for those kinds of rotations.
ThePantser@sh.itjust.works · 9 pts · 155d
Would be a lot less cursed if they used a USBA extension so they could rest on a table.
Ceruleum@lemmy.wtf · 9 pts · 155d
This is art.
FosterMolasses@leminal.space · 7 pts · 155d
Alright but what would you need this many for? I can't wrap my head around it
Digit@lemmy.wtf · 15 pts · 155d
Keyboard, mouse, wacom tablet, external hard drive, another external hard drive thing, plasma lighter charger, ... Yup, that's what I have here... already got that many, before needing more space for pendrives.
Though, I use a single 1-6(or more) expander hub. I'm sensible like that.
FireRetardant@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 155d
Plus a wired game pad, secondary gaming specific keyboard, a phone charger, a wireless phone charger, a thumb drive, a gaming specific mouse, a racing rig, and a little usb fan.
RamenJunkie@midwest.social · 5 pts · 154d
Also HOTAS Rig for space sims.
dev_null@lemmy.ml · 5 pts · 155d
Flashing firmware to many devices at once maybe.
DrSteveBrule@mander.xyz · 3 pts · 154d
Funny picture
DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social · 4 pts · 154d
I've seen that video
OldChicoAle@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 154d
Ew. Where?
JunoAroa@programming.dev · 1 pts · 155d