Laptop as desktop PC without a dock?

longwalks1

I'm after either a desktop, or a laptop to connect up to a monitor and keyboard at my desk most of the time. I know not all laptops have docking stations, and the stations I’ve seen are expensive. Could you just use a normal laptop, and when at the desk plug in the monitor (I’m assuming to HDMI) and full size keyboard and mouse? Would it be as simple as that, or each time would it need setting up etc? It sounds a lot of faffing around but it’d only be used as a laptop a couple of times a week

Fightsback

I have a personal distaste for laptops and only use them if I really have to, if I'm at a desk then it's a desktop for me.

However that being said if you want to use a laptop as a desktop replacement then all you need to do is connect three leads, HDMI (or whatever standard the monitor connection is), a single USB lead if you use a USB hub (get a powered one) and finally your PSU lead.

grumbler

britishboy wrote: »

...Would it be as simple as that,

Yes, it would.

or each time would it need setting up etc?

The only setting is Fn+F5 (is it the same for all laptops?) for switching between display modes.

grumpycrab

Cheap laptop (black friday) £290; good processor
http://www.ebuyer.com/724984-hp-250-g4-laptop-n1a92ea-abu

Plug in keyboard, mouse, monitor if you wish.
But be quick if you're interested.

Cycrow

Unless you want to be using it as an actual laptop at times, then getting a laptop just to use as a desktop would be pointless.

Better to just get a desktop, it'll be cheaper, more upgradable and more powerful.

But yes, you can just plug it into a monitor, keyboard and mouse and use it that way if you wish, a dock just makes it easier, as you only have to connect it to the dock, rather than plugging in 3 cables

Cycrow

grumbler wrote: »

Yes, it would.The only setting is Fn+F5 (is it the same for all laptops?) for switching between display modes.

no its not the same for all laptops, mine is Fn+F1.

Not that i need to use it thou as it switches to the correct mode when i plug it in anyways

Cisco001

britishboy wrote: »

Could you just use a normal laptop, and when at the desk plug in the monitor (I’m assuming to HDMI) and full size keyboard and mouse? Would it be as simple as that, or each time would it need setting up etc? It sounds a lot of faffing around but it’d only be used as a laptop a couple of times a week

Yes you can.
use hdmi cable, change the monitor set up as mirror.
then get your set a wireless keyboard and mouse

Cycrow

Cisco001 wrote: »

Yes you can.
use hdmi cable, change the monitor set up as mirror.
then get your set a wireless keyboard and mouse

Mirror is not the best mode to set.

better to use either external monitor only, then run the laptop in clamshell mode, or set it to extended mode so you can use both screen.

If you set it mirror then you will be limited to a resolution that is common to both. Not good if the external monitor has a different resolution, even worse if they have different aspect ratios

longwalks1

Cycrow wrote: »

Mirror is not the best mode to set.

better to use either external monitor only, then run the laptop in clamshell mode, or set it to extended mode so you can use both screen.

If you set it mirror then you will be limited to a resolution that is common to both. Not good if the external monitor has a different resolution, even worse if they have different aspect ratios

Never heard of clamshell mode but makes complete sense, is there a way of doing this semi-permanently? Or will I need to open it each time I want to power it up still?

longwalks1

grumpycrab wrote: »

Cheap laptop (black friday) £290; good processor
http://www.ebuyer.com/724984-hp-250-g4-laptop-n1a92ea-abu

Plug in keyboard, mouse, monitor if you wish.
But be quick if you're interested.

Ordered one earlier! Thanks for the tip :T - it was about £100 cheaper than a similar spec desktop (that I could find). Will use it in clamshell mode most of the time

Cycrow

Just be aware that the i5's in laptops are not the same as the i5's in desktop.

the laptop ones are dual core for a start, with desktops being quad core.
and clock for clock they are slower as well as they run in a lower power mode