I kinda like the look of them and often feel myself wanting a second monitor if I’m working on my laptop.

(I’ve come to the conclusion if people think I’m working I won’t look like as much of a massive dork)

Always had the feeling they’d be a bit crap though, like the hinges break or the monitor isn’t too good or it’s big and bulky and you can’t really carry it

Ideally I’d like to find a single fold out side monitor that attaches to my laptop (big chunky ThinkPad) somehow and doesn’t need its own power supply but that may be asking too much

  • tiramichu@lemm.ee
    40·
    2 months ago

    I have a portable monitor that I’m pretty pleased with.

    It has a magnetic cover that goes over the screen to keep it safe, and that same cover folds and goes on the back to act as a stand when it’s in use. Power and video are via the same USB-C cable.

    Nice and slim and stays in my bag most of the time but when I want a second screen I can whip it out in two secs.

    A screen that attaches to the laptop sounds convenient initially, but I feel like in practice it would be a hindrance and make your laptop clunky and bulky.

    • Vanth@reddthat.comEnglish
      17·
      2 months ago

      This is what I would choose, standalone rather than something that attaches to the laptop and folds out.

      Attaching, hanging off the side, potential to be bumped, all the weight hanging out cheap laptop hinges. It seems like high risk of things getting loose and damaged, both the extra monitor and the base laptop.

      • tiramichu@lemm.ee
        7·
        2 months ago

        Yeah but there’s clunky in the way where its big but still a single unit as designed and intended, and clunky when its got some extra growth hanging off the back of it like some technological parasite.

        Of course, my advice is only that, and you should choose the approach that works best for you. But advice is why you came here right :)

        • flashgnash@lemm.eeOP
          4·
          2 months ago

          Yep that it is. To be honest can live with an external one, the main thing is keeping it in the same bag as the laptop and not needing an extra power supply adding weight

      • SoJBEnglish
        31·
        2 months ago

        It would halve it or worse. ASUS makes a few models with built in internal batteries which work quite well.

        The type that latch onto your existing laptop display are really not great. They put a huge amount of extra force on the hinge where tons of sensitive ribbon cables live and you are severely limited in viewing angle. Not to mention you can’t move the monitor around in a tight work space or disconnect it easily to hit the field.

        A standalone portable monitor is the best solution IMO. The nicer models come with adjustable stands, protective travel cases, and USB-C DP pass through functionality.