Ports versus dongles: Why it matters

While ports may not be the most exciting topic, they can be critically important when considering a new computer for yourself or your employees. Your selection of ports will help define how convenient or inconvenient this computer will be for the next few years, so it's worth a few minutes up-front. 

Ports, of course, are the little slots and connectors on the side or back of your computer. They connect to a wide variety of peripherals, network adapters, storage devices, and more. The ports on your computer allow you to expand your machine beyond its built-in features.

We'll explain what to consider when evaluating a new laptop, as well as how to make the most of what you have. That will bring us inevitably to the topic of dongles and docks, but we'll get to that in a bit. This is a Dell-sponsored article, so we'll be using Dell products as examples. 

First, let's discuss the types of ports you're likely to need.

Power

Folks don't often think of the power connector as a port, but it is. Some laptop companies have removed power ports entirely, forcing users to use one of their few USB C ports to supply power and charge their laptops.

USB 3.0

These are the rectangular ports that look like flat screwdriver slots. Nearly all laptops that use these ports support the fast USB 3.0 standard (with the blue port), rather than the slower USB 2 or 1 interface that came on older laptops. This USB standard is by far the most common among peripherals. When laptops don't come with USB 3.0 ports, users often have to turn to dongles to connect critical gear.

USB C

These are smaller USB ports and, yes, they're faster and take up less space on the side of a laptop. Laptop vendors have been gravitating to USB C for a while now, but it's almost guaranteed that if your laptop has only USB C ports, you're going to need a selection of dongles. The USB C form factor also supports the even higher-speed Thunderbolt interface in some computers.

HDMI and DisplayPort

These are two different interfaces for adding an external monitor. Sometimes, laptops come with mini HDMI ports to save space.

Ethernet

This provides a highly reliable, high-performance connection to a wired network.

SD and micro SD card slots 

If you shoot photos or video, if you fly drones, or if you use a 3D printer, you probably have a ton of SD cards. Having a slot in your laptop allows you to get your data on and off those cards with ease.  

Headphone and mic jacks

While there are USB and wireless solutions that connect headphones and mics to computers, a wired connection still is the most responsive with the least latency. It also allows for the use of inexpensive earbuds that you don't need to charge.

When you buy a new computer, you probably need to make a trade-off decision that revolves around ports. Do you buy a super-light, super-sleek machine but give up the ports? Or do you buy a more versatile, if a bit heavier, machine (like the Dell Vostro 5510) that has all the ports you might want?

To answer that question, there is one main consideration. Will you be traveling and carrying your laptop everywhere, or will it spend most of its time on a desk at home or in the office? Will you mostly be using it as your primary desktop machine, or will you be lugging it from place to place? 

I recently picked up a laptop specifically for use in my workshop, to control my CNC fabrication robot. That machine is controlled by USB 3.0, and so a USB 3.0 port was mandatory for my purchase use case.

That's the bottom line on the buying decision: Consider your use case. Everyone has different needs, and you'll be much happier in the long run if you spend a few minutes deconstructing your personal use and port needs before you buy.

There's no right or wrong answer here, but if you have a specific peripheral you need to use, make sure whatever you buy has a long enough return window to allow you to test compatibility. In fact, not all external devices will work via dongles. There are still some devices that must be plugged right into a computer's native ports.

Go wireless

One way you can reduce your reliance on ports is by purchasing peripherals that connect via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Many keyboards and mice, for instance, are available with Bluetooth. But if you're looking to reduce port count, be careful. The Dell KM5221W Pro Wireless Keyboard and Mouse has wireless in its name, but it requires a USB dongle to make the connection, taking up a port on your computer. By contrast, the Dell Premier KM7321W Multi-Device Wireless Keyboard and Mouse also has wireless in its name, but it lets you choose between Bluetooth or a wireless USB dongle. Both keyboard/mouse combos are excellent, but one might meet your use case better than the other.

Likewise, printers and scanners are available with built-in Wi-Fi. Even some large-volume document scanners, like the Epson WorkForce ES-580W, offer Wi-Fi in addition to USB. By using a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse together with a Wi-Fi scanner, you could cut down on the need for two ports.

That said, sometimes you just need a lot more ports than your laptop includes. In that case, you might want to consider a port multiplier or dock. If you need ports on the go, the Dell USB-C Mobile Adapter super-dongle is an interesting gadget. It's about the size of a hockey puck, it offers seven unique ports, and the connecting cord curls up inside the unit for easy carrying.

If you're bringing your laptop back to its home on your desk regularly, you might want to set up your desk with a dock. The Dell D3100 Docking Station connects to your computer via USB 3.0, while the Dell WD19S Dock multiplies your ports via USB C.

The benefit of a dock is that you can connect your monitor, mouse, keyboard, microphone, and anything else that makes up your ideal desktop environment, then connect and disconnect your laptop as needed.