When would it be mandatory to buy a laptop with Thunderbolt port? Looking for your experience

Hardware
1

Hello Friends

About USB-C with Thunderbolt in laptops normally for the latest models come with 2 ports, others have 1. According with my understanding Thunderbolt works mostly with:

  • display
  • data transfer
  • docking

Correct me if I am wrong or missing something

If Thunderbolt for Display purposes would be replaced with HDMI

Questions

  1. When would be mandatory use 2 Thunderbolt at the same time?

It to know if is mandatory or not buy a laptop with 2 Thunderbolts

  1. Is possible have the laptop working with 2 Monitors 4K at the same time each one connected to its respective Thunderbolt?

Thus 3 in total

  • 1 From Laptop
  • 2 From each Thunderbolt
  1. If the Laptop has only 1 Thunderbolt is possible use 2 Monitors through 1 HDMI and 1 Thunderbolt?

Thus 3 in total

  • 1 From Laptop
  • 1 From HDMI
  • 1 From Thunderbolt

Pls, consider each answer for Questions 2 and 3 for Linux too.
If is need it something special to work in peace. For example I remember something about gnome-tweaks. I hope you see my point

  1. Does have sense buy a laptop with only 1 Thunderbolt port and use it with a Docking Station with Thunderbolt too and use all its ports?.

I found a Docking station (not thunderbolt, just USB-C) with 15 ports and it has 2 Display Port and 2HDMI. Thus it solves in some way Questions 2 and 3

Thus your experience (or family/co-worker) is valuable

Thanks for your understanding

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2

Hi Manuel, There is some info here that may help you work it out

Regards
Neville

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3

Thanks for asking the question and to Neville for the link to a more detailed reply. Appreciate that.

I dont often see new machines except apple so thought thunderbolt was only on mac today but now understand its becoming more widely used.

Guess now when buying kit I need to check if its suitable for this speed transmission. Worth noting.

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As usual Thanks for the polite replies

Neville:

There is some info here that may help you work it out

Thank You, I am going to read it soon as I can

Paul

Thanks for asking the question and to Neville for the link to a more detailed reply. Appreciate that.

Just being curious, Is the question important to you too? Do you have some plan to but a new laptop too?

I dont often see new machines except apple so thought thunderbolt was only on mac today but now understand its becoming more widely used.

I found a Dell with 1 Thunderbolt and an Asus Zenbook with 2 Thunderbolt. As an observation, both machines with Thunderbolt 4.

According with Asus LA (Latino America) by email, there is no laptops with Thunderbolt 5 yet.

Guess now when buying kit I need to check if its suitable for this speed transmission. Worth noting.

Because a laptop is not cheap is wise do a research. Thus I was curious about is would be wise and mandatory consider 2 Thunderbolt. So far Thunderbolt 5 is the latest and faster but it seems there is no implemented in laptops. Perhaps for mobos yes

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I am seeing more and more tablets as people use them more on holiday and for travel. Some allow big screen conections others not. I often have to read the specs to advise why theirs just does not work.

All to do with power at the connection.

My wifes tablet will not connect but mine will, same make just different model, mine is more powerful chance buy when i got hers without thinking she may want tv connection.

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