Clariman wrote:Thanks. That is pretty much how I use it. Laptop plugs into Wavlink USB docking station, to which are attached the separate screen, backup HDD and speakers.
Just an observation that large external monitors are better performing if driven over a "proper" display interface rather than a USB docking station if you're fussed about video performance. This can also have an impact on laptop power use/temperature. AIUII displaylink essentially skips any scope for the laptop CPU to offload rendering the display to the "proper" GPU, even an integrated one.
Personally I'd not get a laptop with fewer than 12 GB at this point for serious use - the price premium is small, RAM is often soldered so it's a when you buy decision, and applications like Teams are memory hogs. Typically memory layouts mean for best performance you're typically buying as 8 GB, 16 GB etc.
Given my choice I wouldn't buy a laptop at present, the supply/demand means prices certainly aren't low, and I don' think what is out there is enough of a win over an Intel 6th gen CPU for general office applications.
With regard to updating laptop drives to SSDs, 480GB drives are £35 on Amazon and then put the old drive in an external caddy so you have a remote backup, not one stuck in the laptop.