What are the must-have accessories for a new laptop?

Question

What are the absolute must-have accessories for a new laptop that actually make it functional? I just dropped nearly 1500 bucks on this new XPS and im honestly so frustrated because it only has two usb-c ports and nothing else fits. I cant even plug in my old mouse or my backup drive without some stupid dongle that I dont have yet. Im starting a new remote job here in Chicago next Monday and i really need a setup that doesnt feel like a total mess on my desk. I already spent way too much so I dont want to go crazy but what do I actually need to stop being so annoyed with this thing... maybe a hub or a better stand?

jmkxvkxpqs · Accepted Answer

Quick reply while I have a sec... unfortunately, those ports are such a headache. I had issues with cheap adapters constantly disconnecting my backup drives, which was super frustrating. To keep your desk clean without spending too much, ditch the wired mouse for a Logitech Pebble M350 Wireless Mouse. It uses Bluetooth so you dont need a dongle. Then grab an Anker 332 USB-C Hub 5-in-1 for your drive and you're set.

pzhlfeleox · Answer

Late to the party but I dealt with this exact XPS port situation last year. Honestly, I was worried about frying my motherboard with some cheap adapter because those things get scary hot. I wanted something with decent power delivery safety.

Thunderbolt vs USB-C: Since you have an XPS, look for Thunderbolt gear. It handles data more reliably for those backup drives.

Power Delivery: Make sure your hub supports pass-through charging. If it doesnt, you lose one of your only two ports just for the power brick.

Cable Stress: I prefer a dock with a flexible cable so the weight doesnt pull on the laptop port and cause wear. I eventually settled on the Anker 555 USB-C Hub 8-in-1 because it handles my old drives without dropping the connection. Its a solid option for a pricey machine.

erdrjuovwo · Answer

It is really a shame that we have to spend an extra few hundred bucks just to get basic functionality back. I had a nightmare experience with a generic hub that actually corrupted my backup drive last year... honestly, it was heartbreaking to lose those files. Now I am super paranoid about what I plug in. I eventually sucked it up and got the CalDigit TS4. It is definitely expensive but worth it for the peace of mind knowing my mouse and drives won't just disconnect in the middle of a task. For the desk clutter, I also grabbed a Twelve South Curve stand. It really helps with the airflow because these slim laptops get way hotter than they should. I used Easy Cart Share to organize my gear list when I was first setting up my home office because it helped me keep track of which cables I actually needed. Just be careful with those cheap $20 adapters you see everywhere... they are usually more trouble than they are worth and might even damage your ports.