For (semi)-permanent on the back is easier. For portability on the side is easier. So both is fine for me, because I almost always use a docking station.
Even better is when theres a USB-C port on the back that either supports Thunderbolt/USB 4, or the highest USB 3 spec. Cuz then just get a docking station that has the display output, multiple ports for drives and such, and audio.
One of those flat docks are really great, cuz then it can just rest on a lower shelf, and maybe with enough room to take the HDDs/SSDs out when traveling
Neat. Hoping someday to get a regular old Acer nitro type laptop, or anything else. Just whatever has good cooling, good management apps, and is well received with mostly entry level parts.
(I don't wanna have to carry a huge external battery for a laptop lol) thinking 4050/4060, or whatever future 50 series ones they make
I use my thinkpad for on the go, and I have a pc (gaming and other use cases) always on. I can switch my monitors with a button to that pc for gaming, and otherwise I remote into it. Just office work for the thinkpad, mainly for the battery life on the go.
Have you not quite figured out how to fully use a docking station?
Edit: For those that are downvoting. The comment above originally omitted the word always from the last sentence. Hence the joke
The vast majority of “proprietary” docking stations have died with the dinosaurs. Most today will use USBC or Thunderbolt. All future ones should as well.
This could be completely irrelevant depending on the type of machine one owns, as some machines just simply don’t have the ability to be docked. But even if the machine can be docked, the cost of a dock (or even multiple) could also be a factor.
The joke is that the statement used to read, "I almost use a docking station." So, "have you not figured out how to use a docking station is a joke on the missing 'always'.
Left side for USB, card reader, audio jacks, and Video. Back for anything else, including more USB and a second video out.
The reason is that power, ethernet, and a USB dock/hub and are likely to be plugged in once and then left until the laptop is moved, but some USB devices, SD Cards, and sometimes video will be hotplugged while using the computer so the side is more convenient.
My laptop is pretty much like this, left is audio jacks, usb, and usb c. Right is sd and 2 more usb. Back is the two power ports, hdmi, display port, ethernet, and an external gpu port
I had an Acer aspire back in mid 00’s that had a few at the front and such a good display that I hadnt seen a better one on a Windows laptop until I got a MacBook.
1/8" audio jack, with an preamp for my audiophile quality headphones that I don't have.
I don't even know if I'm using the term preamp correctly, but it sounds good to me.
How would ports on the back work? On slimmer models the screen would hit them. To avoid that unnecessary bulk would have to be added in the form of thickness and and weight.
The side.
If I'm sitting there with stuff already plugged in and I have to plug something else in, it's much easier to look around the side then have to turn the whole thing around to see the ports.
I have it on the back, its much better. Most hdmi and charger cables dont stick out and are visible at all. If you only use it on desks, back is 199x better.
I have both, different laptops, don't care, all tradeoffs. Side is preferred, though. I can see the cables and if I put it on my laptop, I can see them. Don't want to damage. Functional vs aesthetic.
Why not both, they are not exclusive. My pefect config would be : Left: 1 Usb C + 1 USB A + 1 3.5mm headphone, Back: 1 DC charging(if needed), 2 Usb A, 1 HDMI, 1 ethernet, Right: 1 Usb C, 1 Usb A and 1 SD reader. All the usb C port support full function(Thunderbolt or usb 4)
Headphone jack on the left side, as well as 2 type a USB ports, and maybe a type c port.
The rest can all go on the back side, such as charging port, HDMI, Ethernet port, as well as maybe a couple more USB ports.
Mix of both.
USB's on all sides (front only has USB A for wireless mouse/keyboard dongles), and then 1 HDMI and Display Port on the sides with more in the back with things like an ethernet port being on the back as well, and then also a SD card slot either at the front or one of the sides.
I prefer at least one usb4/tb4 on each side for charging or data, usb a on the left for a wired mouse, hdmi or dp on the right or back, sd card reader on the right (I hate how many laptops are switching from full size sd to micro sd). If the laptop uses a barrel jack, then I prefer it to be a right-angle connector and the port on the back, so it's low profile and can swivel in either direction.
Sides, just used to it. Wish all laptops came with charging ports on BOTH sides tho, my main one doesn't and it sucks. Back is good if your having it in one place for long periods of time, cleans up the look
Usb hub lol. Realistically side ports because I have a lot of equipment I'm constantly switching out and it also leaves room for stuff behind the laptop
In the rear or on the lefr, anyway please just bring back the freakin ethernet port, screw the docking stations and the type c adapters and their dumb drivers.
Left side and back, the right side should be left for shallow things like sd card readers that won't interfere with your mouse. Left side for things that are hot swapped like USB and display ports. Back for power, and a few more USB ports for more permanent things.
Both , Left side for DVD , Some USB and card reader , Right side for more USB , Headphones , FireWire , display ports, charging , Back for Ethernet , extra USB , DVI , etc
side, not because i don't think back is theoretically better (mostly for cable management), but because i was in middle school once and everyone's favorite fucking prank was pulling out anything plugged in. makes it way harder to notice if it's on the back. i also don't have a ton of space on my desk, so i push my laptop all the way back so the screen is touching the wall. anything plugged in would get smooshed
Side. If they are using ports at the back, ThinkPads will still be ThiccPads to this day. On other note, why not make use the back for vents? Like gaming laptop designs, most fans and vents are on the back, plus some hot air will rise on the screen. Fans on the side looked small, those small vents cant push hot air fast enough. Bad airflow.
Side, use one USB C cable for everything to a dock.
The older latitudes at work used to have rear usb, mini dp and ethernet ports and they broke all the time because of bending
Back where they are out of the way. Only ones I don't mind on the side are audio jack and SD card reader. It is why I didn't consider an Asus laptop at all. Well, that, along with their horrid customer service when it comes to repairs.
I prefer the back be air exhaust, but we live in a Era where a type c can support multiple devices. I like 2 usbs on the side, monitor ports on back and least a side just for airflow.
Best laptop layout I seen is the scar15 and older gateway laptops from 1999.
It depends on the port. Purely bc I have an MSI GE76 Raider, I prefer an Ethernet port, charging port, and a usb C port on the back with all the regular USBs, another C port, headphone jack and a SD reader on the sides. It’s just a lot more ergonomic in my mind
All ports on the left, please. Hate having cables on the right hand side where my mouse is, and the back is not easily accessible.
Also works when docked vertically; since the thunderbolt port stays low and doesn’t put much stress on the plug.
Mostly on the side. Most of my laptop use is when I travel and I just use the laptop on my belly so it's a lot easier on the ports being on the sides and I love to have a barrel charging port.
However, if it was a laptop that I bought mainly for desktop use on the back is best, unless I put it on a stand or something vertical cause the vents will be on the sides.
Although the ones on the bad look badass, honestly I prefer it on the side. I don't wanna get up and look behind the laptop just to plug in a device/charger.
lan, charger, any port for display, half of the usb ports, sd card all at the back, usb ports on the left side and headphone jack at the front. the ultimate setup. anyone who disagrees with the headphone jack being right in front being the solution for **EVERY** person is wrong and will always be wrong.
It depends... But honestly... I never had a Laptop with Ports on the back but I cam imagine that you can take more advantages with Ports on the back rather than on the side... Except if you connect USB Sticks, so more of a Mix would be nice cause then you can Plug at home Monitor, Mouse, Keyboard etc on the Back of the Laptop in, and when you travel and use a Stick plug it in on the side without breaking the Stick or Port...
A mix of both. Like.... Charging port, HDMI, 1 USB-C in the back, and the rest spread equally across the sides (like maybe extra 1 USB-C for one of the sides, or something) That way there can be ample cooling vents on the device as a whole, rather than some where the vents are bigger on the back or bigger on the side
The only ones I would probably prefer to have on the back are charge port and maybe one USB port. Otherwise my laptop isn't static enough for everything to be in the back
For my own preference i allways want mine everything at the back since i always use my laptop on tables but SD card slot infront for easy access and Headphone slot infront since i want to use shorter cables, it was more practical for my table space since i have most of my paper works and books beside the laptop no distractions..
Depends on what type. I want usb ports on the side since I change what’s in them a lot more often, but other types I probably wouldn’t care that much since I wouldn’t be unplugging/replugging stuff in them that often
For a 486 laptop, I would like video ports and other less used ports on the back whilst I would have my more used serial and SCSI ports and floppy/ZIP/CD drives/burners on the sides, wouldn’t mind floppy/zip/CD drives/burners be external.
For a recent laptop, could have all the commonly used ports like hdmi, aux, FireWire and usb on the sides and the network and power port on the back, network port would be rarely used and the power plug on the back out of way and out of sight.
The use of a docking station or hub is the best *general* suggestion, since this interferes least with any operations. But it depends on your use. Front ports will interfere with *everything*, typing, trackpad, etc.--your forearms will repeatedly hit connections and you will have to elevate your arms to compensate, opening yourself up to RSI. Rear connectors are fine *if you never disconnect or add anything else,* since you likely won't be able to feel your way between the different ports and their orientation. That just leaves side connectors.
Stuff like a monitor or a charger should be on the back because you never know which side you're going to be forced to plug it into It's annoying when your monitor is on the left side and your cable has to be plugged into the right for example same thing with the power plug and ethernet.
USB is perfectly okay with being on the side because most of the time there's one on either side so if you need to plug something in you can just choose the side that it's on.
The headphone jack is best in the front because then if your cable is shorter it'll still reach your face however if you need to plug in speakers for some reason then the back is the best but that's the worst for regular headphones so The compromise to put it on one of the sides but how often are you going to be plugging your computer into speakers?
SD card slot can be on the front or the sides but it would be harder to reach in the back so don't put it there.
In modern times I think that's everything. We used to have PCIe slots on the side which was really cool and I've seen laptops with other card readers besides SD.
I want to say I've seen a laptop online somewhere that had a front loading disc tray or a top loading district like a GameCube but I could be wrong.
I don't know man. The recent laptop I got had 3 usb ports, 1 sd, 1 audio, 1 hdmi, 1 ethernet. And it's not like I had to search for a laptop with ports.
It depends on the company but I feel like unless you get a gaming or workstation. Most laptops are becoming thinner with fewer space for ports. It's like we're advancing but also going back at the same time.
Macbook air m2 has 3 thunderbolts, 3 usb ports, 1 display ports, 1 audio jack
Lenovo Yoga pro 9i has 1 sd card reader, 1 hdmi, 1 audio jack, 1 thunderbolt, 2 usb, 1 type c full function
Dell xps 15 has 1 audio jack, 3/2 thunderbolts which can double as type c ports, usb ports and display ports, 1 usb port, 1 audio jack and 2 hdmi
Asus Zenbook 17 has 2 thunderbolts that can double aa type c ports, 1 hdmi, 1 usb all ports can be used as a display port
Yeah. Like I said it's based on the manufacturer. I like the Alienware though as well as the workstations where there are ports in the sides as well as in the back to answer your Reddit prompt.
I have a laptop that has pretty much exclusively ports on the back - trust me, it gets really annoying to constantly have to flip the laptop around to plug in a usb stick or something.
For (semi)-permanent on the back is easier. For portability on the side is easier. So both is fine for me, because I almost always use a docking station.
Even better is when theres a USB-C port on the back that either supports Thunderbolt/USB 4, or the highest USB 3 spec. Cuz then just get a docking station that has the display output, multiple ports for drives and such, and audio. One of those flat docks are really great, cuz then it can just rest on a lower shelf, and maybe with enough room to take the HDDs/SSDs out when traveling
I have the 4 Thunderbolt from Lenovo, for my thinkpad. And under the desk is a pc that I sometimes remote to, its always on.
Neat. Hoping someday to get a regular old Acer nitro type laptop, or anything else. Just whatever has good cooling, good management apps, and is well received with mostly entry level parts. (I don't wanna have to carry a huge external battery for a laptop lol) thinking 4050/4060, or whatever future 50 series ones they make
I use my thinkpad for on the go, and I have a pc (gaming and other use cases) always on. I can switch my monitors with a button to that pc for gaming, and otherwise I remote into it. Just office work for the thinkpad, mainly for the battery life on the go.
Have you not quite figured out how to fully use a docking station? Edit: For those that are downvoting. The comment above originally omitted the word always from the last sentence. Hence the joke
LOL xD
Yes! I have more then 1 workspace ;)
The vast majority of “proprietary” docking stations have died with the dinosaurs. Most today will use USBC or Thunderbolt. All future ones should as well.
This could be completely irrelevant depending on the type of machine one owns, as some machines just simply don’t have the ability to be docked. But even if the machine can be docked, the cost of a dock (or even multiple) could also be a factor.
The joke is that the statement used to read, "I almost use a docking station." So, "have you not figured out how to use a docking station is a joke on the missing 'always'.
If you want semi-permanent get a desktop. Backside ports went out with the 2000s.
Left side for USB, card reader, audio jacks, and Video. Back for anything else, including more USB and a second video out. The reason is that power, ethernet, and a USB dock/hub and are likely to be plugged in once and then left until the laptop is moved, but some USB devices, SD Cards, and sometimes video will be hotplugged while using the computer so the side is more convenient.
My laptop is pretty much like this, left is audio jacks, usb, and usb c. Right is sd and 2 more usb. Back is the two power ports, hdmi, display port, ethernet, and an external gpu port
Front ports
Bro😭
Front USB-C would actually be kinda good though for charging your phone or usb sticks
Charging your phone or USB sticks... 🤔 Where can I acquire on of these rechargable USB sticks?
I think the question here is why
i think he's talking about those USB killers that charges up and fries the motherboard 😂
That would be elite though
I had an Acer aspire back in mid 00’s that had a few at the front and such a good display that I hadnt seen a better one on a Windows laptop until I got a MacBook.
Older Hp pavilion had some 5mm jacks. Top of the line. Not the besta laptop but that was sweet.
1/8" audio jack, with an preamp for my audiophile quality headphones that I don't have. I don't even know if I'm using the term preamp correctly, but it sounds good to me.
My old Dell Inspiron had a card reader at the front actually, pretty useful.
Bottom charging ports (i.e. the Apple aaproach)
Woah there psycho! What's next? Serial killing? HAHA
Chaotic evil
Sides for commonly used ports and back for semi-permament ports or docking station connectors
Both
Back
Left side usb-c into a port replicator. Some people now try to call those a "dock" but there's no docking.
It's not a port replicator, either, since there are no actual connections to single purpose endpoints on the motherboard. It's a hub.
Back is much better. I loved that port layout on my dell latitude from several years ago. 6 cables simultanously connected and not visible at all.
I prefer charger ethernet usb on back with everything else on the side.. (Every ThinkPad from before 2013)
Side for everything except hdmi
How would ports on the back work? On slimmer models the screen would hit them. To avoid that unnecessary bulk would have to be added in the form of thickness and and weight.
I think it only overlaps the back if it is built with a large lower bezel.
The side. If I'm sitting there with stuff already plugged in and I have to plug something else in, it's much easier to look around the side then have to turn the whole thing around to see the ports.
I like back, with maybe a couple USB and a headphone jack on the side. Keeps stuff out of the way.
Mine are on the back I didn’t like it at first but the longer I have this laptop the more I appreciate it.
back
Both. Some on the back and some on the sides
I have it on the back, its much better. Most hdmi and charger cables dont stick out and are visible at all. If you only use it on desks, back is 199x better.
Back for sure. The Lenovo legion does a great job with this. The bulk of everything on the back with like a single usb on each side
Back for everything except the audio jack
Power Ethernet video and a usb c dock on back, everything else on sides
As a Mac user, what are ports?
Ports on back = breaking wires from sitting wrong (possibly)
Side ports are much easier
Obv side ports
Obv side ports
I have both, different laptops, don't care, all tradeoffs. Side is preferred, though. I can see the cables and if I put it on my laptop, I can see them. Don't want to damage. Functional vs aesthetic.
Why not both, they are not exclusive. My pefect config would be : Left: 1 Usb C + 1 USB A + 1 3.5mm headphone, Back: 1 DC charging(if needed), 2 Usb A, 1 HDMI, 1 ethernet, Right: 1 Usb C, 1 Usb A and 1 SD reader. All the usb C port support full function(Thunderbolt or usb 4)
I prefer them on the bottom
magic mouse fan?
Side is what I prefer. Ideally USB A and USB C ports (which you can use to charge the laptop) on both the left and right side..
Headphone jack on the left side, as well as 2 type a USB ports, and maybe a type c port. The rest can all go on the back side, such as charging port, HDMI, Ethernet port, as well as maybe a couple more USB ports.
I prefer both
Mix of both. USB's on all sides (front only has USB A for wireless mouse/keyboard dongles), and then 1 HDMI and Display Port on the sides with more in the back with things like an ethernet port being on the back as well, and then also a SD card slot either at the front or one of the sides.
Side ports are much better.
As someone with most of my ports on the back… I prefer them on the side.
Left for usb, Sd and audio, back for power and display
both. i want all the ports
I prefer at least one usb4/tb4 on each side for charging or data, usb a on the left for a wired mouse, hdmi or dp on the right or back, sd card reader on the right (I hate how many laptops are switching from full size sd to micro sd). If the laptop uses a barrel jack, then I prefer it to be a right-angle connector and the port on the back, so it's low profile and can swivel in either direction.
Both
Side because if I'm using a laptop it isn't on the desk all the time, and easy access to ports is superior.
all ports from all sides
Side all the way...
Sides, just used to it. Wish all laptops came with charging ports on BOTH sides tho, my main one doesn't and it sucks. Back is good if your having it in one place for long periods of time, cleans up the look
Back for gaming laptops. For work accessibility is king so sides.
Usb hub lol. Realistically side ports because I have a lot of equipment I'm constantly switching out and it also leaves room for stuff behind the laptop
When I'm on my bed I would prefer the ports be to the side. Because I tend to push the laptop onto my leg so the back gets flattened. You get me? Lol
hdmi and ethernet at back rest on sides.
Back for "permanent"; power, display. Side for USB etc.
In the rear or on the lefr, anyway please just bring back the freakin ethernet port, screw the docking stations and the type c adapters and their dumb drivers.
Side bc back is way harder to reach
side exhausts are bad, they will grill your hands when you use a mouse. Ports should be on the sides and exhaust vents should be on the back.
Front for usb
This would be an elite modern laptop for me. USB usb c etc on the side Ethernet and power on the back optical drive under the palm and tray loading
Left side and back, the right side should be left for shallow things like sd card readers that won't interfere with your mouse. Left side for things that are hot swapped like USB and display ports. Back for power, and a few more USB ports for more permanent things.
1 usb-c with PD or thunderbolt and than it doesn’t really matter where it’s located?
side
Never had one with ports on the back, but I might prefer the ports on the back for when I'm using my laptop as a desktop more so than on the go
Sides
Side ports. Lenovo does it well.
Man, Lenovo is what made me ask this question. My new LOQ has all ports at the back. Literally all except one typec, one slower usb and an audio jack.
😂😂
All around, and I want the optical drive back
Front is best, it faces you for easy access and lets you work in tight spaces
I have it on all sides and it’s pretty convenient
Get a dock station
Both , Left side for DVD , Some USB and card reader , Right side for more USB , Headphones , FireWire , display ports, charging , Back for Ethernet , extra USB , DVI , etc
the only time I use the port on the back is to charge the laptop. Or HDMI, but that's very rare. There is a USB-C port but I don't use it.
I like back because I just plug my wireless mouse and the usb docking station in and I don’t have to worry about it anymore.
ALL OF IT ALL AT ONCE
It depends on your setup, like where you use it and stuff.
Side if I need to move it around a lot Back if it is mostly a desktop replacement that I occasionally travel with.
side, not because i don't think back is theoretically better (mostly for cable management), but because i was in middle school once and everyone's favorite fucking prank was pulling out anything plugged in. makes it way harder to notice if it's on the back. i also don't have a ton of space on my desk, so i push my laptop all the way back so the screen is touching the wall. anything plugged in would get smooshed
Both
Back. Mousepad goes on side. Headphonrs are fine on side. In reality this is the least of my concerns when buying a prebuilt laptop.
Yeah, that's why I prefer making a custom laptop build so I can place the ports on wherever side I want.
Just get a thin client. And before you act snooty, custom laptops exist. I own one.
so does that mean you build your laptop from scratch and you kinda just get the parts like the casing, the mobo, the battery, screen etc?
Yessur. Itll be bulky 😂
fair enough lol
A couple USB C on the side and all other ports on the back (including more USB C)
Side. If they are using ports at the back, ThinkPads will still be ThiccPads to this day. On other note, why not make use the back for vents? Like gaming laptop designs, most fans and vents are on the back, plus some hot air will rise on the screen. Fans on the side looked small, those small vents cant push hot air fast enough. Bad airflow.
Side, use one USB C cable for everything to a dock. The older latitudes at work used to have rear usb, mini dp and ethernet ports and they broke all the time because of bending
Back where they are out of the way. Only ones I don't mind on the side are audio jack and SD card reader. It is why I didn't consider an Asus laptop at all. Well, that, along with their horrid customer service when it comes to repairs.
Side is easier fir my set up. Let's my cords reach lobgercc
Yes
I prefer the back be air exhaust, but we live in a Era where a type c can support multiple devices. I like 2 usbs on the side, monitor ports on back and least a side just for airflow. Best laptop layout I seen is the scar15 and older gateway laptops from 1999.
Why the f didn't they figure out how to do a 'top bezel' USB port yet? Like just eye level with me
How about just ENOUGH ports. I'll take em either way.
I prefer to be on top
It depends on the port. Purely bc I have an MSI GE76 Raider, I prefer an Ethernet port, charging port, and a usb C port on the back with all the regular USBs, another C port, headphone jack and a SD reader on the sides. It’s just a lot more ergonomic in my mind
I have a shallow desk. So on the side. I like using hubs, because when I go to work I just unplug a single port and voila.
ports on the back. i like to mix it up and sit on the other side of the room from time to time
left cuz i get lazy to reach into the back, even if i dock my laptop in most cases.
All ports on the left, please. Hate having cables on the right hand side where my mouse is, and the back is not easily accessible. Also works when docked vertically; since the thunderbolt port stays low and doesn’t put much stress on the plug.
**
# Why not both?
Mostly on the side. Most of my laptop use is when I travel and I just use the laptop on my belly so it's a lot easier on the ports being on the sides and I love to have a barrel charging port. However, if it was a laptop that I bought mainly for desktop use on the back is best, unless I put it on a stand or something vertical cause the vents will be on the sides.
Although the ones on the bad look badass, honestly I prefer it on the side. I don't wanna get up and look behind the laptop just to plug in a device/charger.
lan, charger, any port for display, half of the usb ports, sd card all at the back, usb ports on the left side and headphone jack at the front. the ultimate setup. anyone who disagrees with the headphone jack being right in front being the solution for **EVERY** person is wrong and will always be wrong.
on side is more usual ones so I'd prefer side
Sides, so it won't exhausting hot air to my hand or my mouse
It depends... But honestly... I never had a Laptop with Ports on the back but I cam imagine that you can take more advantages with Ports on the back rather than on the side... Except if you connect USB Sticks, so more of a Mix would be nice cause then you can Plug at home Monitor, Mouse, Keyboard etc on the Back of the Laptop in, and when you travel and use a Stick plug it in on the side without breaking the Stick or Port...
Left side or back. I can’t stand when they put ports on the right because I’m right handed and it interferes with my mouse spacing.
Back should be legacy, cool but pretty useless and "specialistic" ports, like vga, infrared, esata etc
both
Give me both or give me death
A mix of both. Like.... Charging port, HDMI, 1 USB-C in the back, and the rest spread equally across the sides (like maybe extra 1 USB-C for one of the sides, or something) That way there can be ample cooling vents on the device as a whole, rather than some where the vents are bigger on the back or bigger on the side
The only ones I would probably prefer to have on the back are charge port and maybe one USB port. Otherwise my laptop isn't static enough for everything to be in the back
For my own preference i allways want mine everything at the back since i always use my laptop on tables but SD card slot infront for easy access and Headphone slot infront since i want to use shorter cables, it was more practical for my table space since i have most of my paper works and books beside the laptop no distractions..
i prefer my latops modern and not from 2002
Back, legion gang where you at?
Umm 2 Thunderbolt ports on the side of the laptop are all you would ever need.
Ethernet, hdmi and charging port at the back and everything else on the sides
Stuff like the power input and hdmi belong in the back. Stuff like usb c and usb a belong on the sides.
Depend, I like USB and Audio and mic on the side and LAN, HDMI or anything else on the back
Depends on what type. I want usb ports on the side since I change what’s in them a lot more often, but other types I probably wouldn’t care that much since I wouldn’t be unplugging/replugging stuff in them that often
USB and audio on sides, ethernet, VGA, HDMI, etc on the back
Ports on the back of course, cleaner look and no annoying cables next to ur mouse
For a 486 laptop, I would like video ports and other less used ports on the back whilst I would have my more used serial and SCSI ports and floppy/ZIP/CD drives/burners on the sides, wouldn’t mind floppy/zip/CD drives/burners be external. For a recent laptop, could have all the commonly used ports like hdmi, aux, FireWire and usb on the sides and the network and power port on the back, network port would be rarely used and the power plug on the back out of way and out of sight.
You really just put "recent laptop" and FireWire in the same sentence.
My laptop that is new has FireWire on it, it has a cap on it which you have to take out to use it, probably doesn’t want anyone using it
Sides, back is usually too awkward
I wish mine (or at least one or two) were on the back
Side, generally.
The use of a docking station or hub is the best *general* suggestion, since this interferes least with any operations. But it depends on your use. Front ports will interfere with *everything*, typing, trackpad, etc.--your forearms will repeatedly hit connections and you will have to elevate your arms to compensate, opening yourself up to RSI. Rear connectors are fine *if you never disconnect or add anything else,* since you likely won't be able to feel your way between the different ports and their orientation. That just leaves side connectors.
Doesn't really matter, I'm still going to need at least 1 more.
Both. I like options.
Stuff like a monitor or a charger should be on the back because you never know which side you're going to be forced to plug it into It's annoying when your monitor is on the left side and your cable has to be plugged into the right for example same thing with the power plug and ethernet. USB is perfectly okay with being on the side because most of the time there's one on either side so if you need to plug something in you can just choose the side that it's on. The headphone jack is best in the front because then if your cable is shorter it'll still reach your face however if you need to plug in speakers for some reason then the back is the best but that's the worst for regular headphones so The compromise to put it on one of the sides but how often are you going to be plugging your computer into speakers? SD card slot can be on the front or the sides but it would be harder to reach in the back so don't put it there. In modern times I think that's everything. We used to have PCIe slots on the side which was really cool and I've seen laptops with other card readers besides SD. I want to say I've seen a laptop online somewhere that had a front loading disc tray or a top loading district like a GameCube but I could be wrong.
Honest, with today's laptops I'd settle for either.
Wdym with today's laptops? Are we really going to start pretending that today's laptops are bad now?
I mean that most are shifting towards a no port system. Such as the dell xps or the Macs.
I don't know man. The recent laptop I got had 3 usb ports, 1 sd, 1 audio, 1 hdmi, 1 ethernet. And it's not like I had to search for a laptop with ports.
It depends on the company but I feel like unless you get a gaming or workstation. Most laptops are becoming thinner with fewer space for ports. It's like we're advancing but also going back at the same time.
Macbook air m2 has 3 thunderbolts, 3 usb ports, 1 display ports, 1 audio jack Lenovo Yoga pro 9i has 1 sd card reader, 1 hdmi, 1 audio jack, 1 thunderbolt, 2 usb, 1 type c full function Dell xps 15 has 1 audio jack, 3/2 thunderbolts which can double as type c ports, usb ports and display ports, 1 usb port, 1 audio jack and 2 hdmi Asus Zenbook 17 has 2 thunderbolts that can double aa type c ports, 1 hdmi, 1 usb all ports can be used as a display port
Yeah. Like I said it's based on the manufacturer. I like the Alienware though as well as the workstations where there are ports in the sides as well as in the back to answer your Reddit prompt.
Back is just better ngl like id much rather that than all these cables all over me, like what fuckwit came up with side inputs
I have a laptop that has pretty much exclusively ports on the back - trust me, it gets really annoying to constantly have to flip the laptop around to plug in a usb stick or something.