On: USB-C hubs and my slow descent into madness (2021)

[lliamander]

So both computers and all your peripherals are connected to the monitor, correct?

And you can just swap between them by switching the active input source?

[rrix2 → lliamander]

Yup, and I can swap between them by plugging my laptop in to the USB-C while it's turned in, input autodetection handles the rest.

[lliamander → rrix2]

That's awesome! That monitor is a 38" 3840 X 1600 display, right? What do you think of it overall?

[slipheen → lliamander]

(I am not the poster you were replying to) - I wanted to add that I have the 40" 5K2K version (U4021QW) and I'd recommend it very highly.

I do the same input switching he mentioned, and it works very reliably.

It also has support for pbp mode, where it can display each computer on a portion of the screen.

[lliamander → slipheen]

That is also a model I've looked at very closely. Good to know that it can do that!

Currently I have a 34" 3440 x 1440, and with two separate docking stations (one for each laptop) and a USB hub for my peripherals that is connected to both docking stations. It's a lot of extra mess on my desk that ideally I would like to cleanup with having everything connect directly to the monitor.

BTW, how is the resolution on the 40"? Can you use it with native resolution, or do you have to do any scaling? Having all of that extra screen real estate would be awesome

[johnwalkr → lliamander]

I use a different monitor but can confirm PBP is great for using multiple computers.

For most peripherals, there are software solutions. I ditched any kind of KVM, and my monitor does not have USB ports. However, I use my monitor to switch inputs and use barrier to use the same keyboard and mouse on multiple systems (up to four). It works well and when traveling I also use it to work on my work laptop, with my personal laptop off to the side for reference materials, calendar etc.