I don't spend all day using my laptop but I use it enough to where is was becoming a nuisance to use the tiny laptop keyboard for any length of time. I wanted a desktop but I also didn't want to lose convenience and portability that comes from a laptop.
This is going to come as no shock to the real techies out there but I think there might be some people out there who were like me and wasn't really sure how to convert a laptop into a desktop. I didn't know what to buy, how to do it the cheapest, how to not waste money.
So I started my research and, by George, I've done it! Let me say up front, I am by no means an expert and there is always, ALWAYS a better way to do things but this is how I did it. It works and if you are clueless, it'll work for you too!
The key to it all is buying a docking station. A docking station is a device that allows you to plug in a laptop, usually by connectors on the bottom of the laptop. The docking station has its own power button, USB ports, video ports and HDMI ports. When I checked my own HP Pavillion laptop, it did not have any connectors to use with a docking station, however, there is something called a Universal Docking station (also called a port replicator). The Universal Docking station does not connect to your laptop on the bottom; it will use another port.
I selected the IOGear USB-C Universal Docking station. It was $129.95 at Best Buy. It connects to your laptop via a USB-C port. This is a newer type of port that small and D-shaped. Unfortunately, my laptop did not have a USB-C port so I went on Amazon and ordered a USB-C Type C to USB adaptor. This was $9.99. Be sure to get the female to male adapter.
Next, I wanted a nice keyboard since this was one of the driving forces for wanting a desktop. I selected the Microsoft Natural Ergonomic 4000 model. This was $34.99 at Best Buy.
And last, I purchased a new monitor. This is where you can go crazy. I looked at some amazing monitors online and at Best Buy. Monitors are one of those things that turn obsolete every 10 minutes! No matter which monitor you select, something better will be out in a month. So just select the best monitor that you can afford. The big ones are nice and are much cheaper than they used to be. There are curved screens that look really cool. Do your research. I ended up choosing the LG Ultra-Wide 29" which I purchased at Wal-Mart for $199.
So here is the shopping list (assuming you have a laptop already) with links to what I purchased:
2. A USB-C female to USB Male Adapter (If you have a USB-C connector on your laptop, you won't need this)
3. A Keyboard
4. A monitor (Wal-mart now says my monitor is Out of Stock but there are many others to choose from).
So I spent about $373 for this upgrade but I have been loving it. The connections were simple:
1. Plug in the Universal Docking station to power.
2. Connect the Universal Docking station to the USB-C cord to the USB-C/USB Adapter and plug this into a USB port on your laptop.
3. Connect the monitor to the HDMI port on your laptop.
4. Plug the keyboard into a USB Port on the Docking station.
5. Plug in your other accessories to the Docking Station (speakers, external hard drive, whatever).
That's it! I love mine and I have been using my laptop a lot more at home. Let me know how yours turns out.
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