As my Surface Pro 2 is starting to fail, and as my savings were
starting to feel uncomfortable in the banking system, I bought a
Surface Pro 9.

This newer version has 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports.
I've been looking at Thunderbolt 4 compatible docking stations,
which are unsurprisingly pricey and according to numerous 1 star
reviews, quite fickle and badly behaved.

My wife's Surface Pro 7 has a multi adapter connected to a USB3 port.
which seems to work well and I'm wondering how much difference
there would be for HDMI and external drive connection purposes between Thunderbolt 4 and USB3.
Any advice please?

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

Mike Halmarack wrote:

This newer version has 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports.
I've been looking at Thunderbolt 4 compatible docking stations,
which are unsurprisingly pricey and according to numerous 1 star
reviews, quite fickle and badly behaved.

I have a CalDigit TS4, my only niggles are that it was v.f.expensive (I
only bought it after amazon generously gave me a 25% off anything
voucher) and that it only provides 98W power, which my laptop moans at
every damned time it boots as it would prefer 100W, even though it will
run happily with 60W (or lets face it with 0W).

Other than that it's amazing how much power and data you can squeeze
down a single cable.

I think the differences between TB3 and TB4 are quite small, I know I
could run dual monitors, but I don't have the space.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 14 Mar 2023 at 11:39:57 GMT, "Mike Halmarack"
<mikehalmarack@gmail.com> wrote:

As my Surface Pro 2 is starting to fail, and as my savings were
starting to feel uncomfortable in the banking system, I bought a
Surface Pro 9.

This newer version has 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports.
I've been looking at Thunderbolt 4 compatible docking stations,
which are unsurprisingly pricey and according to numerous 1 star
reviews, quite fickle and badly behaved.

My wife's Surface Pro 7 has a multi adapter connected to a USB3 port.
which seems to work well and I'm wondering how much difference
there would be for HDMI and external drive connection purposes between Thunderbolt 4 and USB3.
Any advice please?

What exactly do you want to connect? The main thing is finding a device
that'll support your needs.

HDMI - what rez and refresh rate?
External drive - what speed and connectivity?
What else will be hooked up?

The total bandwidth needed will drive whether you need a TB4 or can get
away with a USB3 thing.

Cheers - Jaimie
--
If you are not paying for it, you're not the customer; you're the product being sold.
-- blue_beetle

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 14 Mar 2023 23:43:09 GMT, Jaimie Vandenbergh
<jaimie@usually.sessile.org> wrote:

On 14 Mar 2023 at 11:39:57 GMT, "Mike Halmarack"
<mikehalmarack@gmail.com> wrote:

As my Surface Pro 2 is starting to fail, and as my savings were
starting to feel uncomfortable in the banking system, I bought a
Surface Pro 9.

This newer version has 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports.
I've been looking at Thunderbolt 4 compatible docking stations,
which are unsurprisingly pricey and according to numerous 1 star
reviews, quite fickle and badly behaved.

My wife's Surface Pro 7 has a multi adapter connected to a USB3 port.
which seems to work well and I'm wondering how much difference
there would be for HDMI and external drive connection purposes between
Thunderbolt 4 and USB3.
Any advice please?

What exactly do you want to connect? The main thing is finding a device >that'll support your needs.

HDMI - what rez and refresh rate?
External drive - what speed and connectivity?
What else will be hooked up?

The total bandwidth needed will drive whether you need a TB4 or can get
away with a USB3 thing.

Cheers - Jaimie

Thanks, very good points, as usual. I've got some quite old peripheral equipment ATM. Maybe later upgrades will justify a higher tech docking
port

I'm thinking of getting one of these for my current USB drives and
Ethernet, HDMI connections https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0995Q1C76/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A1TM9TLQWI3ICZ&psc=1

It's very like the alternative Ugreen brand options. And like them, it
has quite a short connecting cable, which may work quite well with a
desk level connection port but the Surface pro 9 has its port high up
on the siide of the screen. This would cause the body to dangle and
sway.
Would an extention cable tend to impair function and performance?
--

Mike

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Tue, 14 Mar 2023 13:46:24 +0000, Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk>
wrote:

Mike Halmarack wrote:

This newer version has 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports.
I've been looking at Thunderbolt 4 compatible docking stations,
which are unsurprisingly pricey and according to numerous 1 star
reviews, quite fickle and badly behaved.

I have a CalDigit TS4, my only niggles are that it was v.f.expensive (I
only bought it after amazon generously gave me a 25% off anything
voucher) and that it only provides 98W power, which my laptop moans at
every damned time it boots as it would prefer 100W, even though it will
run happily with 60W (or lets face it with 0W).

Other than that it's amazing how much power and data you can squeeze
down a single cable.

I think the differences between TB3 and TB4 are quite small, I know I
could run dual monitors, but I don't have the space.

Thanks for your assessment of the CalDigit TS4. Some of the Amazon
reviews also reveal imperfections, which considering the price is a
little off putting.
--

Mike

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 15/03/2023 11:12, Mike Halmarack wrote:

On 14 Mar 2023 23:43:09 GMT, Jaimie Vandenbergh
<jaimie@usually.sessile.org> wrote:

On 14 Mar 2023 at 11:39:57 GMT, "Mike Halmarack"
<mikehalmarack@gmail.com> wrote:

As my Surface Pro 2 is starting to fail, and as my savings were
starting to feel uncomfortable in the banking system, I bought a
Surface Pro 9.

This newer version has 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports.
I've been looking at Thunderbolt 4 compatible docking stations,
which are unsurprisingly pricey and according to numerous 1 star
reviews, quite fickle and badly behaved.

My wife's Surface Pro 7 has a multi adapter connected to a USB3 port.
which seems to work well and I'm wondering how much difference
there would be for HDMI and external drive connection purposes between
Thunderbolt 4 and USB3.
Any advice please?

What exactly do you want to connect? The main thing is finding a device
that'll support your needs.

HDMI - what rez and refresh rate?
External drive - what speed and connectivity?
What else will be hooked up?

The total bandwidth needed will drive whether you need a TB4 or can get
away with a USB3 thing.

Cheers - Jaimie

Thanks, very good points, as usual. I've got some quite old peripheral equipment ATM. Maybe later upgrades will justify a higher tech docking
port

I'm thinking of getting one of these for my current USB drives and
Ethernet, HDMI connections https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0995Q1C76/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A1TM9TLQWI3ICZ&psc=1

I'd always go with Anker for these types of peripherals over a
random-named device. Do you really need 12 connections?

It's very like the alternative Ugreen brand options. And like them, it
has quite a short connecting cable, which may work quite well with a
desk level connection port but the Surface pro 9 has its port high up
on the siide of the screen. This would cause the body to dangle and
sway.
Would an extention cable tend to impair function and performance?

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Wed, 15 Mar 2023 16:11:12 +0000, Chris <ithinkiam@gmail.com> wrote:

I'd always go with Anker for these types of peripherals over a
random-named device.

I did go for the Anker option, though looking at reviews of the Anker
range, there are a few sad stories.

Do you really need 12 connections?

What I need is way beyond my reach.
What I want is a lot more attainable.

--

Mike

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)