1) I am having trouble finding what docking stations are compatible with the Lenovo Thinkpad L13. (And, relatedly, I notice a lot of USB docking options. I've always had a hardware dock for my various Thinkpads. What are the disadvantages of a USB doc instead of a hardware doc? Ports I need in a dock include 4-6 USB ports, HDMI, ethernet, and audio (this one not essential).

2) While I've read several Googled articles re, what are the experts' opinions here on the difference between Windows 64 bit Home and Windows 64 bit Pro? What am I giving up with the former?

Thanks!

I think manufacturers have been moving away from "docks" that require a proprietary connector on the bottom of the laptop and towards USB docks. USB-C with power delivery can handle all the functions of a traditional dock in a much smaller form factor.

There are a bunch of options, including ones with all the ports you want, made by Aukey and Anker for $50ish. Alternatively, I like the Dell D6000 a lot (it's what we use at work) but it's more expensive. You might be able to find one for around $115 used, $150-200 new.

Looking at images of the L13 and I don't see a docking port on the laptop which means a USB dock. Depending on what you're planning on doing, you might get away with a USB hub... The only real benefit to a USB dock would be that you're only unplugging one plug instead of three... If this is for a home office, you can save some time and wear and tear. If you are doing this for on the road, that's a lot of peripherals you are carrying.

As for difference in home vs pro, we'd need to know your use-case...

Yes, doing this for home, but if travel is ever possible again I take my laptop with me and it's very nice not to have to plug/unplug 3 or 4 cables. So a hub is probably not the optimal solution.

I'm also looking at the X208 which seems more powerful and is more the form factor I'd prefer.

As to Windows, nothing special. Using have Chrome with a dozen or so open tabs, word processing using Office 2010 and WordPerfect X13 (no need to laugh ), Chrome Remote Desktop (when logging in from a different computer in a different part of the house), a pop3 email client, and a few other programs. No gaming.

Thanks!

OP. I would recommend against L13. L series, no offense, are low-end. So if the budget is more flexible, I would suggest T-series.

Nevertheless, in answer your questions:

a. L13 supports at least these 3 "traditional" docking stations - ThinkPad Basic Docking Station (40AG), ThinkPad Pro Docking Station (40AH), ThinkPad Ultra Docking Station (40AJ), per Lenovo.

b. The disadvantage of a USB doc is practically everything.

Because Lenovo does not put any port at the back side of the computer (they are all side ways), so using the hardware dock will expand the existing infrastructure. And you are able to charge the ThinkPad while the ThinkPad is docked.

This does not happen in USB dock. At least, you need 2 charger to make everything work. And you will have one less USB port available.

Nothing practically.

It does not sound like to me that this is a business computer. So what you have missed are simply the features that "may" be used by business computers. In some cases, the features are not being used by businesses as they use something else.

How - what interesting is ThinkPad has been defaulted to have the "pro" or "business" edition of Windows. So it is actually a surprise to me to see Lenovo starting offer a lower tiered edition. So if not much difference, I would choose Pro instead of Home.

1. Have been using USB docks corporately for a while; usually use Targus, some include power to charge your laptop if desired, especially if the model you are looking at supports USB-C, though these are pricier. Have deployed probably about 150 targus docks in the last 5 years, have had probably 10 in total break so far (primarily age related, ports wear etc). I consider that reasonable given wear and tear relative to other docks.
2. Win 10 Pro has a couple features you won't use based on what you're saying you use it for. Not worth an extra expense if not using corporately IMO. On the other hand to upgrade is not cheap, so if it's only $20 more why not . . .

I agree the L series can be a bit on the cheaper side, if you can get an X series or T series you'll likely get some better longevity from the system. I guess it depends on how long you think you'll keep it for.

Thanks to you both. Very helpful.

Actually now looking more seriously at the X280 instead.

If this is a dock for a home office, then it's not an issue. But if you're a "road warrior", lugging around a dock and (un)plugging everything may be a pain (at least for me). My preference is to carry as few "pluggables" as possible. My mouse is usually BT and I might carry one or two USB drives (eg, one full blown portable drive, and one flash based, rarely are both plugged in at the same time). Voice communication is usually a BT headset. So rarely if ever do I need four ports (your use case will likely be different) While people might poo-poo the idea of a USB hub, all the other required ports are built into the laptop. (Including a TB port if you don't have an HDMI monitor).

That said, The x280 does have a dock available.

I would be interested in hearing about the advantages from people who carry around a full-blown dock when visiting client sites. While it might not be for me, it'd be something to learn about.

As you're considering a 10PRO laptop, this is likely a moot point, but based on your windows usage, I'm guessing something to do with the legal profession (at least up here, that's the only industry still seriously using WP). If you're not connecting to a domain, there should be very little difference between the two versions. The only thing I might recommend from the pro version is bitlocker (especially if you are in the legal profession) but there are better (less destructive) solutions. I suspect you wouldn't need any of the additional features 10PRO would provide (or if you did, there may be a better solution). The only exception would be RDP... and those would be specific scenarios which you've already worked around since you use Chrome Remote Desktop.

Completely untrue. My ThinkPad X1 Carbon runs with a ThinkPad USB-C dock. One connector, through the USB-C/power port. It charges while connected. My USB keyboard, mouse, headset, monitor, and other peripherals are all picked up fine. Plenty of ports left. There's an extra USB and powered USB-C port on the front.

Yes, I don't know why he said USB docks can't do any of this. I'm using one now that connects my monitor, keybaord, mouse, camera, headset, and charger through the USB-C port.

This is the one I'm using now: This is the nicer one we use at my office:

You do know that Lenovo has a USB 3 dock that does not charge?

lets just say that usbC docks are picky

It takes a bit of research/luck to get one that works perfectly for your device/use case, not to mention the niche/optional items* that one may want in a dock


If you do find/get the dock that works perfectly, I'm a fan of usbC

* Niche/optional
Thunderbolt support
USB PD power requirements on laptop AND charger
max power limit of PD (100W), may be lower than what your laptop can charge using proprietary connector.dock/hub takes 5-20W power too
Multiple display support (usbC DP alt mode at the right resolution/fps)
Hubs/docks with downstream usbC data connection (a lot of cheap/portable hubs only provide one female chargeOnly usbC, and USB 3.0 typeA data ports)

Some laptops cannot charge via usbC PD unfortunately

I like the price of your home one a whole lot better Any drawbacks with it versus the pricier one?

It is. When I travel, I like the convenience of simply pushing one button to take the computer which I use all by itself while traveling. And I like even more not having to re-connect several cords when I return.

Which looks very nice. And VERY pricey.

It may be moot as the X280 I'm looking at has 10Pro. And, no, I'm not in the legal profession, just vastly prefer WordPerfect (which is so much less bloaty than Word -- even running Word, as I do, with the uBitMenu plugin that makes recent versions of Word revert to the Office 2003 interface )

Of course to some extent -- but not totally; there are just some things that WP does easily that Word doesn't, plus my word processing needs are way simpler than Word thinks they are -- this is a Piper versus Cessna argument: It's what you learned to fly on that continues to commend itself to you

And many that do. How that gets you to saying that all USB docks do not charge is...odd.

No, just fewer ports. You also need to get a USB C power supply and cable. I have a 65 W power supply. The dock takes about 8W. My laptop complains I have an underpowered supply connected but still charges and runs just fine.