Laptops and USB-C Monitors

[NathanH99]

Hi All,

 

I work in a Secondary School where we are looking to go down the route of using laptops as teacher stations instead of standard desktops. Our plan was the following

 

Buy USB-C Laptops and USB-C Hub Monitors

 

Plug USB-C laptop into USB-C Hub Monitor via USB-C and then plug the TV into the USB-C Hub Monitor which would passthrough the display.

 

This would work. The issue we have is the teacher would end up with three monitors (Laptop screen, Monitor and TV) which they would need to configure correctly in each room they worked in so that for example the Monitor and the TV to duplicate and then the laptop to extend which is way too complicated for our staff and especially supply staff...

 

We need a solution where the teacher plugs there laptop into the USB-C cable and the monitor and TV always show the same thing without any user intervention

 

I would be interested in hearing what other schools do which do laptops as teacher stations,

 

Thanks,

 

Nathan

[synaesthesia]

Why another screen, what benefit does that give? There's one built into the laptops.

Straight USB-C docks would be far easier, offering charging, display, audio, network passthrough on the desk.

[NathanH99]

Why another screen, what benefit does that give? There's one built into the laptops.

Straight USB-C docks would be far easier, offering charging, display, audio, network passthrough on the desk.

 

Agreed however staff area already use to having double screens which are 24", going to one screen which is 15.6" would cause me grief.

[psydii]

Unless you are able to maintain an iron grip on standardisation of equipment, having a second monitor in the set up will cause some people some problems some of the time.

 

We operate on a "if you want that, you will have to learn to troubleshoot it yourself/deal with limited functionality when it lets you down at the start of a lesson". A few teachers are happy with that, but most settle for laptop + IWB (via HDMI because we had a bad run of USBC issues back in 2019-2021)

[synaesthesia]

They can't have their cake and eat it "3 monitors is too complicated" "We want 3 monitors". Compromise as psydii's suggestion IMO! Otherwise you'd have to end up with a HDMI splitter as well as the hub, something else to fail.

[Cazab]

Monitor + HDMI splitter?

 

Laptop -> HDMI -> HDMI Splitter -> Monitor

-> IWB

[NathanH99]

Monitor + HDMI splitter?

 

Laptop -> HDMI -> HDMI Splitter -> Monitor

-> IWB

 

Yeah that was my other idea however we would still want the one cable, so would be looking at going USB-C Dock to HDMI Splitter to Monitor and TV which as synaesthesia says would probably cause more issues... I guess there is no perfect method without sacrifice

[Cazab]

We recently went from desktops in classroom -> laptops + Dell 24 USB-C Hub Monitor (P2425HE)

And just provided video tutorial and paper instructions with screenshots to all staff members.

 

And the only classroom we're having consistent issues in is one with a TV instead of SMART board, and a specific staff member.

[andy_b]

Have a keyboard and mouse plugged into the monitor and then they can keep the laptop closed if they want?

 

Those that can "manage" three screens have the option then.

[Sanchez]

We do something a little similar. We use Chromebooks for staff and we plug them into usb-c hubs. From the hubs we go VGA to the monitor and HDMI to the projector. If you choose slightly cheaper hubs, the hub acts as a splitter mirroring the VGA and HDMI. We needed this as Chromebooks can't mirror 2 displays and extend the third.

[Katy]

We recently went from desktops in classroom -> laptops + Dell 24 USB-C Hub Monitor (P2425HE)

And just provided video tutorial and paper instructions with screenshots to all staff members.

 

And the only classroom we're having consistent issues in is one with a TV instead of SMART board, and a specific staff member.

 

I was looking at these (recently got some P2425HE for offices, with P2425H on the Display Port pass-thru), how are you linking the laptops to the Smart boards? We have Promethean ActivPanel LX but I can't think how I'd link this in - USB for the touch is easy, but the display - it's only got HDMI, and the P2425HE only has DP output. Can't really USB-C it as that flakes out when you go more than about 1.8m on the cable.

 

(We currently have PCs connected with HDMI and USB cables, but I want to get a monitor for docking laptops/tablets instead - rather than using the built in laptop display which is never at the right height for DSE requirements, and we don't have departmental offices so classrooms get used for admin work by teachers)

[NathanH99]

I was looking at these (recently got some P2425HE for offices, with P2425H on the Display Port pass-thru), how are you linking the laptops to the Smart boards? We have Promethean ActivPanel LX but I can't think how I'd link this in - USB for the touch is easy, but the display - it's only got HDMI, and the P2425HE only has DP output. Can't really USB-C it as that flakes out when you go more than about 1.8m on the cable.

 

(We currently have PCs connected with HDMI and USB cables, but I want to get a monitor for docking laptops/tablets instead - rather than using the built in laptop display which is never at the right height for DSE requirements, and we don't have departmental offices so classrooms get used for admin work by teachers)

You can buy active Display Port to HDMI adapter which work fine for another School in our Trust in this exact config. Something like the below

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/DisplayPort-Adapter-Compatible-ThinkPad-Desktop/dp/B07ZNNRYFL/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=3ADSKD0DIPOD1&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.oV05Bo4lEYzNUZN6ms3-MSXDWFgz-rG1b0U-lhYls7-Ir7mWCleKovc4_vGkJl73ozfg8cQtsx-bwWDZIc10J4Iyb6INpyJ5y9CVcTniOCzsKLNcB8DqVbE596IBf4YzNnRz6nEmUDgbwz6LVshsOCKkhMbVHwt-69FnAUgj3ahEKN6EN8FnYSvLqlTk87Z6tJ6gaxNZguTg7Uok9Vz2zJc-HFysX-ptaIkma1u_diU.v1wDPe29M2Cx854e1vLP34sm8fa5PfDH06q6eHkLHgs&dib_tag=se&keywords=active%2Bdisplayport%2Bto%2Bhdmi&qid=1738147656&sprefix=active%2Bdisp%2Caps%2C79&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

[PotNoodleTech]

It's a really bad idea.

 

having a permanent hardwired PC in each class linked to a whiteboard and dual TFTs is about the most reliabile way you can do it.

 

Having a laptop that the teacher forgot to charge or forgot to bring in and trying to get it linked to a variety of hardware via a variety of converter dongles that have been damaged by people banging them or plugging them in and out a hundreed times, is about the worst way to do it.

 

IMHO

Edited January 29, 2025 by PotNoodleTech

[psydii]

It's a really bad idea.

It can be done very badly, but that is a risk not an intrinsic property of the idea.

 

having a permanent hardwired PC in each class linked to a whiteboard and dual TFTs is about the most reliable way you can do it.

That is true, but chipsets, drivers, firmware and wiring can all cause chaos over time even with wired desktops (see recent thread re DP vs DP++ vs HDMI adaptors vs DP->HDMI cables)

 

Having a laptop that the teacher forgot to charge or forgot to bring in and trying to get it linked to a variety of hardware via a variety of converter dongles that have been damaged by people banging them or plugging them in and out a hundreed times, is about the worst way to do it.

First point: happens maybe twice a term here.

Second point: yes this is a risk, but standardisation is key, and testing new models of laptop against your standard configurations before purchase mitigates much of the risk. It is true that with hundreds of connects/disconnects things do wear out, but this is offset by the improved flexibility for staff of having all their work on a mobile device able to work or teach in any room.

 

IMHO

IME

[PotNoodleTech]

There's no convincing me - I'll be teacher pc hard wired till the end of my days. We give teachers chromebooks too so they can work from wherever they want but when they come to a classroom its 20 seconds for boot and 20 seconds for logon and they're teaching and learning in under a minute, no plugs, no charging, no need to call IT support.

 

Saying they need to use their laptop as they need their stuff doesnt make any sense in 2025 where literally everything is accessible from every device whether it be on shared areas home drives or google or 365.

 

Most people who come here from other schools are amazed by the reliability of everything - there is a reason for that as much stuff as possible is hard wired and we don't use windows laptops as they're inherantly unreliable.

 

IMHO again

[psydii]

Hah. Likewise.

[Katy]

You can buy active Display Port to HDMI adapter which work fine for another School in our Trust in this exact config.

 

I tried this to link mine up to the office TV and it didn't work, but to be fair I didn't put much time into it. Does it also carry audio from the laptop through the USB-C then through the P2425HE out the display port, then into the HDMI on the screen?

[Synkrox]

Just my 10p worth....

Give them good laptops and go wireless projection. Once they see annotating a powerpoint while wandering around the room they'll be converted. One Device, zero login times, minimum cabling. cheapest rolling replacement cycle.