Another RV office setup

[Neal]

I'm using a PC tower as you can see the white under the left edge of the right side monitor. However, I have used the Dell laptop in the past (XPS 17 as you know) and it works well and I need to start using that instead of the monster tower. I just like having "more power" on the tower with all of my developer stuff but quite frankly I've never had an issue or hold back with the Dell. I do have the Dell dock station and it works well, it's an added and unnecessary expense I believe but it's also an option.

You have options with the laptop and in fact it can also serve as an additional monitor such as left of the main. You can simply connect a USB C port on your dell to a cable that connects to the monitor. HDMI, Displayport or if your monitor has USB C ports as mine do, that works too. So you can go USB C to an USB C input, or USB C to HDMI or DisplayPort cable. Here is what I use for monitors and cable suggestions for you:

LG 27 inch monitor with USB-C (and HDMI, DisplayPort). I love these monitors, I have probably a half dozen of these between two office setups.

USB C to DisplayPort cable

USB C to HDMI cable

USB C to C cable

My favorite mouse

My favorite keyboard mini or full size

 

[Jim]

Thank you @Neal for that detailed explanation and the associated links.

 

[Jim]

Does the LG 27 inch monitor with USB-C connect directly to the laptop via the display port cable? Or do I need a docking station between them? And if I'm going to run two of these monitors, do I:

• run two display port cables from the laptop, each one to a separate monitor, or
• one display port cable into a docking station and then individual display port cables into the monitors, or
• can I run one display port cable from the laptop to the monitor and then daisy chain the monitors?

 

[Neal]

I edited my post of parts to add a USB C to C cable. If you have a monitor such as I linked and use that has a USB C "thunderbolt" port you can also go that path, C to C. I use both a Macbook Pro and Windows machine so I use USB C from the Mac and C to DisplayPort for Windows.

So you will plug your power adapter into one USB C port and I think you have 4 x USB C ports on your laptop (not near mine) so you plug your desired cables into USB C ports and connect to monitors. One port per monitor.

If you need to expand USB ports I also use these:

Amazon.com

 

[Neal]

Follow up on my ever evolving RV office setup and work to outfit the dinette to be a good alternative to my home office. As posted on the site somewhere, I once removed the jack knife sofa and installed my 72 inch updesk, that was a great setup but took out the social in my coach. I think I finally found my happy place for my office setup which is now on version 28, see below.

On this brief trip I started out by trying a VIVO 3 monitor mount. I knew it would be painful for setup and teardown but let's give it a try. The problem is the clamp mount does not work well with the dinette and the corian top. I tried it and noticed just in time the clamp was slipping away, it's just too much weight. So I went back to the dual monitor mount at the top of this thread.

I ordered and had with me a VIVO laptop mount as I figured the only way I'd get a good 3rd screen (I ultimately need 4) was to use my laptop. I did this on my last trip using my dinner tray fold out stand setup next to my dinette, less than ideal for walking the narrow path from front to back of the coach. So I figured I'd take this laptop stand mount of the box and give it a try. I had a welcome surprise when seeing the parts and reading the instructions that it can also serve as a monitor stand. Hmmm, this is going to work out great, and it did, and does. I really like this setup.

I'm loving my Keychron keyboards I posted about, this is the one I'm using in the RV. The ones at home are Q6 Max series.

Today's teardown and setup of the 3 monitor config wasn't bad. The 3rd (right) monitor is optional and probably will remain stowed on shorter visits as I really only need it on Monday to Friday work.

 

[Neal]

We'll see how long this lasts but I'm rethinking my RV computer setup for the future. I love having my mega powerful PC tower with me but I really really really hate the clutter. Granted, my monitors kill the dinette ability for meals with visitors but it's still a mess that is annoying me.

What I'm thinking of trying going forward is going with the new Mac Studio when it comes out presumably this summer (WWDC time frame) with the M4 or later, otherwise a Mac Mini M4. I'll run Windows on VMWare Fusion but about everything I do now can also be done on Mac.

I really want as much of this computer nonsense concealed as possible. I'd go with a gaming laptop like the ASUS Scar 18 or 16 but I despise fan noise. My PC towers are silent (water cooled) as are Mac's.

So we'll see what the next RV trip holds for another computer iteration.

 

[DennisT]

The Apple chips are quite nice.

The M2 pro laptop I bought before retiring has performed quite well.

I looked hard and long at the studio option before going the laptop route. Still have my “trash can” Mac Pro with Xeon processors for video editing.

Just make sure the studio, you can get in the case if desired. The older minis you could and then they redesigned to be sealed so no upgrading memory or hard drive without taking it in.

Parallels works well on them for running Windows or any of the Linux flavors if needed.

There was a bug with Win 11 version for Apple silicone that wouldn’t let it get updated any longer but the Parallels team had a registry fix that got around that. MS is supposed to be doing an update that fixes the issue. I believe it was only a problem with the windows version on the Apple silicone.