I need something like a new notebook to work while out of the house so I've been considering my options recently. I don't really need anything powerful, but do like a nice screen and I also appreciate a proper keyboard and mouse. Plus I realised I'm always carrying my Galaxy S8 which already has plenty of power for light PC duties. So I was thinking...
One option would be hooking up a USB monitor like the nice looking ASUS "ZenScreen Go" I've seen in a couple of reports from CES. A phone was driving in the the display booth and both have in internal battery. But it will draw power via it's USB type C port when it needs, which will obviously drain the phone in no time. Plus since the phone is plugged into the monitor you can't cable charge it either, the best you could do is last as long as possible on the phone's Qi charging (which might actually be OK).
But how does USB type C work with hubs and power delivery? I know power levels are negotiated on connection, and I'm sure I read power direction can be negotiated also. So I guess charging the phone from the monitor's battery is likely. But could I put active adaptor in the middle which charges them both at the same time? And that sounds like it's the first step towards a powered hub, but powered hubs don't charge the host also do they? And how would a hub affect the type C display alt modes? I know alt modes, like the power, are negotiated on connection but I'm guessing the hub controller needs specific support for alt modes to avoid mangling the signal? I've seen a few hubs advertised as having a type C power delivery passthrough so I guess it's a special thing and display alt mode passthrough might be also...
Thanks for any input. Just to cut a few posters off at the pass: I'm using Linux, there a a few ways to run a full desktop. Yes I understand there's already a "Dex" dock, I know it and other hubs exist with hdmi ports. Yes, I would rather spend more on a "portable" display/kb/mouse/hub/etc than buying an entry level notebook. I know all these things won't be as portable as a notebook. Etc. Just looking for some input into USB atm so I can understand the scope of what is or is not possible.
One option would be hooking up a USB monitor like the nice looking ASUS "ZenScreen Go" I've seen in a couple of reports from CES. A phone was driving in the the display booth and both have in internal battery. But it will draw power via it's USB type C port when it needs, which will obviously drain the phone in no time. Plus since the phone is plugged into the monitor you can't cable charge it either, the best you could do is last as long as possible on the phone's Qi charging (which might actually be OK).
But how does USB type C work with hubs and power delivery? I know power levels are negotiated on connection, and I'm sure I read power direction can be negotiated also. So I guess charging the phone from the monitor's battery is likely. But could I put active adaptor in the middle which charges them both at the same time? And that sounds like it's the first step towards a powered hub, but powered hubs don't charge the host also do they? And how would a hub affect the type C display alt modes? I know alt modes, like the power, are negotiated on connection but I'm guessing the hub controller needs specific support for alt modes to avoid mangling the signal? I've seen a few hubs advertised as having a type C power delivery passthrough so I guess it's a special thing and display alt mode passthrough might be also...
Thanks for any input. Just to cut a few posters off at the pass: I'm using Linux, there a a few ways to run a full desktop. Yes I understand there's already a "Dex" dock, I know it and other hubs exist with hdmi ports. Yes, I would rather spend more on a "portable" display/kb/mouse/hub/etc than buying an entry level notebook. I know all these things won't be as portable as a notebook. Etc. Just looking for some input into USB atm so I can understand the scope of what is or is not possible.
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