I’ve ran into this situation multiple times at my current and previous jobs. I really want to avoid Windows and use something better, but I can’t live without two external monitors.

On Windows, it “just works”. I don’t have to do anything.

On Linux (I tried Linux Mint today) it doesn’t work. First, it only connected one of the monitors, the other one did not register. Then I switched to a different cable from the computer to the docking station and it connected both screens - however, they were locked to 30fps. I could not make them work at 60fps (and this is a major dealbreaker, I cannot live with 30fps).

This isn’t really a tech support question, I’m more trying to understand what fundamentally causes this situation. Why is Linux still struggling with pretty basic functionality that Windows does with zero setup? Is it the vendor of the laptop and docking station that aren’t properly supporting Linux? Or is it some other problem?

  • entropicshart@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    121·
    6 months ago

    Not just Windows, but Macs as well; I’ve had three different generations of MacBooks that you could plug a USB-C (thunderbolt) into any dock (Dell, HengeDock, random amazon brand, etc) and they simply worked.

    I do feel your pain about multiple monitors; it is even more evident when you try to run some of them rotated and/or flipped.

    I’ve not found a solution for it yet, and in some small way, I am glad to hear it’s not just me having these problems.

      • efstajas@lemmy.worldEnglish
        31·
        6 months ago

        That’s not true, M1 Pro and Max MacBooks both support dual external monitors.

        The scaling and lack of available resolution problems is very real though. If you have monitors with a slightly non-standard resolution, you basically need third party software like SwitchResX, which is pretty stupid considering Windows has no problems like this at all.