What's the Best Way to Connect My Laptop to a Monitor?

[edm00se]

Prefix

This really depends on what ports are available to use on:

• your laptop
• the intended receiving device (monitor, TV, projector, etc.)

Newer ports (and devices) are preferable.

Single Monitor Destination

This is the all-in-one option, since it has the most versatility. A while back I purchased and have subsequently used heavily, an adapter that goes from my laptop's Thunderbolt (Apple's powered version of Display Port) to one of many ports.

Here's a current example on Amazon. It works with either Thunderbolt (Apple) or Mini Display Port (for non-Apple devices) and will put out to VGA, DVI, or HDMI (including audio).

Multiple Monitor Destination

This is the tricky end of things, as it relies on more knowledge of display ports and types. Ultimately, you're looking to achieve one of:

• split a signal across multiple displays (splitters)
• replicate ports to be able to connect to multiple displays ("dock" or port replicators)
• connect or adapt multiple existing ports to multiple displays (separate cables and/or adapters for existing ports, more cables to plug in)

Unless you have a specific requirement based on your laptop (see my notes below), you're effectively looking for a port replicator with simplicity in mind. Here's one on Amazon that looks pretty decent, but note: I've not purchased or used it myself. What it looks to be doing right is:

• it connects to the laptop via single USB 3.0 connection
• supports multiple display output, with different port types
• replicates more USB ports
• ethernet port

Notes: My MacBook Pro's "Dock"

My "dock" for my MBP is the Thunderbolt 2 dock by Belkin. I have one complaint and that is that while I can connect multiple ports on the dock unit to multiple displays, it only supports one at a time, meaning I have to plug in a second cable (with adapter) to get it to talk to my second external monitor. It's not a big deal, but seeing how docks exist to reduce (down to one) the number of external connections the laptop needs for "desktop mode", this is a little silly.

What Ports? Help?!

You should probably familiarize yourself with what sorts of ports are common on a laptop. A fairly recent guide that looks to be both accurate and have lots of pictures can be found here.