09/06/2026 7:55 pm
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So I finally pulled the trigger on a new Dell XPS for this design internship I start on Monday and I'm freaking out a bit because the box is basically empty lol. I've got like $150 left in my budget to get set up and I need to order everything today so it gets here in time.
I spent all night looking at stuff and I'm just more confused now. I saw a lot of people saying I need a docking station but there are so many different types of USB-C hubs and some of the reviews say they overheat or dont support dual monitors which I definitely need for my workflow. Then there's the whole laptop stand situation... some people say get the foldable ones but others say they wobble too much and I'm gonna be typing a lot so that sounds like a nightmare.
Since I'm in a pretty rural area I have to rely on whatever I can get shipped fast from Amazon. Besides a mouse which I already have what are the absolute essentials I'm missing here? Do I really need a screen protector or one of those keyboard covers or are those just a waste of money? I feel like I'm forgetting something obvious and I dont want to be that person on the first day who cant even plug in their gear...
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09/06/2026 7:55 pm
Congrats on the XPS. In my experience, those machines are beasts but they run hot, so dont even bother with the cheap 20 dollar hubs. They will throttle your data speeds or just straight up die when you plug in a second monitor. Since youre on a 150 dollar budget and need dual displays for design work, youre gonna want something with solid power delivery and decent thermal management. Heres what I recommend based on hardware Ive actually tested and used in the field:
- Anker 565 USB-C Hub 11-in-1
- This is the way to go. It supports dual monitors via HDMI and DisplayPort and actually has the bandwidth to handle it without lagging your mouse or overheating your port.
- Nulaxy C3 Laptop Stand
- If youre typing directly on the laptop, this thing is a tank. It doesnt fold, which is exactly why it doesnt wobble. Forget the screen protector and keyboard cover. Keyboard covers are basically heat blankets for your hardware, which is the last thing a thin XPS needs. They also make the typing experience feel like mush. I've tried many setups over the years and honestly, the best thing you can do for a new laptop is just keep the airflow clear and use high-quality cables. For the dual monitors, make sure your cables are actually rated for the resolution you want... nothing worse than a flickering screen during a design review.
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09/06/2026 8:10 pm
Re: "Congrats on the XPS. In my experience, those..." - yeah, they definitely get toastie under load. Before I dump a list of gear on you though, I gotta ask... what kind of monitors are you planning to run? If they are dual 4k, a basic 50 dollar hub is gonna struggle or just limit you to 30Hz, which looks like garbage for design work. If you are just doing dual 1080p, you have more wiggle room. Since you are doing design, color accuracy and refresh rates actually matter.
- Anker 555 USB-C Hub 8-in-1 is basically a tank. It handles power delivery well and has the HDMI/DisplayPort combo you'll likely need for dual screens.
- Tomtoc 360 Protective Laptop Sleeve for XPS 13 fits perfectly and is way better than a screen protector for actual protection. Forget the keyboard covers. They mess with the airflow since these laptops vent through the keyboard deck sometimes, and they feel mushy. Screen protectors on an XPS—especially if you got the OLED version—just add glare and ruin the color accuracy you need for your internship. Just grab a good microfiber cloth for the smudges. If you can let me know the monitor specs I can help narrow down the hub situation so you don't blow that 150 on something that wont work.
