I'm not very tech savvy, so my apologies for any confusion in advance.
I have a dual monitor (2 x Dell U2412M) desktop setup at home.
I use a laptop for work, and at times would like to connect the laptop to the dual monitor so I can use the larger dual screens.
Is there a way I could essentially just plug the laptop for the monitors to 'switch' from the desktop to the laptop without having to unplug and replug the monitor cables each time?
Hope I make sense!
Unfortunately you might be a little limited depending on your laptop connectors etc.
One possibility is to buy multiple cables and leverage the multiple inputs on your monitor. This may or may not be possible depending on your laptop and desktop outputs. The U2412 only has 1 of a dvi-d, displayport and vga. The idea would be for e.g. desktop connects via display port, and then laptops connect via dvi-d or vga. VGA is not ideal, but for 1920x1200 resolution for office work probably not a big deal (unless you are doing particularly colour/image sensitive work). Whether this works will depend on your laptop and desktop - what connectors do they have. Adapters are also possible (but potentially costly)
This could also be combined with a dock as alluded to above.
The other possibility is a KVM, which basically acts a hub that can multiplex your connections. It would simplify your workflow to plugging in some cables to your laptop, and flicking a physical switch on the KVM to change the display to your monitors. The upside is that there is usually provision for keyboard and mouse as well, which is nice (but might not be useful for you). The downside is that these are relatively expensive, particularly for USB/DVI/Displayport devices - probably prohibitively so.
Let us know your laptop model and what your desktop output is (if you know - if not maybe take a picture) and we can help further.
One possibility is to buy multiple cables and leverage the multiple inputs on your monitor.
To clarify, are you suggesting I get another cable that connects from the monitor to the laptop via the output the monitor isn't using for the desktop? If so, assuming the desktop is on, does the monitor let me select whether to display from the laptop or desktop?
Let us know your laptop model and what your desktop output is (if you know - if not maybe take a picture) and we can help further.
Laptop is a Lenovo Thinkpad T460s. Will have to take a look at the desktop output when I get home.
To clarify, are you suggesting I get another cable that connects from the monitor to the laptop via the output the monitor isn't using for the desktop? If so, assuming the desktop is on, does the monitor let me select whether to display from the laptop or desktop?
Yes, that is correct. The monitors should let you select which input to use (Note I don't know this for absolutely certain on the U2412 but this is the case for every other dell monitor I've used). Or possibly you could use auto-detect source.
Laptop is a Lenovo Thinkpad T460s. Will have to take a look at the desktop output when I get home.
Okay. Your laptop options for output are then:
mini displayport. You should be able to get reasonably priced adapters to feed directly into the U2412 displayport, vga OR the DVI (note that for high resolution (e.g. WQXGA) displayport to DVI you need an active adapter which is substantially more expensive, but for 1920x1200 passive is fine - worth keeping in note incase you ever upgrade), which is quite good. The downside is this will only be good for a single monitor
HDMI output. Again, HDMI to displayport, VGA or DVI adapters are reasonably common. As before, this is good for a single monitor
The only possible confound is that the ports might not work at the same time (while you might think surely they would, I have been badly burned before). Thankfully it looks like they would:
https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/ThinkPad-T400-T500-and-newer-T/…
So the final thing to check is what your desktop outputs currently use. Then it should be a matter of getting some adapters.
As a general note, I don't anticipate you should have too much trouble with your setup of powering dual 1920x1200 monitors. Keep in mind however that higher resolutions can be surprisingly painful (e.g. 3k or 4k displays). I use dual 4k with a laptop and it can be particularly hellish to fidle with sometimes.
Also, IF you do choose to buy Thinkpad docks keep in mind there are some painfully counterintuitive limitations to the video outputs on the docks (with implications mainly on the 3k/4k displays I alluded to earlier). They're good (but expensive) devices, but painfully limited in what they can do considering the price you pay for them. I speak as a former thinkpad owner (and fleet manager for small business)
I have a thunderbolt and USB C dock that my Monitors, Speakers, Keyboard/Mouse, Mic/Webcam, and Ethernet cable connects to. On the side of the desk, I've installed a 2m Extension cord for USB C so I easily plug the docks main cable between my Main PC USB C port and My Laptop Main USB C Port. You can also try a KVM or a software solution like Synergy.
So, you'd like switch/hub at your monitors which you can change between laptop or desktop.
Yes, essentially that's the idea.
sounds like a dock ( as idontalwaysnotlie says) would be most convenient.
https://support.lenovo.com/au/en/solutions/pd029622 is the page for dock specs re dual monitors.
most monitors these days use DVI so this switch box would be appropriate.
does your desktop have 2 monitor cables coming out of it? or a single splitter cable?
The gadget you are thinking of is called a dock (or docking station).
It allows you to plug you screen, keyboard/mouse, network cords into it then have the one cable to conect it all to your laptop.
Some laptops have built in ports that you can sit atop the dock to connect. See if one works with yours.
They range from ~$30 to $500 based on features and connections. A good universal one will set you back about $100.