Laptops in 2023: Wait, wait, wait. You’re telling me you want ports?
or, more accurately,
Laptops in 2023: If you want ports, use a USB hub.
Laptops in 2000: Here’s multiple USB ports, VGA, Mini Displayport, a fucking smartcard reader, SD card reader, ethernet port and docking port
Edit: just as an FYI this is referring to the T450 (which is the one i have), also added docking port because those count.
When I was looking for a gaming laptop 2 years ago, I couldn’t find any that didn’t have the graphics card soldered on. I looked into building a laptop myself, but I couldn’t even find cases to buy. Am I just the most dumbest Googler?
MXM GPUs never really caught on, and nobody builds their own laptop, it’s just not a thing like it is with desktops.
Best option if you want upgradable graphics would be an external Thunderbolt dock, but even then there are plenty of caveats there.
Flash libreboot and run a free distro and your in business