Ethernet Ports and Alternatives

The cluster focuses on the lack of Ethernet ports on modern devices like laptops, user preferences for reliable wired Ethernet over Wi-Fi, and alternatives such as dongles, powerline adapters, and USB Ethernet.

📉 Falling 0.4x Hardware
3,846
Comments
19
Years Active
5
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#2044
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

2008
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2010
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2011
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2012
77
2013
141
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119
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161
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2018
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2022
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Keywords

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Sample Comments

amelius Apr 21, 2025 View on HN

Can't we just use Ethernet instead?

mr_toad Nov 10, 2025 View on HN

So few devices have Ethernet ports these days.

geerlingguy Dec 5, 2022 View on HN

Some can do Ethernet through a dongle!

FalconSensei Apr 23, 2020 View on HN

Thing is... most people don't use ethernet anymore, at least for notebooks. So it makes sense that your options are limited.

Arelius Feb 4, 2021 View on HN

Any capacity to plug in an good old-fashioned Ethernet cable?

jaimehrubiks Sep 3, 2022 View on HN

Will USB replace Ethernet at some point?

partialrecall Sep 19, 2019 View on HN

Watch out for the reverse too, ethernet over powerline is a thing!

smcleod Dec 3, 2023 View on HN

Weird that the ethernet ports are only 1GbE, that discounts everyone with a >1Gbit internet connection

wfunction May 3, 2017 View on HN

Dumb question: is any of this relevant for someone who only uses Wi-Fi and not ethernet?

downrightmike Aug 25, 2025 View on HN

Almost like ethernet, if only there were a way to fix that