Purchased Dell 14(DC14255) for Clamshell Mode

Table of Contents

• Accessories and Appearance
• Connecting to a Monitor
  • Issue: No Video Output with USB-C Cable
• Summary

Accessories and Appearance

Click here for Dell 14 Laptop (DC14255)

Included in the package are the PC unit, charging cable (proprietary connector), and instruction manuals, etc.

The PC unit itself feels like a very standard business laptop.

The display is 1920 x 1200, which is taller than standard FHD. While not ultra-high definition, setting the scaling to 100% makes everything quite small, allowing many windows to be open, which is nice.

The anti-glare finish is also good as it prevents reflections.

The keyboard is also a very standard Japanese layout.
It doesn't feel like a US layout forcibly converted to Japanese.

However, one thing I noticed was that some function keys (media keys) are unassigned (F5 and F9).
It would have been nice if they were assigned to something, like a microphone mute.

Also, the 'Home' and 'End' keys, which I personally use frequently, are in mysterious locations at F11 and F12.
I thought, "Normally they're on the left and right arrow keys!", but after booting it up, I found that Home and End were also assigned to fn+←→, which was a relief. Why isn't it written on the keys...

Furthermore, the position of the power button requires attention.
It doesn't react to a single press; you need to press and hold it slightly, so it's not a major inconvenience.

Also, when I started it up, I thought, "It's hard to tell if it's on."
Don't power buttons or Fn keys usually have small indicator lights...?
There's nothing that lights up, so it's not immediately clear if it's on.

The key travel is shallow, and honestly, the typing feel is a bit cheap.
It gives the impression that people who type a lot or hit the keys hard might wear it out relatively quickly.

These are the side ports.
I think it's well-equipped with HDMI and an SD card slot.

The crucial USB-C port for clamshell mode is on the left side.
Being on the left is good for those who simply connect it to a monitor, as it won't interfere with the mouse.
The USB-C port supports DisplayPort, so it should be capable of power delivery, video output, and data transfer with a single cable.

A 65W charging cable is included, but I probably won't use it...

For clamshell use, you can power it from the display, and

It's more convenient to buy a 65W AC adapter, as it can also be used with a smartphone charger.

Confirmed that it can be charged with the above charger.

The color options are listed below, but since the grade I wanted only offered plastic, I chose "Black (Plastic)".

The aluminum version has a more premium feel and seems to include a fingerprint sensor on the power button.
On the other hand, be aware that the plastic version does not have biometric authentication.

I haven't even started it up yet, but fingerprints are already noticeable. (Though I've also taken photos to make them visible).
As a trade-off for the lower price, I guess I'll have to overlook this.

If they were someone else's fingerprints, I'd dislike it, but since they're my own, even I, a germaphobe, can tolerate it.

By the way, here's how it compares to my "MacBook Pro 13-inch Mid 2014".
The width is almost the same, but the Dell 14 is taller.

The MacBook Pro is significantly thinner.

Click here for Dell 14 Laptop (DC14255)

If this article is helpful, purchasing through the links here would be greatly appreciated.

Connecting to a Monitor

Now, let's connect it to a monitor.

I'm using a Dell U2723QE, a 4K 27-inch monitor, which has a USB-C port on the back, so I'll connect it there.

(USB-C Upstream / Power Delivery DisplayPort 1.4 Alt Mode (Max 90W Output, HDCP 2.2))

I'll link to a similar current model.

Connect to the laptop's USB-C port.

It's a bit hard to see, but the white light next to the power port turned on.
White light: Charging / Orange light: Low battery / Off: Fully charged

Anyway, it's all done with just one USB-C cable! I'm happy.

Here's the USB-C cable I'm using.
It's a Thunderbolt 5, 240W, max 120Gbps cable, the highest spec currently available, and reliably made by Elecom.

The included charger is 65W, and power delivery from the monitor is 90W, so the charging speed is also sufficient.

To use it in clamshell mode, go to "Settings > System > Power & Battery > Lid, power & sleep buttons" and set "When I close the lid" to "Do nothing".

This way, the PC will remain on even when closed, but only when connected to a monitor.

Dell laptops allow you to set the maximum battery charge from the BIOS.
More details are explained here.

For clamshell use, the laptop will generally remain plugged in, so it's recommended to set this to prevent battery degradation.

After using it for a bit, the basic performance is perfectly fine.
It operates smoothly even with multiple windows open.

However, when launching somewhat heavy software like Photoshop, 16GB of memory gets stuck at around 95% usage.
Since this model allows memory expansion, you might consider upgrading to 32GB if your budget allows.

Memory expansion is introduced here.

And then, what caught my attention was the fan noise.
When there's a slight load, like during Windows Update, a high-pitched "whirring" sound occurs. To exaggerate, it's almost loud enough to be picked up by a web conference microphone.
Perhaps the plastic casing makes it harder for heat to escape? It's not constant, so it's just a minor drawback.

Click here for Dell 14 Laptop (DC14255)

If this article is helpful, purchasing through the links here would be greatly appreciated.

Summary

Here's a summary.

This time, I introduced Dell's laptop, the "Dell 14 DC14255".

If you intend to output video via a USB-C cable, it's best to check beforehand if your monitor has settings for USB-C.

More details here

Once video output is achieved, a single cable can handle power delivery, video output, and data transfer. Plus, with the ability to set a charging limit from the BIOS, you can rest assured that battery degradation will be minimized even when constantly plugged in.

The included 65W AC adapter is bulky, so it's likely to be replaced by power delivery from the monitor or a compact USB-C charger.

While there were several points to critique given its affordability, for those who can tolerate these, it might be a cost-effective choice.

I hope this was helpful.

Click here for Dell 14 Laptop (DC14255)

If this article is helpful, purchasing through the links here would be greatly appreciated.

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