harddrive + charging: umm, all the time? Say a laptop sitting on my desk. All my media on an external drive. What do I just never charge the laptop so I can access my media?
USB is needed because a lot of laptops don't come with RJ45. Yeah you can go wifi, but my computer's right next to my router, why wouldn't I plug in to 1Gbps goodness (I don't have an ac router yet)?
Bought a new laptop a couple days ago: 3 USB ports on it, + a USB hub. My setup will be (at least when I'm at home): network, external monitor and external drive going though the hub via USB 3 (I'm getting a Dell XPS 15 with the USB 3.0 multi-dongle they suggest, hope it works well for video but if not only $60 and I'd want the ethernet dongle anyways). Another port will be tied up with my wifi mouse. That leaves one free for whatever gadget I'm playing with at the time (iPad/pod, kindle phone etc)
I wish there were more of a selection at my local computer stores for bluetooth mice to free up the port. They usually have one and it is a tiny one meant for using your laptop on the go. I want a fullsized one but don't want to drop 50-100 on one online and have to pray it is comfortable when it arrives. I'm kind of going to be in the same boat as with my iMac: by the time I attach the things needed (mouse, keyboard, harddrive) I only have one port left that I constantly have to swap cables with (since my iPad, iPod and kindle/phone all use different connectors). I can't imagine the pain in the ass the new Macbook would be for me to use.