Why two power ports on a budget laptop??

[KC9UDX]

I have done this with barrel jacks, when it was necessary.  This was in the days before USB.  It can be done.  It can't be done with USB.  Well, it would be much more difficult.

I do not intend to take sides in this argument, but you could rather easily wedge two bare wires into the outer pin positions of a female USB Type-A connector, which provide power.  However, it's a whole different matter why would you want to do something like that.

Possibly.  But what charges with a female USB-A?

The whole point is that with a barrel jack, you can charge it with any power supply that supplies correct voltage, in a pinch. At one time, annoying manufacturers would use an odd-sized barrel plug so that you'd have to buy their wall wart. When you can't get one, and you must power the device, you do what you have to do. It's the worst case scenario.  At least, it's the least possible workable situation.  Obviously it could get much worse such as having no source of electricity, but you just don't have a chance then.

It was said earlier that a USB-C is more useful in the worst case scenario, and I disagree, with reason.