After toiling for many months to get it right, Southeast Asia-based Redditor vostok91 finally finished fitting a vibrant computer setup on a small desk in a small room. The result may be a small setup compared to some, but that doesn’t make it a “small setup.” It’s plenty feisty.
A 15-inch MacBook Pro paired with an LG 32UL950 Ultrafine 4K LED Monitor make up the setup’s core.
Tough choice on monitor size
Vostok91 indicated in the post that choosing monitor size wasn’t easy. In a small space, a few inches can make a difference. And that difference can be between comfortable and cramped in the room as well as on the screen.
“I spent weeks trying to decide,” vostok91 wrote. “Went into stores to physically check them out and ultimately landed on the 32-inch because I needed the screen real estate for my video editing work and felt that the 27-inch was too small for my needs.”
Mechanical keyboard and a Magic Mouse?
A slick Keychron K2 Mechanical Keyboard with Gateron Brown Switches for smooth and fast keystrokes plus a Magic Mouse and trackpad round out the setup, basic computing-wise.
When a commenter expressed doubt over anyone using both a mechanical keyboard and a Magic Mouse, vostok91 had a ready answer.
“I’m a video editor so I use the Magic Mouse solely for the gesture controls when scrubbing through my editing timelines,” they said.
Space-saving lighting for a small desk
Commenters were curious about the screen bar light over the monitor. Some due to unfamiliarity with the concept and others because they chose a pricier option than vostok91.
“It’s a nice light that casts down on the desk without taking up desk space or creating a glare on the monitor,” vostok91 explained. “I needed one to get light to the middle of my desk but didn’t want a big swinging arm lamp to go over my monitor.”
The video editor added the analogy of a piano player using a similar light to illuminate the keys during a performance.
“Puts light where you want it and nowhere else,” vostok91 wrote.
Another space-saving lighting option in the room is a lightstrip.
Audio choices
Vostok91’s setup is wired for pretty good sound. A Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Studio USB Audio Interface works for recording and mixing, and a Sony SRS-XB31 Bluetooth speaker and a pair of IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Speakers pump sound into the room.
And finally, shout outs where shout outs are due: vostok91 noted that groovy wallpaper onscreen, in case you like it and wish you could find it, is by Paweł Czerwiński.
Shop for these items now:
Computer equipment:
- 15-inch MacBook Pro
- LG 32UL950 Ultrafine 4K LED Monitor
- Keychron K2 Mechanical Keyboard with Gateron Brown Switch
- Magic Mouse
- Magic Trackpad
Audio:
- Sony SRS-XB31 Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker
- IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Speakers
- Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 USB Audio Interface
Lighting:
Accessories:
If you would like to see your setup featured on Cult of Mac, send some high-res pictures to info+setups@cultofmac.com. Please provide a detailed list of your equipment. Tell us what you like or dislike about your setup, and fill us in on any special touches or challenges.
