That’s one (unique) way to mount a MacBook Air [Setups]

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Want to save some space on the desk? Try mounting your laptop on a pegboard.
Want to save some space on the desk? Try mounting your laptop on a pegboard.
Photo: essayyjay@Reddit.com

In our never-ending search for interesting computer setups, we love stumbling upon good do-it-yourself (“DIY”) hacks. Today’s featured setup mounts an M1 MacBook Air on the wall in a most-unusual way. It involves a pegboard, a strap and a tablet stand designed for use in the kitchen.

In addition, the setup features a rarely seen mechanical keyboard worth checking out.

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M1 MacBook Air mounted on a modified kitchen tablet stand on a pegboard

Redditor essayyjay (“Jay”) showcased the M1-MacBook-Air-based setup in a post entitled, “March ‘23 Update.”

The slim laptop drives LG’s 27-inch UltraFine 5K display. That’s a monitor many folks consider a good alternative to Apple’s 5K Studio Display because it’s a little less expensive, costing a few hundred bucks less.

LG’s monitor, with 5K resolution (5120 x 2880 pixels), is an IPS screen with 500 nits of brightness. It features a Thunderbolt 3 port with 94 watts of power deliver for the computer and three USB-C ports for other connectivity.

Not that anyone’s counting, but the Studio Display pulses out 600 nits of brightness. And it features a 12MP ultra-wide camera and six spatial-audio-capable speakers.

DIY laptop stand mounted on the wall

This laptop mount started out life as an Ikea kitchen tablet stand you'd use to look at recipes.
This laptop mount started out life as an Ikea kitchen tablet stand you’d use to look at recipes.
Photo: essayyjay@Reddit.com

But what some people might find more interesting about the setup is the unusual DIY way Jay mounts his MacBook Air on the wall to keep it out of the way as it runs in clamshell (closed) mode.

“It’s an Ikea Vivalla tablet stand,” Jay explained to a curious commenter. The bamboo stand would ordinarily hold an iPad or other tablet with a recipe on the screen (Ikea stresses its kitchen use). “I cut off the rear section and bolted it on to the pegboard (the screw heads are covered by the black leather bit). I then ran an elastic band horizontally for some extra security.”

It appears he also ran a USB-C cable up the wall and, presto, now there’s no laptop cluttering up the desk most of the time.

Here's a more standard, kitchen-based use of the Ikea Vivalla tablet stand.
Here’s a more standard, kitchen-based use of the Ikea Vivalla tablet stand.
Photo: Ikea

Mechanical keyboard beats out Magic Keyboard

Another topic of discussion in the post’s comments section concerned Jay’s mechanical keyboard. It’s a rarely seen Rama Works Kara mechanical keyboard with Drop + Matt3o MT3 keycaps.

“My wrists hurt looking at that keyboard,” one person noted.

“Haha, actually it feels great,” Jay replied. “I was a die-hard full-size Apple [Magic] Keyboard fan, but that feels like tapping a piece of plywood in comparison. I also have my seat and arm rests adjusted so that my wrists aren’t strained.”

The Rama Works Kara mechanical keyboard comes in different color combos. You add your own choice of switches and key caps.
The Rama Works Kara mechanical keyboard comes in different color combos. You add your own choice of switches and key caps without needing a soldering iron.
Photo: Rama

Then the talk veered into relative merits of keyboard layouts and Topre mechanical switches.

“Nice to see a man of culture using the HHKB layout,” said another person, referring the keeb’s 60% “Happy Hacking Keyboard” layout. “I’m currently using the M60-A seq2 from Rama although thinking of moving back to a HHKB board for the Topre switches.”

A Topre switch is an electrostatic capacitive non-contact keyboard switch. It’s very quiet and light-feeling compared to many mechanical switches because of a rubber dome inside. But keyboards made with them tend to be expensive, which is a fact that Jay lamented in his reply.

Interesting synth and artwork

Hanging on the pegboard above the headphones is the first OP-1 synthesizer by Teenage Engineering, Jay pointed out when someone asked.

And if you like the desktop wallpaper showing on the screen, search for artwork by Cleon Peterson or use Jay’s custom version. “I edited it into a wallpaper,” he said. And the artwork on the wall the right is by Moya Garrison-Msingwana, aka Gangbox.

Shop these items now:

Jay described this shot as "the other side of the room" from the setup.
Jay described this rather busy shot as “the other side of the room” from the setup. “I’m always fighting entropy,” he said.
Photo: essayyjay@Reddit.com

Computer and stand:

Display and mount:

Input devices:

Audio:

Lighting:

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, challenges and plans for new additions.

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