On social media we see plenty of people flaunting pristine computer setups, and even completely staged ones. But plenty of them are “lived in,” and some aren’t necessarily complete. People sometimes call out for help: “How do I make this better?”
Today’s featured M1 MacBook Air setup is example of the latter. The user asked for advice and got it. But he didn’t agree with some of it. See below.
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M1 MacBook Air setup gets plenty of advice for improvements
Freelance video editor and Redditor Responsible-Range553 (“RR”) showcased the spare setup in a post entitled, “MacBook M1 Setup. How would you improve it?”
With the question prominently asked, commenters didn’t hold back … much. And some actually loved the open space and spare use of equipment.
But first they had some questions.
Question about monitor and desktop
“What are the info widgets on your desktop?” one asked. “Is that a macOS beta feature?”
“Yes, currently running macOS Sonoma dev beta,” RR replied. In response to another question, he added, “It has been great on my M1 Air. Feels faster and less buggy than Ventura.”
“Is the monitor floating, or what? How is it mounted/installed?” asked another commenter.
“Vesa Mount!,” RR replied. “Was very doubtful about mounting my monitor to one of these, but I ended up loving that decision! It was a smart one! Being able to adjust the monitor to your likings makes a ton of difference.”
Specific advice on improving the setup
And here’s what people thought would improve the setup, and how RR responded in some cases:
Honestly I love the minimal aesthetic with a lot of available desk space for working. The only thing I would personally do is add some type of stand for my MacBook to have an additional display and decent speakers. But if you would rarely use more than 1 display, just leave the setup “as-is”; it looks great!
I’d add a desk mat for the comfort and easier gliding of the mouse. [Another commenter asked if the mouse was scratched up from not using as mouse pad, but RR said it still looks brand new.]
Speakers … plants and a bigger monitor. RR response: 28 inches is the perfect size for me … agree on the plants and the speakers! Looking forward to add a couple.
[Logitech] MX Master [mouse] or cheaper alternative, Logitech Triathlon. RR response: I don’t like Logitech stuff. I love my Magic Mouse. Don’t @ me 😆
Your desk looks like a “Ghost Town.” The desk is just too large for what you have. An improvement would be to perhaps centralize your computer monitor. RR response: I thought about it, thing is I have desk drawers on my left when I’m sitting and it’s very uncomfortable to keep everything centered.
More monitors? RR response: I have an M1 Air 🥲 having a dual monitor setup ain’t an option.
Get a mechanical keyboard, replace the Apple Mouse with an MX from Logitech. Remove the bookshelf from the desktop, and possibly add LED desk lamps if you have windows that cash shadows during daylight hours. The lamp can be used for task lighting or to remove shadows from your face for video calls.
RR response: I love my Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse. I see no reason to upgrade. Thanks though. I don’t have natural lighting in my room, unfortunately. Looking to upgrade my lighting for sure.
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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.
The 2020 MacBook Air might be three years old, but thanks to its M1 chip, it can give other newer laptops a run for their money in the performance and battery life department.
