Today’s MacBook Pro setup presents a strange picture not just because of the image repeated on the four screens. It’s just weird seeing dual “flying” MacBooks and an iPad as part of a quad-display setup.
After writing about hundreds of computer setups spotted in the wild, we can’t remember one that featured a pair of MacBooks open on stands like that. And the user questions the choice, too, seeking to possibly save a ton of desk space.
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Put the 2 MacBooks in clamshell mode or keep them open on stands?
Redditor Professional_Pin_298 showcased the flying-MacBook setup in a post entitled, “Keep it or switch to clamshell with the two MacBooks?”
His pair of M1 MacBook Pro laptops — one personal, one for work — sit open on stands, creating a sort of quadruple-display setup if you include the iPad Pro in the center along with the 27-inch external display behind it.
But Pin isn’t sure if wants to keep the laptops that way. Here’s what he wrote:
I can’t decide. I use both MacBooks throughout the day but avoid moving any data between them. I definitely need both because I don’t want to intermingle but they take up a lot of desk space. I’m pretty happy with it but have give some thought to mounting the KVM and switch under the desk and going to clamshell with the two MacBooks as I am really only using one at a time. Decisions, decisions …
Someone asked why he has two MacBooks, though it’s not hard to guess.
“I have two because of work,” Pin replied. “I don’t use the one on the right for anything other than my main job. The one on the left is personal but I also use it for consulting.”
And another commenter made a cogent suggestion about using a KVM switch without a dock to switch between different peripherals connected to the two computers (though they may have overlooked that Pin already has a KVM switch and simply speculated about mounting it under the desk to save even more space):
A KVM switch support DP1.4 and USB 3.0 for 2 systems will [work] for this hardware profile. Since only one monitor will be shared, you don’t need to have a docking station [between] MacBook and the KVM switch. Just connect a type-C-to-DP active converter cable and a type-C-to-USB B 3.0 cable for each MacBook to the KVM switch channel input ports. To have a MacBook working under Clamshell mode, the original MagSafe power cord/charge MUST plugged to the Mac laptop (each Mac laptop) all the time operation.
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Computers and switch:
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Input devices:
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.
Two-port DisplayPort KVM Switch for two computers using one monitor. Switch to share mouse, keyboard, printer, USB 2.0 device and ultra HD monitor. Supports 4K@60Hz, 2 DP and 2 USB cables included.
