When does a computer setup have everything? Never, really. Each one is a perpetual work in progress. But today’s fine example claims to have everything and it actually comes pretty close in some ways. It features MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Beelink Mini PC with external touchscreen, gaming PC, big smart TV external display and an original iPad used as an HDMI display. And the other gaming-centric peripherals and knickknacks in the picture are pretty cool, too.
Dual MacBook setup with Beelink Mini PC with touchscreen and OG iPad as HDMI monitor
Like a Mac mini for Windows users, this machine runs an AMD Ryzen 7 5850U processor at up to 4.4GHz with 8 cores and 16 threads,16GB RAM and 1TB SSD.
- Great for office tasks and light gaming
- Upgradable memory
- Strong graphics processing
- Needs an external monitor
- Cooling fans can be noisy
WFH product manager and Redditor nndscrptuser (“User”) showed off the MacBook rig in a post entitled, “The Everything WFH Setup.” And it’s quite a complete workstation. They run two MacBooks and two PCs with a big LG smart TV and two mini displays. I’d actually never heard of a Beelink Mini PC (with a 7-inch touchscreen), so I found that interesting. It’s very much a PC version of a Mac mini. The other little display is an original iPad (1st gen) used via HDMI. And for input devices they run a very cool Wooting 80HE Ghost mechanical keyboard and a Razer Viper 2 Pro HyperSpeed gaming mouse.
“We made a custom housing that holds the PC and has a bezel to hold the 7-inch Raspberry Pi HDMI monitor,” User said of the Beelink Mini PC and its small display. “All the cabling is inside and there is just the single power cable out the back. It’s pretty fun, playing low powered games like Counter Strike is quite amusing on that screen.”
“I’ve worked from home for a long time and have slowly refined my work space,” they added about the setup in general. “I spend so much time there that it has to be comfortable and have the right vibe. I like to bridge the gap between cleanliness and having things around me which spark joy.”
Wait, which MacBook is for work?
Odd that they’d have a work MacBook Air and a personal MacBook Pro, as a commenter pointed out. It seems backwards.
“I am a senior product manager for software companies so the Air is plenty for day -to-day management work and communications with all my people, whereas I got the Pro for myself to do design work for my side business,” User explained.
Another commenter humorously called using a big smart TV as a monitor a “giga Chad move.”
“I know its not for everyone, but I love it,” User replied. “I used to use an ultra-wide [monitor] but like this a lot better. [And]I have so many windows and apps in my day-to-day work and all that space is great. Also nice to just play some Plex on it full screen and chill.”
And, as usual, the question of how to swap various peripherals among multiple computers came up.
“I have the MacBook Air and gaming PC hooked up to the monitor and simply use the TV remote to switch inputs, and have a simple USB switch to toggle the keyboard and mouse,” User said. “My personal MacBook is just standalone. I do have RealVNC on the PCs as well, so I can Remote Desktop to them from my other machines.”
Almost ‘everything’: Quite a gear list
User lists four computers in the setup, not including the ancient iPad (1st gen!) used as a small display: M2 MacBook Air (work), M1 MacBook Pro (personal), gaming PC (Intel, AMD GPU, Noctua, Fractal Design), Beelink Mini PC in 3D printed housing with 7-inch touchscreen monitor. The main external display is a 42-inch LG 4K smart TV. Rounding out the main setup, User runs an Elgato Stream Deck for streamlined workflows, particularly with video work. And it’s all on an Ikea standing desk with an LED work light on one back corner and a Govee lamp on the other.
Here’s how they list some of the setup’s bits and pieces for those interested (see the main gear links list further down the page):
- Cutting mat desk pad
- Boox Palma e-reader
- Nintendo 3DS XL (modded)
- Pixels LED dice
- Emisar flashlights
- 3D printed Noctua Home fan
Photo: [email protected]
Shop these items now:
Like a Mac mini for Windows users, this machine runs an AMD Ryzen 7 5850U processor at up to 4.4GHz with 8 cores and 16 threads,16GB RAM and 1TB SSD.
- Great for office tasks and light gaming
- Upgradable memory
- Strong graphics processing
- Needs an external monitor
- Cooling fans can be noisy
Computers and stand:
External displays:
Input devices:
If you would like to see your setup featured on Cult of Mac, send some high-res pictures to [email protected] (iPhone pics usually work fine). 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.
