Some computer setups on social media are like highly functional art, beautifully curated and seemingly permanent, like museum pieces. Others are just weird, wonderful and fleeting. Today’s example is more the latter case, featuring a “spec’d out” M4 Mac mini used with an iPad Air and a tiny touch screen as external displays, plus a Magic Trackpad and a crazy split keyboard.
People questioned the lack of a MacBook, but other commenters rose up in defense of the oddball setup.
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Mobile Mac mini uses iPad Air and tiny touch screen display
This mini desktop computer's M4 chip packs a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU for plenty of processing power. Multiple ports for connectivity include Gigabit Ethernet. Works with iPhone/iPad.
- Powerful M4 chip
- Starts at 16GB unified memory
- Several SSD storage size options
- Headphone jack on front
- BYODKM (bring your own display, keyboard and mouse)
In a post titled “Yeah, I could have gotten a MacBook… but I don’t wanna,” Redditor Happy-Freedom6835 pretty much asked for the debate over whether they should have one. They built a setup for all uses, at home or mobile, with an M4 Mac mini, a 13-inch M3 iPad Air and a 7-inch touch screen as external displays, plus an Omnicharge 20+ power bank/battery, a Magic Trackpad dressed up in a skin and truly nutty keyboard. It’s a lily58 split keeb built from a kit from the Typeractive website. The Magic Trackpad sits in between the two halves. It’s an unusual setup, to say the least.
“Why? (Honestly curious, no shade),” asked a commenter.
“I already had the iPad Air 13, I already had the screen from another project, and I already carried the keyboard with me, even with a laptop,” Happy replied. “It was a good bit cheaper to get this spec Mac mini compared to the MacBook, plus I still have my MacBook Air M1.”
So they do have a MacBook, yet they favor working in other ways, mostly. When traveling, the Mac mini goes in a Growalleter hard case with the Omni battery. Everything else goes in a messenger bag.
Why leave out the MacBook? (Hint: iPadOS 26 beta plays a role).
iPad Air is powerful, versatile, and features the incredible performance of the M3 chip built for Apple Intelligence. This version also sports a stunning 13-inch Liquid Retina display.
Other highlights of the tablet include Touch ID, advanced cameras, blazing-fast Wi-Fi 6E and a USB-C connector.
- As large as the biggest iPad Pro without the hefty price tag
- Speedy M3 processor
- Lacks Face ID
The post’s comments covered the bases in a debate over laptop/no laptop. Laptops are too expensive. Most people use them as desktops almost all the time anyway. And as I’ve covered here in the past, with the M4 iteration, the Mac mini’s mobility factor went up.
“There’s a premium for the convenience of a laptop, and to be honest, most people use them like desktop 90% of the time anyway,” Happy said. “I just decided I could get more computer for my money and deal with the inconvenience 10% of the time. I’ve been using this since Christmas and haven’t missed a laptop once.”
Lots of Redditors supported the idea. Some claimed a MacBook Air would actually be cheaper, but Happy pushed back on that.
“I got this Mac mini for way less than a MacBook Air, even after the spec bumps. All the other peripherals I already owned,” they said. They added they love the modularity, hate things that serve just one purpose and they travel for work a lot.
“This was my solution to that while making my money stretch the furthest price per value. Most of my light day to day moving around is handled easily by just the iPad (beta 26 is legit what I’ve been waiting for). I use jump desktop so that I can remote my computer if needed while on the run,” they said. “But being able to carry the computer with due to the size has been awesome just in case anything needs trouble shooting.”
“And since moving to the ortho split layout, I’m useless on a typical laptop keyboard anyway … (also something not pictured because it would have sent even more hate my way, I also have a Vision Pro that I use with this set up for virtual display in less public spaces; again providing modularity of being used on its own or in conjunction with the Mac mini),” they added.
lily58 split keyboard
Some commenters looked askance at the weird split keyboard. But again, others defended it. One referred to the “true joy” of using one.
Others were merely curious about how Happy likes it. They explained that it’s a self-build from an outfit called Typeractive. Unlike some “split” keyboards, the lily58 is completely split into two separate halves. They said he relied on YouTube videos to put it together and it’s just what they needed.
“Been using it about a year, and I can’t go back to a regular one,” they said. “Part of the reason a laptop is no longer as [convenient is] because I have to carry my own keyboard anyway.”
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This 20,000mAh/71Wh power bank with an AC outlet is perfect for powering up laptops, portable displays and other devcies. Features fast charging USB-C and QC 3.0.
Computer and case:
Displays and battery:
- 13-inch M3 iPad Air as external display
- 7-inch IPS LCD touch screen display panel
- Omni 20+ portable power bank/battery
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.
David Snow, an expert on Apple hardware and software, writes on a variety of technological and cultural topics for Cult of Mac. They include Apple news, technology buying guides, and features about computer setups and Apple TV shows and movies.
With 30 years of experience covering technology and other subjects, he has written and edited for numerous print and online publications, including CMP Media, TechTV.com, CNET, Wired News, Red Herring magazine, Law.com, The National Law Journal and Law Technology News magazine. Among other roles, he served as executive editor of the Law.com network of websites and editorial director, technology, for ALM Media.
Snow graduated with a B.A. from Syracuse University with majors in magazine journalism and psychology. While there, he worked as a reporter for The Daily Orange newspaper and associate editor of Equal Time magazine.
Founder of the blog At the Waterline, he can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) via @atthewaterline and on Mastodon via @dsnow.
