| Cult of Mac

New QuietType mechanical keyboard cuts down on the clackity-clack

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"Silent" may be a stretch, but Kensington's new full-sized mechanical keyboard cuts down on the keystroke noise.
Photo: Kensington

Kensington unveiled a new “silent” mechanical keyboard for business and home use Tuesday. It’s the new MK7500F QuietType Pro Silent Wireless Mechanical Keyboard with Meeting Controls.

“Ideal for use in noise-sensitive home or office work environments, the MK7500F delivers a combination of beauty, durability and functionality, to provide professionals with a premium, quiet typing experience,” the company said.

Vintage computers flank dual-display M1 MacBook Pro rig [Setups]

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This is a modern computer setup, but Dalzell also has about 100 vintage machines.
This is a modern computer setup, but Dalzell also has about 100 vintage machines.
Photo: Drew Dalzell

Cutting-edge computer setups are cool. Vintage computer museums are also cool. But do you know what’s super-cool? Both. Together.

Los Angeles-based sound designer Drew Dalzell sent Cult of Mac his M1 MacBook Pro setup this week. As it turns out, it sits in the middle of a vintage computer collection. It includes an Apple IIGS, an Apple II Plus, an Ortrona, a Commodore 64 and more. The space is also his business HQ.

Top 20 items to boost your setup for less than $50 [Setups]

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In my case, the great sub-$50 adds were a wrist rest (wood or memory foam), a laptop stand and a monitor light bar.
In my case, the great sub-$50 adds were a wrist rest (wood or memory foam), a laptop stand and a monitor light bar.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

Computer setups aren’t all about the main machine and displays that cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. Plenty of smaller, less-expensive items turn out to be crucial — like gadget stands, USB-C hubs, the perfect mouse, smart light strips, desk mats and much more.

Today’s featured setup is a tribute to all the little things that make a difference — even double-sided tape.

New privacy screens for Macs protect data from prying eyes

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Kensington's new Privacy Screens. protect your screen privacy, your screen itself and even your health.
Kensington's new Privacy Screens protect your screen privacy, your screen itself and even your health.
Photo: Kensington

Kensington introduced three new privacy screens for Mac Tuesday. They’re designed for easy on-and-off, helping to protect the 2022 MacBook Air, 24-inch iMac and Studio Display from “visual hacking.” That’s when nearby computer screens or cameras pick up what’s on your screen.

Trio of new Kensington docks pack in the ports

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Kensington SD5780T Thunderbolt 4 Dual 4K Docking Station
Add very high-speed ports to your Mac with Kensington's latest Thunderbolt 4 dock.
Photo: Kensington

Kensington used CES 2023 to take the wraps off a Thunderbolt 4 docking station that adds eleven ports to Mac or PC.

The accessory-maker also announced at the trade show a smaller, portable USB4 hub with six ports, plus a portable USB-C hub with six ports and a built-in wireless charger.

Ease repetitive strain with Kensington’s new trackball mouse

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Give the repetitive strain a rest with Kensington's new trackball.
Give the repetitive strain a rest with Kensington's new trackball.
Photo: Kensington

If you’re tethered to a computer all day and start to get agonizing pain from repetitive motions, don’t panic. There are lots of ergonomic devices out there to help, including the brand new Kensington SlimBlade Pro Trackball.

It’s like a mouse, but it doesn’t move. You roll the large trackball with your palm and click on the four huge buttons with your fingers or parts of your hand. And it doesn’t matter which hand you favor.

Kensington StudioDock iPad Docking Station gets much more affordable

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The Kensington StudioDock was named a CES 2021 Innovation Awards Honoree.
The Kensington StudioDock might now be in your price range.
Photo: Kensington

The Kensington StudioDock turns an iPad into a iMac with a wide range of ports and wireless chargers. It’s a powerful accessory that launched in 2021 at a very high price. Kensington has now cut the price almost in half, making the stand affordable to many more customers.

The professional-grade accessory is available for both 11-inch and 12.9-inch versions of the iPad Pro.

Kensington’s new 11-port dock offers Macs super-fast Thunderbolt 4 connections

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Kensington's new 11-port dock offers Macs super-fast Thunderbolt 4 connections
Connect a wide array of accessories to a Mac with the Kensington SD5780T Thunderbolt 4 dock.
Photo: Kensington

The Kensington SD5780T is a desktop dock that connects to a Mac over Thunderbolt 4 at up to 40 Gbps. And it includes almost a dozen ports of various types to enable to everything from a mouse to a high-speed external drive.

The dock can also fast charge a MacBook.

Composer makes beautiful music with 2013 Mac Pro and big Cinema Display [Setups]

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A 9-year old Mac Pro and an even older 30-inch Cinema Display. You don't see those every day.
A 9-year old Mac Pro and an even older 30-inch Cinema Display. You don't see those every day.
Photo: Travis Lohmann

Las Vegas-based pianist, composer and educator Travis Lohmann reached out to Cult of Mac recently with an intriguing setup that hearkens back to yesteryear but still gets the job done in the here and now. Or in the “hear and now,” if you like.

It’s not every day you see a 9-year-old Mac Pro and an even older 30-inch Cinema Display getting the job done in 2022, but it happens.

Can you get work done while using an under-desk treadmill? [Setups]

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Two items that set this setup apart are the iPad stand and the elevated Edifier speakers.
Two items that set this setup apart are the iPad stand and the elevated Edifier speakers.
Photo: ashgotti@Reddit.com

When you spend loads of time at a desk, it’s natural to wonder how you might remain chained to it but still somehow get exercise. That’s why under-desk treadmills exist, of course. But can you really get things done while walking in place?

Today’s featured M1 MacBook Pro setup answers the question and offers up a couple of other tantalizing tidbits, like a killer iPad stand and affordable bookshelf speakers with isolation pads.