| Cult of Mac

All you need to turn a MacBook into a workstation [Setups]

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Not only does it tell time, this setup and its short list of peripherals and accessories turn a laptop into much more.
Not only does it tell time, this setup and its short list of peripherals and accessories turn a laptop into much more.
Photo: esmdg@Reddit.com

These days, MacBook laptops are more than powerful enough to handle most users’ computing needs. So if you don’t need an even brawnier desktop Mac, why not build your laptop into a full workstation with a few peripherals and accessories?

Today’s setup gets by with a 3-year-old MacBook Pro hooked up to a CalDigit Thunderbolt 3 dock and a nice LG 4K display, plus Logitech input devices and a few other items. It’s a complete workstation whether or not the user ever takes the MacBook Pro to go.

For health’s sake, get a standing desk [Setups]

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Even if you have a lot more gear than this, a standing desk can make a world of difference.
Even if you have a lot more gear than this, a standing desk can make a world of difference.
Photo: NiMa@Reddit.com

Maybe you’ve got back pain, or maybe your rear end falls asleep too much when you sit for long periods. Whatever the case, you, like many Apple fans, can benefit from a standing desk in your computer setup.

Today’s featured MacBook Pro setup features an affordable sit-stand desk, but there are many options. We’ll go over some of them below.

iPad mini takes center stage in MacBook Air rig [Setups]

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That's a Hexgears mechanical keyboard in tfront of the iPad mini.
That's a Hexgears mechanical keyboard in tfront of the iPad mini.
Photo: Prestigious_Fox_5531@Reddit.com

It’s not every day you see a teeny, tiny little display under an ultra-wide one. But today’s M2 MacBook Air setup sports its dual screens that way by putting an iPad mini at the center under the big external monitor, flanked by paired HomePod minis.

The setup’s interesting highlights include a gaming handheld and a full-sized mechanical keyboard we rarely see.

Try this cool way to mount iPad for use with Sidecar [Setups]

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The little iPad holder makes using Sidecar or Universal Control a cinch.
The little iPad holder makes using Sidecar or Universal Control a cinch.
Photo: casualhostile320@Reddit.com

While many folks like to have miles of screen real estate with multiple external monitors, some enjoy simply having their iPad’s screen in tandem with their main screen, especially for use with Sidecar or Universal Control.

Today’s clean and well-lighted MacBook Pro setup mounts an iPad with the main monitor in a neat way while hiding away the laptop. 

Versatile Mac mini powers DIY workstation [Setups]

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An M1 Mac mini drives a n LG display in this Chicago-area setup.
An M1 Mac mini drives a n LG display in this Chicago-area setup.
Photo: Bill Penhale

While Apple is finally putting out an M2 Mac Pro even as its powerful Mac Studio machines conquer most hardcore computing tasks, the truth is most users can more than get by with an M1 or M2 Mac mini. That goes for Bill Penhale, who sent us his setup from Shorewood, Illinois, near Chicago.

“I am pretty techy for 70, ha!,” the retired sales director told Cult of Mac. And judging by his M1 Mac mini-powered setup, with a fine 4K external display, solid audio and loads of external storage, that’s certainly true.

Mounts make the most of this MacBook Pro workstation [Setups]

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A dual monitor mount is used for the external display and the MacBook Pro.
A dual monitor mount is used for the external display and the MacBook Pro.
Photo: MDevonL@Reddit.com

Monitor mounts and the like may not be terribly glamorous or exciting, but they can do an awful lot for a computer setup.

Today’s featured MacBook Pro workstation uses them to make the laptop and two other crucial pieces of hardware easy to move around. And they keep the hardware off the desk, creating space for other items.

Portrait-mode monitor and classic Apple poster pump up workstation [Setups]

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Adding a second 27-inch monitor in portrait mode enhanced the setup. And look at that classic PowerBook G4 poster!
Adding a second 27-inch monitor in portrait mode enhanced the setup. And look at that classic PowerBook G4 poster!
Photo: jonyoungmusic@Reddit.com

Adding a second or third external display in portrait mode can really enhance a computer setup and its workflow. The owner of today’s featured MacBook Pro setup lucked into a second monitor and set it up vertically. Many people find the orientation suits certain tasks, like coding or reading email.

And who doesn’t love a classic Apple poster? Don’t miss the nice framed PowerBook G4 poster on the wall above the desk in the photograph above.

Fun ‘overly complicated diagram’ lays out complex MacBook Pro rig [Setups]

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At a glance it doesn't look overly complex, but wait'll you see the diagram.
At a glance it doesn't look overly complex, but wait'll you see the diagram.
Photo: ReportoDownvoto@Reddit.com

Getting a complex computer setup just-so can be a daunting experience for even seasoned users. Maybe somebody should create a diagram or something? Well, someone did, making a highly capable MacBook Pro-and-PC setup with external display, storage, audio and more look even more complicated than it really is.

The sleekly executed diagram delighted viewers on social media. Check it out below.

Mac Studio pairs well with LG ultra-wide 5K display [Setups]

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This Mac Studio user couldn't be much happier with his LG 5K2K curved ultra-wide display.
This Mac Studio user couldn't be much happier with his LG 5K2K curved ultra-wide display.
Photo: steffengious@Reddit.com

In the battle over who offers the best 5K display, Apple doesn’t always win, even with Mac users. And it’s usually because of price.

Today’s featured Mac Studio setup relies on a 40-inch LG 5K2K curved ultra-wide monitor — picked over a pair of Studio Displays that would cost twice as much — and the user more-or-less said they they couldn’t be happier.

5 reasons you desperately need a desk mat [Setups]

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What's missing in the picture?
What's missing in the picture?
Photo: PantherPal@Reddit.com

You may already have a mouse pad in your computer setup, but what about a desk mat? Similar concepts in some ways, those two. But many folks may not even think of a desk mat as a necessary item in a computer setup. Or they may consider it an afterthought rather than any sort of priority.

But the humble desk mat, reminiscent of grandpa’s desk blotter, has its benefits. And that came up with today’s featured, desk-mat-free M1 MacBook Air setup.