Laptop plus big screen combo...

ChrisR

ChrisR

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I'm going round in circles about how to upgrade when my 15" 2014 MacBook Pro finally goes (even more) bung. Options under consideration have been a 2021 16" MBP, an iMac or a Mac Mini. In the latter two cases, they would be complemented with an iPad for use away from home.

I'm currently tempted by the idea of a 2021 13" MBP plus a 4K screen. It would be a lot lighter than the current MBP for travel, and more capable than an iPad for travel. But I'm having trouble getting my head around how best to lay out a laptop plus big screen. When I had one at work many years ago (up to 2010) I had the laptop closed, with a keyboard plugged in and the mouse plugged in to that (gave up on wireless keyboard mouse). I've seen hints of some folk using open laptop, using its keyboard and trackpad, plus both screens.

I use twitter, TP, NetNewsWire and Capture One 21 for most of what I do, occasional Affinity Photo. I don't know how well C1 supports dual screens... (I do get annoyed by how small the area for the "preview" is on C1.)

So, how do you do it? Or, what would you recommend?
 
I have recently gone from iMac (and separate MacBook for travel) to a MacBook Pro and external monitor. I chose a monitor with USB ports and power via USB-C, so only need to plug in one cable. I keep the laptop lid shut and just use it like a desktop.
 
Craikeybaby said:
I have recently gone from iMac (and separate MacBook for travel) to a MacBook Pro and external monitor. I chose a monitor with USB ports and power via USB-C, so only need to plug in one cable. I keep the laptop lid shut and just use it like a desktop.
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This is pretty much what I did 10+ year ago. I was wondering whether there were advantages in using the laptop screen, and if so, where would it go: under, or beside the bigger screen?

TimHughes said:
Here’s what apple recommends https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202351
Click to expand...
Thanks, that's very useful. For all sorts of reasons, I don't see myself connecting more than one display, so I can go quite downmarket!
 
ChrisR said:
This is pretty much what I did 10+ year ago. I was wondering whether there were advantages in using the laptop screen, and if so, where would it go: under, or beside the bigger screen?


Thanks, that's very useful. For all sorts of reasons, I don't see myself connecting more than one display, so I can go quite downmarket!
Click to expand...
generally, I use the laptop beside and to the left and have that for email, messaging and the like leaving the larger monitor free to focus on whatever I'm working on. According to Apple, the external screen will continue to function even when the laptop is closed, but I didn't try that.
 
Over the years, I've tried many different combinations of one or two screens plus MacBook Pro display.

For photo editing (and I am firmly in the Adobe camp) a second screen is certainly handy for docking palettes, etc. while keeping the main display clear for working on the image. The added benefits of a third screen are marginal there, though, unless you've some other process running on the third, such as email. Having system logs and/or Activity Monitor or a debugger available is great for troubleshooting!

When I have had two decent external displays, though, I've often tended simply to keep the laptop closed. It does get to the point that I'm having to twist around constantly just to keep an eye on all three, which is maybe not so great for my back.

I have also found that three screens requires a fair bit of window management - just keeping track of what is where becomes a task unless you have particular things that you always pin to one display.

Diminishing returns aside, it's useful if you have something that you must regularly monitor (no pun intended) such as email, while you are concentrating on another task on one or more of the other displays.

MacBook + 1 external or two externals with the MBP closed works well for me, though.

ChrisR said:
I'm currently tempted by the idea of a 2021 13" MBP plus a 4K screen. ... I've seen hints of some folk using open laptop, using its keyboard and trackpad, plus both screens.
Click to expand...

Strictly, the [2020] 13 inch M1 MBPs only support one external display, regardless of resolution. While it's possible to have more, you have to get a bit creative to make it happen.

Macworld

Macworld is your ultimate guide to Apple's product universe, explaining what's new, what's best and how to make the most out of the products you love.
www.macworld.co.uk www.macworld.co.uk

This one-external-display limitation doesn't apply to the 2021 14 and 16 inch MacBook Pro models, although how far you can go depends on whether you have an M1 Pro or M1 Max.

www.apple.com

MacBook Pro - Tech Specs

See all the technical specifications for the 14- and 16‑inch MacBook Pro with the M5, M4 Pro and M4 Max chips.
www.apple.com

Apple said:
Up to two external displays with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz at over a billion colours (M1 Pro) or
Up to three external displays with up to 6K resolution and one external display with up to 4K
resolution at 60Hz at over a billion colours (M1 Max)
Click to expand...
 
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TimHughes said:
generally, I use the laptop beside and to the left and have that for email, messaging and the like leaving the larger monitor free to focus on whatever I'm working on. According to Apple, the external screen will continue to function even when the laptop is closed, but I didn't try that.
Click to expand...
I'm guessing from this you are not using the Mac keyboard and trackpad, or you'd be all twisted! I guess the wireless keyboards/mice must be a whole heap better than they were in, oh, 2008!
 
Musicman said:
Over the years, I've tried many different combinations of one or two screens plus MacBook Pro display.

For photo editing (and I am firmly in the Adobe camp) a second screen is certainly handy for docking palettes, etc. while keeping the main display clear for working on the image. The added benefits of a third screen are marginal there, though, unless you've some other process running on the third, such as email. Having system logs and/or Activity Monitor or a debugger available is great for troubleshooting!
Click to expand...
I'm only contemplating one external display. Obviously, I've got very used to having to switch from app to app on the MBP, but I do remember how much easier it was to keep multiple windows open and just change focus from one to the other, when I did have a larger external display.

I'd forgotten that with two displays (eg MBP plus external) there's always the issue of where the menu bar and dock are, and the necessary extended mouse/trackpad movements to get from (say) an external display to the MBP display. I'm thinking that, plus the extra desktop space required to run MBP plus external side by side would suggest keeping the MBP closed.
Musicman said:
When I have had two decent external displays, though, I've often tended simply to keep the laptop closed. It does get to the point that I'm having to twist around constantly just to keep an eye on all three, which is maybe not so great for my back.

I have also found that three screens requires a fair bit of window management - just keeping track of what is where becomes a task unless you have particular things that you always pin to one display.

Diminishing returns aside, it's useful if you have something that you must regularly monitor (no pun intended) such as email, while you are concentrating on another task on one or more of the other displays.

MacBook + 1 external or two externals with the MBP closed works well for me, though.
Click to expand...
Thanks.
 
ChrisR said:
I'm guessing from this you are not using the Mac keyboard and trackpad, or you'd be all twisted! I guess the wireless keyboards/mice must be a whole heap better than they were in, oh, 2008!
Click to expand...

As a former IT manager of 60 Macs, a separate keyboard and mouse are compulsory for any serious work with an external display, IMHO.

It would fail a workstation risk assessment for Health & Safety conformance otherwise.
 
ChrisR said:
I'm guessing from this you are not using the Mac keyboard and trackpad, or you'd be all twisted! I guess the wireless keyboards/mice must be a whole heap better than they were in, oh, 2008!
Click to expand...
With an external monitor a separate mouse and keyboard are needed in my experience. I've tried wireless ones, but had some hassles that I couldn't diagnose, so reverted to ones connected via usb cables since a couple of years.
 
Thank you everyone, you've given me lots of food for thought, and a pretty good idea of which way to go!
 
TimHughes said:
With an external monitor a separate mouse and keyboard are needed in my experience. I've tried wireless ones, but had some hassles that I couldn't diagnose, so reverted to ones connected via usb cables since a couple of years.
Click to expand...

This is how I used to run my laptop: USB keyboard and mouse through a USB hub so that I only had to connect screen, power and 1 USB connector to use it.
 
I use a stand like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Contour-La...keywords=laptop+stand&qid=1637200974&sr=8-170 . Because I am quite tall the stand raises the laptop to a similar height to the monitor which is on a human scale arm, which means I have to sit up and not slouch (back can't take it!).

With the magic keyboard and mouse (keyboard with the numbers on the right).

Work on the big monitor and emails or copy (I also design) on the laptop screen.

T
 
You can set the menu bar and dock to be on one or both displays.
 
TimHughes said:
With an external monitor a separate mouse and keyboard are needed in my experience. I've tried wireless ones, but had some hassles that I couldn't diagnose, so reverted to ones connected via usb cables since a couple of years.
Click to expand...
ancient_mariner said:
This is how I used to run my laptop: USB keyboard and mouse through a USB hub so that I only had to connect screen, power and 1 USB connector to use it.
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Resurrecting this thread from last year, what's a good USB keyboard/mouse combo? Annoyingly, I gave my old Apple keyboard and mouse to charity only a couple of years ago, after keeping them for around 10 years! BTW that keyboard allowed me to daisy-chain my mouse off the keyboard, so I only had to plug one of them in.

Also, being a laptop user, I've got used to a trackpad rather than a mouse. Any experience in using external trackpads?
 
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Think you'll need an Apple trackpad. There are a few non-apple keyboards around that are meant to be good, but there won't be any good quality bargains like there are for PCs.
 
I'm yet to find a good USB keyboard, so am still using the Apple one I bought in 2009...
 
Craikeybaby said:
I'm yet to find a good USB keyboard, so am still using the Apple one I bought in 2009...
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As I'm discovering that I can't find a corded keyboard where the corded mouse attaches to the keyboard, I'm regretting giving my old Apple keyboard and mouse even more. I've only got 2 USB ports, and I do sometimes need to plug a disk in for backup etc! I'm really surprised that the current ones don't have USB pass-through.

I suppose it means a USB hub. Some screens incorporate one, I believe. What's the betting the one I need to get for various other reasons doesn't!
 
ChrisR said:
As I'm discovering that I can't find a corded keyboard where the corded mouse attaches to the keyboard, I'm regretting giving my old Apple keyboard and mouse even more. I've only got 2 USB ports, and I do sometimes need to plug a disk in for backup etc! I'm really surprised that the current ones don't have USB pass-through.

I suppose it means a USB hub. Some screens incorporate one, I believe. What's the betting the one I need to get for various other reasons doesn't!
Click to expand...

Get an older 2010 era wired Mac keyboard, they have 2 USB ports.
 
Do you particularly want wired? Logitech's Master keyboard is lovely and very Apple-esque. Their Unifying receiver takes one USB and works great for keyboard and mouse. Or there's their K400 which has built in touchpad.

On the original question, use of many different monitor combos over the years has taught me that I will always use the largest monitor for 90% of the work which is why I use a laptop closed with dual 32 inch monitors.
 
Raymond Lin said:
Get an older 2010 era wired Mac keyboard, they have 2 USB ports.
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Yes, after my last post I had a look on fleabay and found some available for not too much money. Might be the answer!
 
JonathanRyan said:
Do you particularly want wired? Logitech's Master keyboard is lovely and very Apple-esque. Their Unifying receiver takes one USB and works great for keyboard and mouse. Or there's their K400 which has built in touchpad.

On the original question, use of many different monitor combos over the years has taught me that I will always use the largest monitor for 90% of the work which is why I use a laptop closed with dual 32 inch monitors.
Click to expand...
My own experience from years ago and several comments in this thread, plus I'm spending my own money instead of my company's cash, siggests wired would work better for me than wireless!

I'm definitely looking for a closed Mac solution now. Trouble I'm finding is, it seems sensible to go 4K, but it feels like there's barely room on my desk for a 24" monitor, let alone a 28". The only 24" 4K monitors I can find are "gaming". Not sure what that means.

With my workflow and needs (mostly black and white, for example), I think I can cope well with a sRGB monitor, rather than Adobe RGB. Currently been using MacRGB, which appears from the Colorsync simulation to be only slightly bigger than sRGB, for the last, well, forever!

So, would a "gaming" monitor work for me?
 
JonathanRyan said:
Do you particularly want wired? Logitech's Master keyboard is lovely and very Apple-esque. Their Unifying receiver takes one USB and works great for keyboard and mouse. Or there's their K400 which has built in touchpad.

On the original question, use of many different monitor combos over the years has taught me that I will always use the largest monitor for 90% of the work which is why I use a laptop closed with dual 32 inch monitors.
Click to expand...
I have Logitech's Ergo K860, and MX Master mouse (I'm on PC rather than Mac) but the keyboard is definitely marked up for Mac as well as PC.
The Unifying receiver is great - a single receiver handles multiple devices, so only one is needed for both keyboard and mouse. They also allow seamless device switching, so the second receiver (you get one with keyboard, another with the mouse) is plugged into my laptop, and a tap of a button on the keyboard switches it between the two.
 
ChrisR said:
So, would a "gaming" monitor work for me?
Click to expand...

Gaming screens are all about refresh rate - faster refresh helps with high-speed game play. Some are excellent with a wide colour gamut and good viewing angles, and some are not. Make sure the screen is IPS and check the colour gamut.
 
I prefer a wired keyboard - but Bluetooth mouse all the way! Logitech are good.

I tend to run everything USB plugged into my monitor (Philips 279P) anyway, as that means I can swap laptop and have all my peripherals (except mouse) automatically connected.
 
ChrisR said:
... it seems sensible to go 4K [monitor], but it feels like there's barely room on my desk for a 24" monitor, let alone a 28". The only 24" 4K monitors I can find are "gaming". Not sure what that means.

With my workflow and needs (mostly black and white, for example), I think I can cope well with a sRGB monitor, rather than Adobe RGB.
Click to expand...
It's quite difficult to find a 24" 4K monitor, and the few gaming monitors I've seen don't seem to say very much about their colour space coverage. It does appear still possible to get a decent 24" "Quad HD" monitor, with 2560x1440 resolution. I'm a bit confused about the effect of this, given that my 8-year-old 15" MacBook Pro has a screen resolution of 2880x1800. So obviously, the external monitor would have fewer pixels, but there would be quite a bit more screen space in terms of inches. I don't really understand the relative impacts of screen size versus pixel count!

I'm not much of a one for pixel peeping, by the way (if that's at all relevant). Almost never look at an image at 100%. Not hugely concerned about sharpness per se.

Back on this again, as I was editing a black and white image today and I realised that, try as I might, I couldn't properly see detail in a dark stone wall because of the "staingate" damage to my MBP screen! Sadly, irreparable. The MBP seems to be otherwise in pretty good nick, so a £300 new monitor as opposed to a £2K plus new MBP seems like a reasonable investment. Plus, it would open the possibility of replacing the MBP with a Mac Mini...
 
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