Everything Apple (the Mac heads thread)

This is less complex and easier to manage, but also the image quality is not a patch on the Fuji.

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Will also post this in the WFH thread but as it's kinda mac-specific I'll try here first -

work has changed in a way that I now don't move around with the laptop (2019 16" MBP) a lot any more but sit on a desk for many hours a week.

tldr: my back hurts, I need a proper ergonomic setup.

I like the screen of my macbook (got a Moshi iVisor anti-glare thing on it, which is great), and I don't really need more screen estate - but do I get an external display (that I can adjust to a proper height / distance from eyes etc.) or do I just get a laptop stand that moves the whole macbook about 20cm up and further away from me?
How do you do it?

Of course the second / external screen sounds nice even though I don't really need it, plus the sight of having the 16" on some apparatus on my desk is quite annoying, aestetically. What sort of external screen would be a good fit?
My main concerns are:

• I do not want to spend a fortune on a screen - but quality should be somewhat on par with the MBP display (it does not need to have 100% colour accuracy or anything though it would be cool if the external display would be in sync with the built-in screen regarding the "true tone" functionality - is this even possible, or do you just have to deal with one screen being warm and the other cold?)
  
• I would really love the mac to be able to run this screen for hours without getting so hot that I hear the fucking fans running constantly (I don't really push the mac a lot, it's just browsing, pages, light photoshop.. but I heard external displays tend to heat up those 16" macs quite a bit so would love to keep things silent or near-silent at least
  
  

Either way I would need a mouse or (second) trackpad, I guess this means the apple magic 2 thing. Can't deal with their mice and also want the gestures to be the same, so that's settled basically.

Also need a keyboard if I go this route - and actually am looking forward to using a nice mechanical one again - yet I was thinking:

• does it get annoying switching from a mechanical- to a shallow-travel "magic" keyboard all the time, or is this a non-issue? Do you mac laptop users opt for a external magic keyboard or just use anything?
  Those of you that use a nice mechanical one - which does work well with apple regarding cmd / option / fn key etc. ?
  
  
  

Thanks for your feedback!

I’d give a laptop stand + external keyboard + mouse a go before investing in a monitor. Cheap way to increase ergonomics.

If you decide to get a monitor, this is a good read: https://bjango.com/articles/macexternaldisplays/

Thanks for that link - actually remember reading this two years back or so.
Also remember that consensus in this thread was (is?) that the LG UltraFine are the way to go for most people..
..is there somebody on here with a 2019 16" and a 4K UltraFine - does it make the fans go loud (with basic tasks I mean, not watching 4K vids or doing anything particularly cpu intensive)?

But yea, still a lot of money - will likely try out the laptop stand solution first.

Thanks for your feedback!

I ran the LG 5k from my ‘15 MBP without too much fan noise. Should be no issues on a ‘19 one

Ah, good to hear, cheers!

Before spending on an LG 4K or 5k, check the wobble due to the shit stand design and if you can live with it. I’m on the verge of selling mine and getting an iMac instead. Might not make sense money wise if you have a decent laptop already, but it’s not far off with a mini as I have.

If Apple drops an iMac with m-silicon this year I’ll be tempted.

Thanks for the headsup!
I remember people on here complaining about the wobble, also read getting an iMac is a smart solution for some.
Though that would be kinda overkill for me, also my 16" is fairly well specced so would be nuts to not use it, haha.

I mitigated most of the wobble with an IKEA sigfinn.

It means I can lower the monitors own stand so it gets a bit more stable. If you can, maybe get a monitor arm? It’s a fantastic monitor, just a shame that the stand is all looks and no function.

i have the 4k ultrafine, use with 13” 2017 mbp and get no fan noise.

also use the ikea monitor stand linked above!

no complaints from me, 1cable is great and leaves the charger available to be left in the lounge for lazy days

Getting a pedestal - so you can lower the built-in stand? Take that, LG
😎

Thanks for your feedback @rogan.
Will check for deals on the screen. Might postpone that though, realizing now how much a proper keyboard, magic trackpad and stand will set me back 😅

What's the wobble? Is it with the desk stand or the clamp stand? I've got both (desk stand at work and the clamp at home) and haven't really noticed a wobble at all.

Side note, it looks like the 24” LG UltraFine 4K that was sold through Apple has just been discontinued.

Desk stand when it’s as high as it goes. It doesn’t help that our desk is a touch wobbly, but my partners iMac hardly moves at all compared to the jelly pole my screen is attached to

Just tried mine, and yes, at its highest, if I wiggle it a little it moves. I guess mine is clamped hard to a really solid piece of furniture which mitigates any wobbles.

My laptop has just managed to slide off my sofa and slowly land on the USB C charging cable. This has killed the cable.

Any recommendations for a replacement? Or do I have to go down the Apple route? It’s for a 2020 13” MacBook Pro.

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Is it just a USB C cable (i.e. USB C on both ends?)

If so - Anker will be cheaper than Apple and charges my iPad Pro just fine.
Something like
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Anker-PowerLine-Durability-Including-Matebook-Red/dp/B06Y25Y6WX?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1

Another vote for Anker, I particularly like the Powerline II ones with the rubbery ends, they hold up well and are nice to handle -
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Anker-PowerLine-Probably-Certified-Matebook/dp/B071WNXY1R/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=usb-c+usb-c&qid=1612108807&s=electronics&sr=1-5

Both of those are usb 2 not USB 3.1 though, so waste of time if you use them for data transfer.

Also please buy from a retailer that pays UK tax.....

Both of those are usb 2 not USB 3.1 though, so waste of time if you use them for data transfer.

Yea but he wanted a charging cable and for that they're great.

The beauty of usb-c is thas it's one cable to do everything. For the sake of £7 more you've got a much more useful cable that's future-proofed (the anker usbc 3.1 version). Otherwise you are just potentially creating another useless cable in a few years time that could end up on landfill.

I use my charging cable to plug into my hard drives, means I only have to have one cable it's great.

could end up on landfill

I get what you're saying, but let's face it those cables end up on landfill sooner or later anyway, whether someone buys them or not; you might actually prevent more newer cables being produced by purchasing these old ones
🙂

It's maybe niche, but as a professional photographer being able to tether with my charging cable or connect my external hard drive using it has been a life saver.