As I’ve overhauled my setup all through 2022 in conjunction with the Mac Studio and MacBook Professional, I’ve used this as a chance so as to add some new equipment as effectively. This features a new OWC Thunderbolt Dock, a nifty Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad accent from Twelve South, and extra. Head beneath for the main points.
Greatest Mac Accent: OWC Thunderbolt 4 Dock
One of many extra integral additions to my setup is the OWC Thunderbolt Dock, a model of we additionally went hands-on with earlier this yr.
The OWC Thunderbolt Dock I’m utilizing in my setup gives 4 Thunderbolt 4 ports with help for as much as 40Gb/s switch speeds, 4 USB-A ports, an SD card slot, a 3.5mm audio jack, and gigabit ethernet. I’ve the dock mounted on the underside of my desk so it’s hidden and out of the way in which, however its ports are nonetheless accessible.
The OWC Thunderbolt 4 dock is admittedly not fairly as helpful with the brand new Mac Studio because it was once I was utilizing my 14-inch MacBook Professional in clamshell mode. It is because the Mac Studio gives its personal versatile number of ports.
When you’re searching for a method to liberate the ports on the Mac Studio itself, nonetheless, this OWC dock is a superb choice. It’s additionally good for cleansing up your desk and having as few cables as potential snaking from the again of the Mac Studio. When you’re putting an order from OWC, I may also extremely suggest the firm’s Thunderbolt 4 cable, which is considerably cheaper than Apple’s.
Magic Keyboard with Contact ID
When you’re utilizing an Apple Silicon-powered Mac and also you haven’t added a Magic Keyboard with Contact ID to your setup, you’re significantly lacking out. Lastly having the ability to use Contact ID with a desktop Mac is a sport changer. This consists of Apple Pay authentication, accessing password managers, and making App Retailer purchases.
In fact, which means it’s important to be glad with the shape issue and design of Apple’s Magic Keyboard, which isn’t the case for everybody. I’m nonetheless holding out hope that Apple releases a standalone “Magic Button” with Contact ID in some unspecified time in the future, however for now, this should do.
Greatest Mac keyboard accent: MagicBridge
Talking of the Magic Keyboard, if you happen to use the Magic Keyboard alongside a Magic Trackpad, the favored accent maker Twelve South gives a very nifty MagicBridge accent. The MagicBridge turns the standalone Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad right into a “one piece management floor, tidying up your workspace.”
You do lose among the flexibility of being about to maneuver your trackpad round in your desk, however in my setup, I a lot favor the only piece design. I exploit a Logitech MX Grasp alongside my Magic Trackpad, so I can transfer the MX Grasp round as wanted, and have a clear setup that mixes my Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad because of the Magic Bridge.
Stream Deck
I’ll have one other story going extra in-depth on this later, however I’ve additionally lately added a Stream Deck to my Mac’s setup. I’m nonetheless studying my means around the globe of the Stream Deck, however proper now I’m utilizing it for Mac automation and sensible residence management functions.
Listed below are among the guides I’ve been following as I be taught extra about Stream Deck:
Satechi Leather-based Desk Mat
Final however not least, and possibly the accent I get requested about most frequently once I characteristic it in product imagery, is the Satechi Eco-Leather-based Deskmate. This can be a purely visible addition to my setup, bringing a leather-based desk mat to deal with my keyboard and trackpad. It’s made out of high-quality eco-leather and is designed to guard your desk whereas additionally serving as a gentle resting place in your wrists and arms.
Joli Leather-based Sleeves
I’ve been singing the praises of Joli’s handmade leather-based sleeves for MacBook since 2015, and nothing in any respect has modified. Each time I purchase a brand new MacBook, I all the time make certain to get a Joli leather-based sleeve to associate with it. The Joli sleeves are handmade from clean premium Italian leather-based, utilizing “luxurious full grain waxed leather-based which reveals marks as you employ it.”
Joli’s leather-based sleeves come at a premium, with costs beginning at round $130 for the brand new 14-inch design. With their gorgeous leather-based materials and handmade touches, nonetheless, I discover them to be effectively definitely worth the worth.
Greatest Mac cleansing product: Whoosh Cleansing Spray
Final however not least, if you wish to maintain your new MacBook Air or MacBook Professional wanting model new, you’ll want a great way to maintain the show good and glossy. My go-to suggestion right here is the WHOOSH! Display screen Cleaner Package, which packs every little thing it is advisable maintain your Mac clear at a worth level beneath $20.
The display cleaner package consists of each 3.4oz and 0.3oz bottles of cleansing resolution in addition to three 6″ x 6″ cloths. Actually, the WHOOSH! spray is what many Apple Shops around the globe use themselves.
What are a few of your favourite Mac equipment proper now? Tell us down within the feedback!
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