This video is brought to you by MOFT.
What if I tell you that everything that you see on this desk setup, all the monitors, chargers,
peripherals, sound, and ergonomics, actually exists in this backpack? Would you believe me?
Would you believe me that instead of disassembling this entire desk, I can just put on my back and
turn any available surface, no matter where I am, into the ultimate dual or even triple screen
setup that would be equally as productive and ergonomic? Well, I can, and I'll show you today.
With the release of iPadOS 15.4 and macOS Monterey version 12.3, I'd like to revise a video I did
two years ago called - portable Mac desk setup. This is a showcase video of the potential of the
Apple Ecosystem, combined with some extremely clever, multi-purpose accessories that will
leave you inspired to unplug and work from anywhere without making compromises.
I waited until today, and I mentioned these specific versions of macOS and iPadOS because they
mark the official launch of Universal Control. Universal Control lets you manage multiple Apple
devices using the mouse and keyboard of just one of them. I have a separate video covering
Universal Control, so I'll leave a link to it below if you are interested. Combined with
Sidecar, which provides the ability to use any iPad as a mirrored or extended secondary display,
one can easily create a dual-monitor setup that fits in a bag and unpacks on any surface.
This was also kind of possible 2 years ago when I did the initial portable setup,
but things are even better this time around thanks to the provided ports of the latest MacBook Pro.
With them, the necessity of dongles and hubs is no more, resulting in fewer things
to carry around. Being able to be productive at any location is possible on all the 13, 14,
and 16-inch MacBooks - the largest, of course, being the ultimate productivity canvas. In my
16-inch MBP first impressions video, I talked about how I use the laptop for any workflow,
seldom relying on an external display, and I stand by this couple of weeks later.
Without any of the soon to mentioned items, I can use the laptop unplugged for hours and make money
by doing video production graphic and web design work, wherever I am. You can check out my MacBook
Pro video in the description below if you want to know more about the configuration I went for
and my thoughts, and BTW, if you end up enjoying this video, SUBSCRIBE, because why not?
Talking about portable desk setup, I have to start with MOFTs Smart Desk Mat that combines a desk
mat, stand, book holder, lap tray, laptop riser, memo board, and what not into a slim form factor
that I can carry around the studio. Besides being able to use it as a productivity enhancer, this
angle-adjustable surface serves as the best lap tray that can be used for either my laptop,
tablet, or both or simply as a clever book holder. It is ideal for propping up any of my devices,
providing the perfect angle when used on the desk. This is all possible thanks to the
clever magnetic accessories that turn the Smart Desk Mat from a minimal-looking desk mat into a
modular productivity juggernaut that can do crazy things, like being a smartphone charger or even a
timer trigger, thanks to the built-in NFC tags. Use the smooth leg cushion that
magnetically attaches below the desk mat to take your workstation to a cozy place,
and check out the first link in the description below to grab MOFT's Smart Desk Mat today.
With Universal Control, I like to use both the iPad mini and
the 12.9" iPad Pro for different scenarios. When using the mini, I like to keep it attached to
the desk mat on the side and use Universal Control to swipe between the different apps that I need.
For example, I may open a chill piano playlist on Apple music when writing a script. The mini
is my go-to chat and messages choice while keeping the MacBook focused on the task
at hand. The possibilities are endless. I might even resort to it as yet another browser
that I want to refer to, especially when working on a design or something else that is close to a
smartphone size in a vertical orientation. The versatility of the iPad mini in assistance to
my MacBook Pro makes me want to have Universal Control available on the iPhone as well, but
that's another topic. I might throw an audiobook on the side as well, almost forgot about it.
If I were to do a video edit or work on a project that requires more real estate,
I could turn to the big boy - the 12.9 inch iPad Pro. With it's identical to the MacBook
Pro XDR display, it quickly transforms into the Robin to my Batman laptop. With Sidecar,
I easily extend my laptop wirelessly and turn this setup into a dual-screen one. This is my absolute
favorite way to work on a video edit, even if I am at my studio and have access to all the monitors I
can ask for. There's something magical to use this combo, knowing that it boasts the best possible
displays on the market that can actually fit in my backpack. Things get even more unreal if I
were to bring back the iPad mini into the equation and have this tripe-screen setup, with two iPads
flanking my MacBook. On the left, the 12.9 inch iPad Pro extends my MacBook display with Sidecar,
ready to accommodate any creative app, and on the right, I keep the communication juices flowing,
thanks to Universal Control and iPad OS. This ladies and gentleman is sick.
If I look at my display settings, I even see 4 displays since the iPad Pro can be both used
with Universal Control and SideCar, which doubles the productivity options on just this one device.
While on the topic of the larger tablet, I've been meaning to share with you for a long time the
stand that I like to use, which is from my friends at Pitaka. It's called MagEZ stand. This stand is,
of course, not something that you can put in your backpack. Still, it is an excellent alternative if
you want to unhook the tablet from its everyday keyboard and use it as the ideal raiser for the
laptop when coming back to your workspace. It provides superior eye-level comfort that
matches the already propped-up laptop, ideally making everything ergonomic by the book. Rotating
the iPad is effortless, and it even clicks into place at the correct rotation points.
The MagEZ stand comes with a built-in wireless charger on the bottom as well that, combined
with the MOFT desk mat, gives me all the device wireless charging surfaces I might ever require.
I can even charge my watch, too, thanks to this little PowerDongle by again Pitaka. I can't stop
smiling while showing you all this because I still can't comprehend the amount of cleverness
put into all these devices. When it comes to sound,
I can use any of the devices in front of me, the MacBook Pro being the most potent one.
However, for the ultimate space out experience, I prefer the AirPods Pro. Since they are part of the
ecosystem, I can jump around between my devices in a snap and forget that I am emitting all this
productivity from a coffee shop for example. In terms of peripherals, the laptop's trackpad
is excellent, but if I take out a mouse, I end up with exactly my home setup where I have both
a mouse and a trackpad at my disposal. I've had viewers questions this double input method before,
but I find it ideal when dealing with many apps and files. As an example,
I can grab a bunch of files and move them around my spaces with the trackpad while holding them
with my mouse. The ultimate inception is the fact that I can even grab a bunch of files from the Mac
and bring them over to the iPad, thanks to Universal Control. You can of course,
use any mouse. I tend to carry around the Logitech MX Anywhere 3, which can connect with the Mac
and independently pair with both the iPads, since it can be paired with up to 3 devices.
Talking about input methods, I almost forgot to mention the Apple Pencil, which can not only work
with either of the iPads, but it can also interact with macOS via Sidecar. FOR EXAMPLE, if I was to
do a pen cut out in Affinity, I could just detach the iPad Pro and start drawing around the curves.
And there's gaming. With the power of the M1, paired with an external controller,
this portable setup can also be used for gaming. The external controller of course,
is not a necessity. Still, when playing games like Tomb Raider, the experience is much more awesome
with something like this retro-inspired 8BitDo controller. Extremely compact and long-lasting,
this controller weighs nothing and takes little to no space in any backpack.
I also use it for other work-related purposes, such as a remote controller.
Ah...At the end of the day, all the aforementioned applications and tools,
could not be deemed portable if there weren't easily moved around
or compressed and put together into something that can be carried around.
It's 2022, and tech has never been more versatile to make people ultra-productive, no matter the
coordinates. Putting everything into my backpack makes me feel like a magician that had pulled a
rabbit, scarf, balloons and other fun stuff from a hat. It's a great time to be creative.
Check out my desk setup playlist here and if you have any questions, feel free to
leave them in the comment section below. As always, it's been an absolute pleasure,
This is E Over and out