When the MacBook Air M3 came out last month, I did a nice double-face slap that Captain Picard would be proud of. The wedge shape no longer existed (more or less). My MacBook Air 15 M2 was a little too big, a little too heavy, and no matter what certain people say, 8GB of RAM just wasn’t enough. Analyzing the different configurations and prices of MacBook Air and MacBook Pro made my head hurt. Thinking about carrying a heavier laptop made my back hurt.
So I said, “Screw it.” “I’m going back to desk life.” I traded in my M2 Air and bought a Mac mini.
Makes sense. I have a work M1 MacBook Air – a delightfully light wedge that’s more than enough for occasional trips to the office. At home, I use my phone for everything except writing and tasks more suited to large screens (e.g. spreadsheets, research, etc.). I already had an external keyboard, mouse, and monitor. I was using my laptop as a desktop anyway.
But the last time I had a desktop was in 2001. Twenty-three years is a long time, and in that time, I forgot a lot about desktop life, like peripherals aren’t a good option; They are essential. And with Macs, setup can be difficult if you’re not using Apple‘s Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse.
I missed the trackpad as soon as I realized that my Keychron K2 wireless keyboard and Logitech MX vertical mouse needed to be connected to start. After that initial hurdle, the Keychron wasn’t difficult to pair. The mouse was another story. Bluetooth pairing did not work while the mouse was plugged in. However, I couldn’t click to pair the mouse in the Bluetooth menu unless it was plugged in.
I sat there looking like a shocked Pikachu for a good three minutes while I racked my brain for every possible avenue that didn’t involve digging up a second mouse.
I then spent three hours searching for my spouse’s dead Magic Mouse. It took another hour to get enough charge. This is a well-known problem and yet, like me, many people are surprised, so if you’re thinking about making the switch, make sure you have a wired mouse and keyboard on hand.
In my 23 years without desktop computers, I also forgot that desktop computers don’t have great built-in speakers. My M2 Air had excellent speakers.
The Mac Mini’s speaker is a bit of garbage. I tried wearing headphones all day but it was too uncomfortable. After a week of denial, I bought some small desktop speakers for $19.
Satechi 2-in-1 Mac Mini Hub and Stand
While I already had a webcam, I wasn’t prepared for how often I had to unplug it and plug it back in for it to work. And then I had to transfer photos from an SD card. The Mac Mini does not have an SD card slot. I looked out the window, sighed, and purchased the Satechi 2-in-1 Mac Mini Hub and Stand.
But once the ports and peripherals puzzle was mostly solved, I appreciated how intentional desktop life is. Laptops are great, but their portability made it difficult for me to separate work from home.
It’s easier for me to start in the morning if I know I can’t roll over, grab my laptop, and start working from bed. (Turns out getting out of bed does wonders for my mood.) I have to get dressed, brush my teeth, and head to my office. And since I only sit at my desk to journal or work, it’s like flipping a switch in my brain that says, “It’s time to write.” The rest of my house is now a place where I can just… live.
It’s a little different from childhood. Back then, the desktop was a family computer. There was no real privacy.
My parents took priority, which meant I had to hide all my very important high school AIM conversations and illegal LimeWire downloads as soon as they had to email me.
That’s what made a laptop so attractive back then. I could take my business somewhere else, away from their prying eyes. But now that I don’t have to share, I find that desk life helps me create a daily structure that allows me more freedom, not less.
At least most of the time. I still have a problem with the Mac Mini that I haven’t fully resolved. Unfortunately, the Mac Mini is square. Cats like to sit in squares.
Last month, one cat, in particular, began to perch on it while staring imperiously at me, blocking my view, stealing my lunch, and aggressively demanding my pets.
It is very nice but unsustainable since I would like to keep my job. It’s unclear if getting a second external monitor will help me or plunge me into another port-related puzzle. I will accept any suggestions.
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