MBA Desktop Setup

I occasionally plug mine into an external monitor and use a mouse, but it's not a common setup. Oh and it also gets plugged into the surround sound too

I have this setup and like it. I plug my MBA into a Belkin thunderbolt express dock, which has all my desk USB/Firewire/audio/external display connections on it. From that I have a 22 inch monitor, an extended USB Apple keyboard, and a wireless magic mouse. Works great!

I have a Thunderbolt display with an Apple wireless keyboard and trackpad. I prefer this setup to the 21" iMac I gave to my parents. The performance is great and I love the extra screen real estate.

I don't because I have a 27" iMac as my desktop setup, MBA is my secondary computer for bed use and travel.

I've got this. When I previously had a 11" MBA, I used this setup almost exclusively except when traveling. I upgraded to the 2013 13" MBA, though, and now I hardly ever use the external monitor or the other peripherals. The screen is big enough as is for daily use. I don't find myself really needing the extra screen real estate often and the built-in trackpad is incredible.

I at the moment am waiting for my MacBook Air to arrive, but I have a 15" MacBook Pro 2010 which I am replacing with the Air, my setup is as follows.

MacBook Pro (soon air).
Dell 27" U2713HM.
Apple wired keyboard (with numpad).
Logitech MX Anywhere mouse.

I use the MacBook in open mode as a secondary (sometimes primary depending on what I'm doing) screen but sometimes I do close it and just use the external display. It's just like having a desktop (for what I do at least, for power power users it would be a lot slower/worse for CPU things and games!).

I also have a 27in iMac. No external monitor / mouse here

A Thunderbolt display with a BassJump 2. Sounds awesome.

Geekazoid said:

Hey guys,
Just interested to know if any of you have your MBA setup with an external display and an Apple Wireless and Magic Trackpad for a desktop setup and how you're likeing it, as I plan on having this setup myself.

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Depends on the nature of your work, and whether you envision yourself sitting at your desk for an extended period of time.

At home, it's a no-brainer if your laptop is your only computer, though I prefer to work on the couch or bed.

I tried such a setup at my table at work (I am a teacher), but I find myself hardly at my desk these days (more responsibilities that involve me running about, plus I prefer to work at the lounge), so my monitor went largely unused.

I find that it's a very seductive concept in theory, but is also ultimately something you need to try for yourself before you know whether it is suitable for you or not. Try with a cheap monitor and some spare keyboard+mouse lying around. If it works for you, then consider upgrading to a better screen and peripherals as funds allow.

I am hopefully ordering my macbook air 13, this weekend. I am looking to do this set up, I am planning on magic mouse, but using a usb apple keyboard. Looking to see what you guys thing about for a thunderbolt docking station, preferable with more than one thunderbolt and USB 3 and what you guys recommend for a external optical drive. Thanks!

11" Air with a 27" Thunderbolt display. I use the keyboard and trackpad on the Air- because, why not? I love the setup just make sure you plug in because a Thunderbolt display on battery alone will drain it fast.

i wished i got clam shell desktop setup, but i doubt i ever need it anytime...

My MBA is dual purpose with two logins.

1. My personal machine
2. My corporate laptop

As a personal machine... I almost never plug it into a monitor. Instead I use my 27" iMac along with a 27" ATD. I love the dual 27" display setup.

As my corporate laptop... I am 50/50 using the MBA as just a laptop vs using it with an external monitor. I travel a lot, so I love the mobility of the MBA. When in the office, I am also in lots of meetings... so the MBA is great to take from meeting to meeting.

I also use my MBA with external monitors:

• At work I have a 27" ACD
• At home... I switch the ATD cable from my iMac, to my MBA when I want to work on some work project with a larger screen (ex: a presentation).

For both work and home... I have a complete set of wireless kbd/mouse/trackpad dedicated to the same MBA.

/Jim

Yes.

Yes, I do. I have my 13" MBA 2013 attached to a 23" 1080p HP monitor via a Thunderbolt to HDMI adapter. I have a 7 port powered USB 2.0 hub in one port, and a 3TB USB 3.0 external HD in the other port. I have a speaker system in the headphone port and the Magsafe obviously. This setup works great, I can pick up the Air and use it wherever I want or just put it on my desk and plug in the five wires and we're good to go.