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Has anyone else started using their MBPr primarily as a desktop?

Hieveryone

Hieveryone

macrumors 603
Original poster
Apr 11, 2014
5,632
2,347
USA
I have a MBPr 2.6/8/256 Haswell model.

I bought a really nice Dell 24" monitor recently and have a really nice Dell 21.5" as well.

I pretty much always dock my MBPr these days using a TwelveSouth Book Arc and use my MBPr as a desktop.

I might use my MBPr as a laptop occasionally but no more than 1-2 times a week.

Edit: How do I add a photo I dragged and dropped but it didn't work.
 
Last edited:
Hieveryone said:
I have a MBPr 2.6/8/256 Haswell model.

I bought a really nice Dell 24" monitor recently and have a really nice Dell 21.5" as well.

I pretty much always dock my MBPr these days using a TwelveSouth Book Arc and use my MBPr as a desktop.

I might use my MBPr as a laptop occasionally but no more than 1-2 times a week.

Edit: How do I add a photo I dragged and dropped but it didn't work.
Click to expand...

Not my new retina, but I had my 2012 cMBP 15" in clamshell mode for atleast a year.

I sold my iPad, so now I'm using a laptop more.

If it's a pic on your computer, click the little paperclip icon then select where it is on your computer.
 
I personally do not. I live in a very small 1 bedroom apartment and there simply isn't enough room for a desk to create a desktop setup. I usually sit on the couch when using my laptop. I think if I did want an actual desktop I would just get an iMac especially since all the devices sync together.
 
I use mine off and on as a desktop depending if I'm gonna sit for awhile otherwise I just use the laptop
 
Hieveryone said:
I have a MBPr 2.6/8/256 Haswell model.

I bought a really nice Dell 24" monitor recently and have a really nice Dell 21.5" as well.

I pretty much always dock my MBPr these days using a TwelveSouth Book Arc and use my MBPr as a desktop.

I might use my MBPr as a laptop occasionally but no more than 1-2 times a week.

Edit: How do I add a photo I dragged and dropped but it didn't work.
Click to expand...

This is basically my setup with my 13" rMBP on my Dell S2240L as a desktop in clamshell mode.
 

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My setup at work in Sweden. I mostly leave the rMBP there and use my 2010 Air on the couch at home. The retina screen is in use as the primary and the old 24" LED screen as a secondary. Hard to look at those pixels tho.
 

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I have my rMBP as my main machine. It sits on an mStand, with an external keyboard/mouse and monitor. I see that Henge Dock finally came out with their horizontal docking station but its priced at 400 dollars. This would have really worked well for me, but I'm content with using the mStand.
 
Samuelsan2001 said:
i bought a laptop because I needed a laptop. If I needed a desktop I would have bought one.
Click to expand...

I bought a laptop because I needed a desktop. It would be a huge waste to buy a second computer for the handful of times I go to the library to study and need a laptop.
 
One question I have about using your laptop as a desktop is degradation of the battery. I do this at work. I hardly ever use it as a laptop, then, one day I go to use it as a laptop and the Batt died in 25 mins.

My mother is having issues with her imac aging, but she has a 2012 MBA 13" that is mostly unused. I'm thinking about telling her to just get a monitor and plug that thing in and start using it instead. How can she keep the battery from being junk 6mo. later?
 
redneck6497 said:
One question I have about using your laptop as a desktop is degradation of the battery. I do this at work. I hardly ever use it as a laptop, then, one day I go to use it as a laptop and the Batt died in 25 mins.

My mother is having issues with her imac aging, but she has a 2012 MBA 13" that is mostly unused. I'm thinking about telling her to just get a monitor and plug that thing in and start using it instead. How can she keep the battery from being junk 6mo. later?
Click to expand...
Run on battery whenever you need to and plug it in whenever you can. You can plug or unplug any time you need to, regardless of the charged percentage, and you never need to completely drain your battery.
​
The link below should answer most, if not all, of your battery/charging questions, including tips for maximizing battery performance. If you haven’t already done so, I highly recommend you take the time to read it.
 
matty1551 said:
I bought a laptop because I needed a desktop. It would be a huge waste to buy a second computer for the handful of times I go to the library to study and need a laptop.
Click to expand...

Exactly. I actually bought a laptop to use a laptop. But in the future, I think I'll only buy laptops even if I need a desktop.

It's nice to be able to connect it to an external monitor and use it as a desktop then unplug and take it on the go.
 
I use my 13" rMBP as my desktop. I don't use an external display, or docked. I use it directly. Having a light laptop as my desktop actually works really well since I take it to school every day and it's nice to not have to coordinate everything. While I sort of miss a larger display and having extra room, I manage just fine with only the built in display.
 
I do.

I live in a tiny apartment and when I moved here, I sold my iMac and MacBook Air, and replaced them with the 13" rMBP.

Only this last week did I buy a cheap LG display to use a secondary monitor, and set up my dining room table as a desk. I love it, I now have a dual display, can run Virtual Machines, SQL Servers, etc...it feels like I have the advantages of a powerful desktop, than I can disconnect and take with me at any time. Or just take it to the couch for some reading/browsing.

My rMBP will be travelling with me to Europe later for a month later in the year, but apart from that, I rarely take it out of the house.
 
Steve says his desktop looks just fine!
 

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I honestly can barely remember the last time I even used a desktop. I don't even use an external monitor with my laptop. Just absolutely no need.
 
Hieveryone said:
That's an amazing photo. Is that just a monitor? What computer is he using?

----------



Is that, *dun* *dun* *dun*, WINDOWS?

Et tu yjchua95?!?!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :mad:

lol :)
Click to expand...

It's Windows because I was about to play Battlefield 4 on it :)

It's a late-2013 15" (2.6/16/1TB/750M), an early-2011 15" (2.3/16/512 840 Pro/1GB 6750M/matte screen) and an early-2015 13" (i7/16/512).
 
yjchua95 said:
It's Windows because I was about to play Battlefield 4 on it :)

It's a late-2013 15" (2.6/16/1TB/750M), an early-2011 15" (2.3/16/512 840 Pro/1GB 6750M/matte screen) and an early-2015 13" (i7/16/512).
Click to expand...

What happened to the eGPU?
 
not primarily, but i did buy a nice 23" external dell monitor and some creative speakers for when i want to watch movies/tv shows. i dont own a tv, no space in my rented room for that.
 
Hieveryone said:
I have a MBPr 2.6/8/256 Haswell model.

I bought a really nice Dell 24" monitor recently and have a really nice Dell 21.5" as well.

I pretty much always dock my MBPr these days using a TwelveSouth Book Arc and use my MBPr as a desktop.

I might use my MBPr as a laptop occasionally but no more than 1-2 times a week.

Edit: How do I add a photo I dragged and dropped but it didn't work.
Click to expand...

I have the exact same dock as you, and do the same. I prefer to be docked at work, but I need mobility for when I train people.

I have a Magic Trackpad and keyboard too.
 
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