That's a great setup. This is a good example of why someone would not need an external monitor. I actually had a 15 inch with the same setup but returned it because it was creaking.
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Laptop users who dont ever use external monitors at home
- Thread starter Misskitty
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That's a great setup. This is a good example of why someone would not need an external monitor. I actually had a 15 inch with the same setup but returned it because it was creaking.
I'm getting ready to move from a 17" MBP to a 13" rMBP (2.6 i5/16GB/1TB SSD).
The only time that I may hook it up to an external monitor is when I am working in Lightroom or Aperture with my photos.
I have two 23" monitors and a 27" monitor "lying" around the house that I can use. I'm not sure if I would use a dock or use an external monitor as a second screen. However, I love having options.
The only time that I may hook it up to an external monitor is when I am working in Lightroom or Aperture with my photos.
I have two 23" monitors and a 27" monitor "lying" around the house that I can use. I'm not sure if I would use a dock or use an external monitor as a second screen. However, I love having options.
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For years I had a 15" MBP and I never connected it to an external monitor.
I had a Fujitsu 17" LifeBook running XP and then Win7 which was basically my desktop replacement and what I used to connect to my office remotely.
When I got my 13" rMBP I bought a 22" AOC DVI Monitor (plus keyboard and mouse) and got rid of the LifeBook. Now when I need to connect to my office via Windows I use a Win7 BootCamp partition, but I also love the extra real estate I get (when I need it) with the bigger monitor while running OSX.
My wife loves the setup because she can plug her 11" MacBook Air and get tons more real estate (and use a full-sized keyboard).
As others have said, the Retina display on the rMBP is beautiful, so most of the time I simply tote the notebook from room to room when I use it.
I had a Fujitsu 17" LifeBook running XP and then Win7 which was basically my desktop replacement and what I used to connect to my office remotely.
When I got my 13" rMBP I bought a 22" AOC DVI Monitor (plus keyboard and mouse) and got rid of the LifeBook. Now when I need to connect to my office via Windows I use a Win7 BootCamp partition, but I also love the extra real estate I get (when I need it) with the bigger monitor while running OSX.
My wife loves the setup because she can plug her 11" MacBook Air and get tons more real estate (and use a full-sized keyboard).
As others have said, the Retina display on the rMBP is beautiful, so most of the time I simply tote the notebook from room to room when I use it.
Yup.
Subjective matter. You'll run into not understanding on many topics (not just laptops, computers or even tech) if you assume that your preferences and situation are universal.
Not really. I don't have as much need for large monitors at home.
Getting rid of my desk.
I have a 15" rMBP, I wish it was 13". For my work, I use 2 monitors (laptop and external) because it helps to have two screens to look at documents and such. For my personal stuff, I never use an external monitor. If I could get a 13" MBP with a video card (or if the internal video cards become good enough to make external ones obsolete), then I'd do it.
I have a 27" iMac on the desktop, which is connected to the scanner, the big external drives, the TV tuner, etc. It's much more convenient to have a separate computer there than to dock my computer to everything.
I actually do a surprisingly large amount of work directly on the 13" MBA screen, because I really dislike working at a desk.
Big reason for external monitor is ergonomics
A significant benefit of an external screen is the improved ergonomics. Like the OP, I'm always surprised when I see people using only the internal screen when their desks has one or more external monitors available.
When you work on a laptop, you have to tilt your head downwards to look at the screen. This means the considerable weight of your head is now being partially supported by your rear neck muscles, and in turn the supporting tendons and musculature around the shoulders. Doing this for hours a day is much more tiring that staring straight ahead at a properly adjusted external monitor. Your eye level should align roughly with the top of the screen.
Using a laptop's internal screen is fine for a few hours, but I'd never choose to do it for extended periods given the option of an external screen.
Raising the level of the laptop screen by using a stand is a reasonable alternative.
Another big plus is the increased screen real-estate. Several studies have demonstrated improved productivity when using multiple screens. It depends on the kind of work you do, but I normally have at least a dozen applications open at once, and often want to see multiple windows simultaneously without having to move application focus or desktop.
Of course the above assumes a typical office based job. If you are on the move for a significant portion of your working day, (e.g. student or mobile worker) then you're probably getting enough variation in your posture to compensate for periods on sub-optimal posture when using a laptop.
Personally, I have monitors at home and at work, and also have other computers / tablets etc. for casual use, when I'm too lazy to take out my laptop and plug it in to the monitor.
A significant benefit of an external screen is the improved ergonomics. Like the OP, I'm always surprised when I see people using only the internal screen when their desks has one or more external monitors available.
When you work on a laptop, you have to tilt your head downwards to look at the screen. This means the considerable weight of your head is now being partially supported by your rear neck muscles, and in turn the supporting tendons and musculature around the shoulders. Doing this for hours a day is much more tiring that staring straight ahead at a properly adjusted external monitor. Your eye level should align roughly with the top of the screen.
Using a laptop's internal screen is fine for a few hours, but I'd never choose to do it for extended periods given the option of an external screen.
Raising the level of the laptop screen by using a stand is a reasonable alternative.
Another big plus is the increased screen real-estate. Several studies have demonstrated improved productivity when using multiple screens. It depends on the kind of work you do, but I normally have at least a dozen applications open at once, and often want to see multiple windows simultaneously without having to move application focus or desktop.
Of course the above assumes a typical office based job. If you are on the move for a significant portion of your working day, (e.g. student or mobile worker) then you're probably getting enough variation in your posture to compensate for periods on sub-optimal posture when using a laptop.
Personally, I have monitors at home and at work, and also have other computers / tablets etc. for casual use, when I'm too lazy to take out my laptop and plug it in to the monitor.
I would defiantly not be able to work with only a laptop screen. I find it very difficult to use less than two monitors. I can work on one monitor and I usually have iTunes open on the other one. It's also much easier for moving files between folders if you have more screen real estate.
Before I retired I used a Lenovo laptop with two monitors at work but when on-call I used it with just the 14" screen. It was a little tight sometimes but let me be more flexible where I used it. I'm now in the opposite situation. I use my MBP with a display at home but use it by itself when traveling. This is made easier with my iPad since I don't use the laptop like I used to.
That is my setup except i have the apple keyboard with the number pad. I tried a ATD but it came with bad light bleed, and i like my retina. Sent it back and will probably wait for a new one.
LOL - this really made me giggle, in the nicest way your lack of understanding is matched by my indifference to it, it really it isn't worth you worrying about.
You may also find over time your own preferences may change in this and other regards, thats OK too and not something you should worry about either.
Rejoice in the choice you have and don't worry about the harmless choices we all make in life.
Personally, just so you know, I don't mind what screen size I work on - but I can't abide working on two monitors, I find it much more intuitive and natural to switch between apps etc on a single screen (and I've experimented/tried several times). I therefore choose an iMac 21.5 at the office and use my 13 MBP while mobile in the office, elsewhere and at home and my 11 MBA if needing to travel light. The machines are cloned and linked by iCloud and Dropbox so moving between them is seamless. Works for me, wouldn't work for you....but that is OK too.