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Sick of plugging and unplugging.

N

nazedayo

macrumors member
Original poster
Jan 18, 2012
35
0
I have a Mac mini for home use, macbook air for work. I have the following peripherals:
-Logitech mouse (USB)
-Printer (USB)
-Das Keyboard (USB)
-2 WD hard drives, 1TB each (USB)
-Scanner (USB)
->4 of the USB peripherals connected via a 4-USB 2.0 hub, since none of my devices take advantage of USB 3.0
-Speakers (Audio in)
-21.5" Monitor (Thunderbolt)

In other words, I have to reach for the back of the Mac Mini and plug out the speaker, thunderbolt cable, USB cable (for the hub), USB (for one of the external hard drives). Small price to pay to be ergonomic, but it's starting to get annoying. Any tips on how I can minimize the plugging/unpluggin on a daily basis (besides Thunderbolt display– way out of my price range)?
 
Is the goal to use all of these peripherals on either the Mini or the MBA? How about one of the many Thunderbolt hubs on the market. They are relatively expensive, but they will allow you to plug everything on your list in with just the Thunderbolt cable to your Mini or MBA. I'm using the Matrox one with my rMBP. Attaches ethernet, monitor, and USB by plugging in one TB cable. I'm using a wireless keyboard, but a USB one would work fine through the TB hub as well.
 
mfram said:
Is the goal to use all of these peripherals on either the Mini or the MBA? How about one of the many Thunderbolt hubs on the market. They are relatively expensive, but they will allow you to plug everything on your list in with just the Thunderbolt cable to your Mini or MBA. I'm using the Matrox one with my rMBP. Attaches ethernet, monitor, and USB by plugging in one TB cable. I'm using a wireless keyboard, but a USB one would work fine through the TB hub as well.
Click to expand...

Thanks, that was the answer I needed. Sigh, looks like convenience isn't cheap– $249 is a bitter pill to swallow...
 
Ditch the Mini and run everything on the Air then get a Apple Thunderbolt Display and connect everything to the display. One TB cable and a Magsafe to pop off and you are out the door.

I made this switch over a year ago and have been very happy. Only one machine to update/maintain and everything I need always with me.

Caveat> The Apple TBD is very likely to get updated soon. Flip side is you can get a better deal on a TBD refurb now.
 
I'm trying to understand the problem here. Are you having to unplug the periphals from the mini to use them on the air? If so, why not leave them on the mini and just share them over the network?
 
cuestakid said:
http://www.caldigit.com/thunderboltstation/

this "should" be out late October/early November.
Click to expand...

Thanks. will keep an eye out for it.

----------
Weaselboy said:
Ditch the Mini and run everything on the Air then get a Apple Thunderbolt Display and connect everything to the display. One TB cable and a Magsafe to pop off and you are out the door.

I made this switch over a year ago and have been very happy. Only one machine to update/maintain and everything I need always with me.

Caveat> The Apple TBD is very likely to get updated soon. Flip side is you can get a better deal on a TBD refurb now.
Click to expand...

Only problem– the Air is provided by and controlled by my employer, so content on there is strictly limited.

I'm planning to renew my old Mini (personal) next year– I can either:
1. Buy the newer mini w/ a thunderbolt dock (like this $200 one: http://www.caldigit.com/thunderboltstation/), or
2. Buy a Mac Air and use Landing Zone (http://landingzone.net). This actually might work better, as this set-up would require literally 0 unplugging.
 
nazedayo said:
I have a Mac mini for home use, macbook air for work. I have the following peripherals:
-Logitech mouse (USB)
-Printer (USB)
-Das Keyboard (USB)
-2 WD hard drives, 1TB each (USB)
-Scanner (USB)
->4 of the USB peripherals connected via a 4-USB 2.0 hub, since none of my devices take advantage of USB 3.0
-Speakers (Audio in)
-21.5" Monitor (Thunderbolt)

In other words, I have to reach for the back of the Mac Mini and plug out the speaker, thunderbolt cable, USB cable (for the hub), USB (for one of the external hard drives). Small price to pay to be ergonomic, but it's starting to get annoying. Any tips on how I can minimize the plugging/unpluggin on a daily basis (besides Thunderbolt display– way out of my price range)?
Click to expand...

I assume the 21.5" (Thunderbolt) monitor is really a regular monitor using Mini-displayport right? Or are you using a dongle to convert from Thunderbolt to say HDMI? Reason I ask, is why not use a KVM?
 
Screen Sharing?

Have you thought about using screen sharing? i.e., just "remotely" log into the MBA right next to you via your Mini (or vice versa) and just do everything you need to it/on it that way?

I use screen sharing extensively with my Mac's and I use Remote Desktop Connection for my Windoze computers. I have my work Windoze computer set up in a guest room, and I just remotely access it from my Mac at my desk.

That, in combination with my 10.6 Snow Leopard set up with Spaces, allows me to dedicate a single space to my laptop, while I have various other spaces dedicated to different programs.

I have looked into KVM's in the past, but was never happy with the connectors and the spaghetti-like cable mess on my desktop. This way, I get to use both (or 3 computers) cleanly, with one main computer as my primary set-up.
 
nazedayo said:
Thanks. will keep an eye out for it.

----------



Only problem– the Air is provided by and controlled by my employer, so content on there is strictly limited.

I'm planning to renew my old Mini (personal) next year– I can either:
1. Buy the newer mini w/ a thunderbolt dock (like this $200 one: http://www.caldigit.com/thunderboltstation/), or
2. Buy a Mac Air and use Landing Zone (http://landingzone.net). This actually might work better, as this set-up would require literally 0 unplugging.
Click to expand...

I have a MBA that is set up for corporate use as well... so that is the only computer that I can use for work. I have a pair of landing zone docks... one in my office and the other at home. Simple to move my MBA back and forth.

At work it connects to an ACD... so the peripherals attach to the landing zone dock. At home, I have an ATD.

I do use two independent sets of Bluetooth kbd/mouse/trackpad at work and home.. but there is nothing stopping me from using wired peripherals if I had choosed so.

/Jim
 
paulrbeers said:
I assume the 21.5" (Thunderbolt) monitor is really a regular monitor using Mini-displayport right? Or are you using a dongle to convert from Thunderbolt to say HDMI? Reason I ask, is why not use a KVM?
Click to expand...

That's corrrect. And what's a KVM?

----------
blesscheese said:
Have you thought about using screen sharing? i.e., just "remotely" log into the MBA right next to you via your Mini (or vice versa) and just do everything you need to it/on it that way?
Click to expand...

That may be exactly what I need. Do you use screen sharing via the traditional app or via Back to my mac?
 
An alternative to a KVM switch would be a simple USB switch. I used one for sharing a single keyboard/mouse combination with two laptops at my last job. I had two laptops (my company and the client's laptop) but wanted to save space on the desk.

You could plug your keyboard, mouse and printer (and HDDs) on a single hub, then connect that hub to the USB switch. The USB switch has two type-B USB ports that you then run to each of your computers. Just hit the button for A or B and you're set.

Still doesn't do anything for your monitor and speakers, but you could get similar switches for audio and HDMI. But at that point, a KVM switch is more elegant.
 
You can share your HDDs in your network, no need to unplug them, they can also be set up as NAS, connected to the router, etc...

For speakers, get a splitter( I think it would work), those things can be found for a buck, or maybe laying around in your house from the CD Player days.

or get a non thunderbolt hub for everything else and is just a matter of disconnecting the monitor.
 
cuestakid said:
http://www.caldigit.com/thunderboltstation/

this "should" be out late October/early November.
Click to expand...

This device needs 3 thunderbolt connections. Or 2 thunderbolt and a displayport.

I have 2 monitors that use displayport. If I wanted one wire from my rMBP to a TB hub, I could not do it as the assumption made by these hub makers is that a TB port is only for TB (i.e. daisy chaining) but that's not how it is implemented on the rMBP.

All of these hubs are a disappointment.
 
I assume the display is using a thunderbolt to VGA or DVI adapter. If so get an old fashioned KVM switch that does USB, Audio and your display type.

Then leave both computers plugged in to the switch. Detach the Air when needed. All you have to do is flip the switch to go between them.
 
ZipZap said:
This device needs 3 thunderbolt connections. Or 2 thunderbolt and a displayport.

I have 2 monitors that use displayport. If I wanted one wire from my rMBP to a TB hub, I could not do it as the assumption made by these hub makers is that a TB port is only for TB (i.e. daisy chaining) but that's not how it is implemented on the rMBP.

All of these hubs are a disappointment.
Click to expand...

If one of your monitors is 1080p, you could use the HDMI port (with a DVI adapter cable if needed).
 
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