Why do so many people buy MacBooks, only to run them in clamshell mode all of the time?

[msackey]

Surely you’d get better value buying a Mini or a Studio?

It’s a good point. However, the convenience of having a laptop may make it worth it to the user even if it’s not used as a laptop as much.

I’m one such cases

Years ago, though less than 5, I used to carry my personal laptop around more. Now, I rarely do but at least a few times a year may need to such as when visiting family abroad and instead of carrying both a work and personal laptop I just carry the personal one and do work on the personal one.

In fact, my office issues only laptops and no desktops to all of us even though 95% of the time is docked. The other 5% of the time, it is moved here and there. The flexibility is worth it.

 

[redheeler]

But, I believe I saw a post stating that said mode isn't good for the battery. Why is that?

Maybe not as bad as it used to be, since Apple introduced adaptive charging to allow the battery to drain even when the laptop is plugged in all the time. Having the battery always kept fully charged isn't good for it and will reduce its life. This, combined with the reduced cooling efficiency of running in clamshell mode, also increases the chance of the battery swelling.

With the adaptive charging combined with a cooler-running M-series CPU / GPU, this is probably the safest it has ever been to run a MacBook in clamshell mode.

 

[circatee]

Maybe not as bad as it used to be, since Apple introduced adaptive charging to allow the battery to drain even when the laptop is plugged in all the time. Having the battery always kept fully charged isn't good for it and will reduce its life. This, combined with the reduced cooling efficiency of running in clamshell mode, also increases the chance of the battery swelling.

Ah, got it. Thanks...

 

[msackey]

I'm almost always in clamshell mode at my desk. But, every once and a while (every week or so) I work at a coffee shop for a few hours. Sometimes I just need to get away from my desk and put my feet up, so I grab my computer and move to a different room for a bit.

Since I only want to buy one computer, I only buy laptops. I know that my battery could be happier, but I care more about myself and my work than I care about my battery. I would feel trapped at my desk if I only had a desktop computer.

Exactly why I’d get a laptop. I wish having only a desktop would work for me

 

[Tyler O'Bannon]

Because if you need a laptop just 1% of the time, then you need a laptop.

 

[dockgaze]

Okay . . . . here’s my successful and happy (for me) version of a rad’ solution to the desktop vs laptop dilemma YMMV etc. Currently use an M1 Mac Mini 16GB 2T, capacious 4k 32in screen (M1 MM $1432.00 on official Apple Refurb site) at home where I do most of my work. Portable work flow needed @ 30% of the time . . . . including international travel. Mothership M1 MM stays at home and I Jumpdesktop App into it from my iPad Air 5 + Magic Keyboard remotely. For me, this setup works fantastic! For extensive write ups I utilize an iPad stand and full size BT keyboard w/ mouse. So I’m actually writing on the desktop at home from my iPad screen from anywhere. Super portable 11in iPad becomes a satellite Mac. Big ass screen comfort at home, little ass light weight portability on the road. Everything integrated as one setup/hard drive. That’s the compromise that works for me.

 

[0339327]

Surely you’d get better value buying a Mini or a Studio?

I work with a national organization. We needed a MacMini to replace a 27” iMac because Apple doesn’t care about business Machines and doesn’t sell one.

The national office refused and sent us a MacBook Air. We sent it back and bought the Mini with discretionary funds.

I don’t get it either but it’s possible that large organizations are getting better deals on the laptops.

 

[Jonathan.T.Harpur]

I like having a 2019 27 inch iMac to do most of my grunt work and a MacBook Pro 16 inch laptop to use on the go with a image of what's on my iMac 🖥️

The only thing I would change now is I would move to 13/14 inch screen as I find 16 inch to big now and I can get the the same spec as a new iMac/Mac Studio in a smaller package

 

[rm5]

When I was in high school, you were supposed to have your own laptop—and I guess the same goes for college as well. So, I'd bring it to school, use it there, and then when I got home, I'd "dock it up"—either putting it in clamshell mode, or just using an external monitor. This was REALLY ANNOYING to have to do every day, but it worked. So, I can say, for that reason, clamshell mode is worth it. I don't use it all the time (and I'm not using it right now), but it is a useful feature.

So, in answering the actual question of why people use a MacBook in clamshell mode instead of buying a desktop—maybe you can work with just one machine, and when you're at home, it's "docked," and when you're away, you're using it like a laptop. That's my take on it

 

[rgwebb]

I don’t understand clamshell mode usage. I do use a laptop desktop setup with my home and work MacBooks. I just have the rain design mStand at each office. Why decline to use an additional screen when you got it for free?

 

[Tagbert]

Case in point: Activity Monitor is currently showing 7.5 GB of swap used, so I just ordered an extra 32 GB of RAM...

Meanwhile, we were all given laptops at work "for portability". It's been about three years since then, and I think I've taken it away from my desk once. I would much rather have had a more powerful desktop.

We have all been on laptops (either Mac and Windows) for many years. It came in handle when we had to work from home and does now that we are hybrid between home and office. These days an M-series laptop is plenty fast enough for most needs.

 

[GMShadow]

One side note for why businesses might issue laptops even for desks: built in UPS that doesn’t require separate maintenance.

 

[Tagbert]

Surely you’d get better value buying a Mini or a Studio?

I use my Mac laptop mostly carried between desks at home and work but also on trips to our other offices. I mostly connect to a larger external monitor but I use the laptop for Outlook and Slack windows and keep documents in the larger screen. I use the laptop keyboard and trackpad. Putting it in clamshell mode would reduce my screen area and require me to put another keyboard and trackpad on my desk somewhere.

 

[hg.wells]

I don’t understand clamshell mode usage. I do use a laptop desktop setup with my home and work MacBooks. I just have the rain design mStand at each office. Why decline to use an additional screen when you got it for free?

Most laptops support an extra monitor when the internal display is not in use. So I can utilize two external displays when in clamshell mode and have access to a bigger screen.

 

[Mr. Dee]

Your money, your choices. I have a Windows laptop which I run in clamshell mode with two large monitors. I actually found the laptop screen useless and less resourceful than working on two big screens.

 

[kpluck]

Why not buy a laptop stand and park it next to your external monitor, gain some free extra screen real estate?

Because I don't need extra screen real estate beyond my 32" monitor.

That definitely beats clamshell mode in my opinion.

Then don't use clamshell mode.

You still have easy access to Touch ID

Depends on a person's desk setup. Touch ID on my MBP isn't very convenient but the touch ID on my Apple wireless keyboard sure is.

-kp

 

[circatee]

Honestly, besides going into meetings with my MBP (Intel), if it wasn't for the touch ID, I probably would hardly open the lid.

I purchased a touch ID Apple wireless keyboard, then learned the hard way that the Intel model doesn't support it 🤣

 

[GrindBoxNotGears]

Because, we get to take our computers with us when we go on vacation and not being able to, when we want to, isn’t very valuable at all.

 

[mystery hill]

A MacBook can run for hours when there is no electricity.

You would need a very expensive UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) to achieve that with a desktop Mac.

 

[Beefbowl]

I just went from an M1 Mini to an M2 Pro MBP rather than an M2 Pro Mini in order to reduce the number of cables and simplify swapping between computers. I have a single thunderbolt connection between the MBP and a monitor, and I have a long enough thunderbolt cable that I can easily disconnect from my new MBP and connect to my work-provided MBP or to my Surface Pro 8.

 

[svenmany]

I have two 27" monitors connected to my laptop. Recently, I've started leaving the laptop open and using the third screen. It's kind of off to the side, so I just put less used stuff there. So, I guess I'm no longer on the "clamshell" team.

I do wonder whether the OP's original post was an actual question, looking for reasons why people take the laptop approach, or whether it was a challenge. I say give them the benefit of the doubt and assume it was a sincere question.

 

[Nermal]

We have all been on laptops (either Mac and Windows) for many years. It came in handle when we had to work from home and does now that we are hybrid between home and office. These days an M-series laptop is plenty fast enough for most needs.

I VPN into work from my iMac when I'm working from home. The 5k screen is vastly superior to what work gives us.

 

[georgivelev]

I’ve had a mac mini for like 5 years now (the 2018 model i3). At the time I bought it because I knew it would stay at the same place forever, it was connected to the cables and monitors. However, 3 years ago my lifestyle changed and I had to move between homes. Connecting and disconnecting the mini became nuisance. I’ll have to buy a laptop for convenience. Otherwise a mac mini is much cheaper option.

 

[leemkule]

One thing that hasn't really been mentioned is performance.

Historically people had desktops over laptops mainly because desktops had so much more capability.

With the introduction of the Apple M series, the gap is insignificant, the only tangible difference between an M2 Max MacBook Pro and a M2 Max Studio is in I/O, rather than performance. You can increase the ports on the MacBook Pro. You can't really make the Mac Studio portable. The Mac Studio may be cheaper, but most people will want a mobile computer at some point; so a Mac Studio + MacBook Air may be on the cards, but then that puts you into MacBook Pro price territory and you have to deal with having two computers; which I personally find more of a headache. These days, with a laptop in clamshell mode you get way more versatility.

 

[NeonNights]

I've always preferred the flexibility of laptops in college, throughout my career, and personal use. During the pandemic we sold my wife's business and my organization transitioned to full-time WFH. Instead of making daily trips between my work office and my wife's business, I now only take the laptop between rooms in the house.

Once I added an M1 Mini, my M1 MBA sat idly by. I just didn't need to reach for it anymore and it seemed like a shameful waste to have a desktop and spare laptop that sat unused. I don't bother taking a laptop anymore on trips because our phones suffice, or if needed an iPad is preferable over lugging a laptop.

I am upgrading right now and am torn between keeping an M2 Max MBP 14 or returning it for the base M2 Max Mac Studio and saving $1000. Having one machine that I can connect to my 43" 4K monitor, while also able to take it on-the-go is extremely appealing, but the truth of the matter is I really don't need portability anymore and a desktop is probably the smarter choice. Heck, for almost the same cost as the M2 Max MBP 14 I can actually get a base M2 Max Mac Studio plus a base MBA 15 for portability (but laptop will mosty be a wasted desk decoration as I prefer to use the desktop connectd to a massive display). At least with a powerful MacBook Pro it can serve as a desktop replacement and will definitely be used everyday, if only in clamshell mode.

I tried a MBP 16 but didn't like the weight and how much space it took on my desk. I loved the MBA 15 form factor but it proved to be insufficient performance for my needs. I continued to stick to a laptop and bought the MBP 14 but it's mostly docked in clamshell mode. I basically paid a premium for a laptop display that I rarely use.

My wife helped me face the truth that I don't need a laptop anymore but it's hard to break a 30-year habit. Our lives really are so different than pre-pandemic and I'm ready to embrace desktops again. It is a little scary at first losing the computing mobility but maybe I'll just get a keyboard case for my iPad Pro...see what I'm doing?... it's still hard not to want a laptop of some sort. In my current situation, a desktop really makes more sense but part of me still wants a single do-it-all laptop.