# Maximizing Productivity with My Apple Ecosystem Setup
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Chapter 1: Introduction to My Apple Setup
In today's digital world, optimizing app window management on macOS can sometimes require innovative approaches.
Image courtesy of the author.
My 14-inch M2 Pro MacBook Pro serves as the central hub of my personal Apple ecosystem, stepping in for tasks that are too intricate for my iPad or require specific software unavailable on it. Despite its capabilities, macOS suffers from notable challenges regarding app window management, a topic I recently addressed in a brief article.
One area where iPad’s Stage Manager excels over macOS is in its unique functionality, which often leaves me feeling frustrated when switching back to my Mac.
To overcome this limitation of macOS, I’ve developed a special setup that I’m excited to share. This configuration isn’t the typical one you might find; it fully utilizes the advantages of the Apple ecosystem. Let’s dive into how I navigate the app window management challenges on macOS.
Section 1.1: Navigating Complex Tasks
When tackling intricate projects that necessitate multiple apps or windows, I prefer not to waste time resizing and arranging them. Instead, I want each app to be appropriately sized and positioned on my screen. With a 14-inch MacBook, even two apps can fill the display quickly.
Clearly, relying on a single screen limits my productivity for more demanding tasks, which is why I require additional screens.
Subsection 1.1.1: The Standard Setup
I also use my MacBook in a more traditional setup with just one external monitor. My desk features a 29-inch ultra-wide monitor, allowing me to conveniently place up to three apps side by side. While a fourth app could fit, it starts to feel overcrowded.
Image courtesy of the author.
However, I frequently expand beyond just my MacBook and the external monitor; I often incorporate my iPads into the mix.
Chapter 2: The Synergy of Apple Devices
In true Apple fashion, all my devices communicate effortlessly, creating the most efficient ecosystem I’ve ever worked in. Over the past ten months with my MacBook, I've learned a vital lesson: the collaboration between my iPad and MacBook significantly boosts productivity.
Section 2.1: Universal Control and Sidecar
Two standout features embedded in Apple's operating systems enhance this synergy:
- Universal Control: This feature enables seamless control of both the Mac and iPad using a single keyboard and trackpad/mouse. The iPad can be operated from the MacBook, and vice versa, creating the sensation that one device is merely an extension of the other, even though both run different operating systems.
- Sidecar: This allows my iPads to serve as external monitors for my MacBook. Like Universal Control, it operates wirelessly when both devices are connected to the same WiFi network. In this mode, the iPad functions as a true extension of the MacBook’s display, despite running iPadOS in the background.
With this foundation established, let’s explore how I incorporate my iPads into my MacBook setup.
Section 2.2: Enhancing with the iPad Pro
I own both a 12.9-inch M2 iPad Pro and an iPad Mini 6, but I’ll focus on the iPad Pro first. Recently, I added a magnetic VESA mount to my desk for the iPad Pro, positioning it at eye level beside my MacBook.
This arrangement creates a three-screen setup: the built-in MacBook display, my external monitor, and the iPad Pro.
Image courtesy of the author.
I primarily utilize the iPad Pro through Universal Control instead of Sidecar, as I've noticed some lag with Sidecar on my WiFi network. Moreover, Sidecar requires the iPad to be in landscape mode, while I often find a vertical orientation more beneficial for document work.
Both Universal Control and Universal Clipboard are invaluable when I’m in research and writing mode. I keep my references open on the iPad while drafting on the MacBook or external screen. Sidecar allows for two additional apps on the iPad, while Universal Control permits one more, effectively raising the number of apps I can use simultaneously to six or seven.
However, there are times when even this setup falls short.
Chapter 3: Expanding to a Second iPad
Although I rarely use it, there are occasions when I need an additional screen beside my MacBook. This setup grants me four screens: the built-in MacBook display, my ultra-wide external monitor, the iPad Pro, and the iPad Mini.
Image courtesy of the author.
I often utilize this configuration when writing my Ph.D. thesis. The iPad Mini provides an extra space for one more app, allowing me to work with a maximum of eight apps simultaneously. When employing four screens, I typically use the iPad Pro with Universal Control, as described earlier.
Section 3.1: Why Not Just Another Monitor?
One might wonder why I don’t simply invest in another external monitor. While it’s a feasible option, my workspace is quite limited, and I lack the physical space for another monitor.
That’s why I greatly appreciate the capabilities offered by the Apple ecosystem. Utilizing my iPads as valuable extensions of my MacBook has become essential for my workflow, enabling me to maintain a tidy desk setup while maximizing productivity, both on-the-go and at home. Nonetheless, I wish Apple would enhance the app window management on the MacBook.
Chapter 4: Conclusion
The seamless integration of my Apple devices within my personal ecosystem empowers me to maximize the potential of my MacBook. With the collaboration of my iPads, I can configure my workspace to suit my working style perfectly. Although I long for improved window management on macOS, having an iPad alongside my MacBook has become indispensable to my workflow, showcasing a significant benefit of the Apple ecosystem that I can no longer imagine living without.
What does your ideal Mac setup look like? Do you also integrate an iPad with your MacBook? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments!
Thank you for reading!
Tobias
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