How would you add a 13-inch iPad Air to this rig? Photo: [email protected]




Today’s setup comes from a user with two MacBooks and two external displays. They’re like to clean it up and make it more mininalistic, but they also want to add a new M2 iPad Air. So they did the sensible thing and asked social media. See how that went, below.
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Dual MacBook user asks for advice on cleaning up setup while adding new M2 iPad
Redditor losviggy (“Vig”) showcased the setup in a post entitled, “Need to switch it up … ” They asked how people would simplify their dual-MacBook and dual-display setup while adding a new M2 iPad Air in the mix. The displays are a 24-inch Samsung 1080p monitor on the left and a 40-inch Samsung 1080p smart TV on the right.
“I’ve had this setup for the last few years. I’ve got two MacBooks that I’m using,” Vig explained. “The one in the middle (work computer) connects to the big screen and then I have my personal computer underneath that connects to the monitor on the left. I just got a new 13-inch iPad Air and would love to incorporate. Would love some suggestions from this community. Thanks in advance!”
“What makes you feel like you need a change?” asked a commenter, sounding a bit like a psychologist. “What do you need to accomplish?”
“I feel like I want it to be cleaner and more minimalistic,” Vig replied.
iPad Air setup recommendations: Add monitor arm, focus on one display, put open laptop on a mount at eye level
Commenters, rarely shy whether or not they’re asked, offered advice to Vig, below. The post’s recommendations will probably grow and add in suggestions like putting the new iPad on a stand and running Universal Control (or Sidecar). Here’s what commenters advised:
It all depends on your needs. I would definitely recommend a monitor arm to make the two monitors level. About the iPad, are you planning on using iPadOS or using it as another screen for one of your Macs? Vig’s reply: I would use the iPad for both operating systems.
For general ergonomics … Do use both Macs at the same time? If your monitor has two inputs, put the best monitor directly in front of your seating position and run both computers to it. That way you’re not sitting with your head turned. Your eyes should be level with the top edge of the monitor. If you really need both monitors equally, they should at least be close together. Otherwise the main monitor is directly in front of you with the secondary on the dominant eye. If you use the laptop monitor often, put it on a stand at eye level.
Vig’s reply: I often do run both computers at the same time. I use my work computer, the one in the middle for all of my video calls, which I have several per day. That’s why I keep the laptop open. The big monitor does go flush against the wall and looks cleaner that way. Just trying to figure out what do with both my computers.
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