My Dual Screen Setup

For quite some time I've watched a student using an external monitor together with his MacBook Pro 13 inch. I thought to myself, that looks interesting... So I hooked up my MacBook Pro with a HD TV and found out that OS X Mountain Lion is very bad at multiple display.

When Apple introducing new multiple display done right in OS X Mavericks, I was very delighted. After a long thought, I've decided to make a dual screen setup for my office. I don't think it is crucial for my work, but sometimes I do feel that it might help a little bit. 

I've decided to get two external monitors instead of one. This is because I feel a little bit awkward looking back and forth between retina and non-retina display. It will be like... beautiful - ugly - beautiful - ugly... It would also makes my eyes tired of focusing back and forth (because the MacBook Pro is near and the external display needs to be further away to look beautiful)

With two external displays setup, I could clam shell my MacBook Pro and use those two external displays. No more problem with beauty and the beast, and no more problem with focusing far and near. 

In order to use my MacBook Pro in clam shell mode, I have to get a keyboard and a mouse or a trackpad. So I bought a Logitech K750 keyboard because am attracted with its solar charging ability. I hope there is no need for me to change its battery in the future. The setback, it would use up one USB port (which I only have two at my disposal).

Then I bought Apple trackpad because I've been accustomed with the trackpad on the MacBook Pro. Another reason I don't opt for an Apple mouse is because it uses a lot of battery, and it's touch functions feel a little bit unpolished.

Finished with the trackpad and keyboard. Now I look up for the monitors. Only to find out that it is quite expensive. Errkkk... I halted my plan for a month and rethink. However, I decided to buy them after all. Bought two of the cheapest 24 inch with HDMI. They are BenQ 2460.

Finally, what I need is a simple gadget to hold my MacBook Pro in clam shell mode. Browsed the net and it would cost me another USD50. Well, I don't want to waste that kind of money just for a holder, so I bought a set of book ends, taped it together and there I got my DIY MacBook Pro stand. It saved me USD40+.

So here is my setup.

Very happy with all the purchase and setup. Although it is not a dual Apple Thunderbolt display that I secretly wanted, the setup is sufficient. Now I can fully utilise the OS X Mavericks multiple screen function and be happy with it. Setbacks? Probable setback would be it consumes a lot of space. I guess you can't have it all.

Final note. There is still room for a Mac Pro behind the dual display. 

Top 50 Gadgets Briton Couldn't Live Without

There are a lot of gadgets developed through times. These gadgets have been there for so long that people has taken them for granted. I myself always thought that the most important gadget would be my smartphone followed closely by my laptop, and that's about it. 

Well I'm obviously wrong. Seems that people has managed to do a questionnaire, and now they got the results. Top 50 gadgets that Britons couldn't live without. What a surprise, smartphones and laptop computer are number 33 and 34. Let's take a look at the list.

Top 50 gadgets 

1. Cork screw / bottle opener

2. The optical lens

3. The zip fastener

4. The cigarette lighter

5. The light bulb

6. The vacuum flask

7. The telephone

8. The wrist watch

9. The gas cooker

10. The car

11. The ball point pen

12. The washing machine

13. The camera

14. The fridge freezer

15. The lawn mower

16. The vinyl record player

17. Radio

18. The elevator

19. Central heating

20. The electric iron

21. Double glazing

22. The vacuum cleaner

23. Air conditioning

24. The hairdryer

25. The power shower

26. The toaster

27. Television

28. The credit / debit card

29. The cassette tape

30. The vibrator

31. The calculator

32. The electric shaver

33. The mobile phone

34. The computer

35. The food mixer

36. The laptop

37. The mouse

38. The dishwasher

39. The DVD player

40. The electric kettle

41. Sat nav

42. Hair straighteners / curling tongues

43. The remote control

44. The compact disc

45. The internet

46. The microwave oven

47. The games console

48. The flat screen TV

49. The MP3 player

50. The tablet computer

Do you agree with the list? If you're not a Briton, what would be your list?

Information got from bit.ly/1b7rrMu