Building on Perfection: Desk Setup Update ’22
Follow me in this indulgent geekery as I eradicate compromise, making my workspace more versatile and attractive than ever before. It sees less serious use in these summer months so now’s a perfect time to make changes as needed.
Covering the unchanged might make for a good writing exercise, but a boring read. I’ll stick mostly to what’s changed since the last desk writeup. I believe what’s changed gives great insight into my own evolved sensibilities. I also want to be more harsh on the shortcomings of the devices I love. My prior writings often come off as uncritical, and in that way, uninteresting. I now dare to bare teeth.
Enjoy!
(As a quick aside, the photography in this post was done using my iPhone 13 Pro, with one shot being an exception. You’ll likely find it difficult discerning which one it is.)
Space Gray Magic Keyboard & Trackpad
It’s quite strange how long I took to give in to the temptation of acquiring Apple’s own input devices which are perfectly color-matched to my setup, but the story’s got some nuance. When we last spoke, I used a chunky mechanical keyboard and a semi-ergonomic mouse. However, I always felt more satisfaction out of using my MacBook’s built-in keyboard and trackpad instead. Many users look down upon trackpads as if they’re just a compromise made in the name of achieving the traditional laptop form factor. I couldn’t agree less! Good trackpads are exceptionally intuitive, precise, and comfortable. Low-end trackpads have ruined the product’s public reputation, yet Apple has done them right for years. The only reason I ever use my mouse is for tasks that require complex sets of inputs and full-page dragging. I also found my mechanical keyboard’s design and function to be over-the-top.
As an ergonomically-obsessed little freak, I like to have my keyboard centered with the monitor and my pointing device to sit at my right hand’s natural resting position. This is much easier to accomplish without the bulk of a number pad and extended arrow keys. Apple happens to make both standard and extended lengths of its magic keyboard, with the former resembling a laptop’s keyboard. But here’s the kicker— only the extended length has a Space Gray color option, the same color I built my entire desk setup around. I can only assume that the same pros who prefer dark-moded devices make great use of all these extra keys, and demand is low for users like me. In fact, the Space Gray accessories were exclusive to the iMac Pro for a while. When Apple released a new revision of the Magic input devices for the Apple Silicon computer generation, the darker color option for the keyboard is limited to the same extended size, with the same bewildering $20 markups over their bright white counterparts. (And while the keycaps remain black, the metal color was lightened to silver, which wouldn’t work well for my setup.)
In sum, the extended size intimidated me, and I begrudgingly purchased both Magic Keyboard and Trackpad in white. As lovely in build and use as they were, the visual disruption of white devices in a black/gray setup never ceased to bug me. Frustration came to a head when I started planning out this post and realized I wouldn’t be proud to show off imperfection. In addition, I had come to enjoy number pads once I started working at west elm and had to type in SKU numbers, order numbers, and phone numbers all day long.
I crawled eBay listings for the Space Gray Magic Keyboard (extended) & Trackpad. Each tends to sell for well over $100 in used condition, but one day a surprising listing popped up: The keyboard I wanted, in perfect functional condition with minor scratches and dents, for $50, shipping included. (To contextualize that price, I recently paid more for a discontinued yellow Apple Watch band without the box.) I ordered it with little hesitation, and bought the matching trackpad for a more standard price of $110. One week passes, the keyboard arrives miraculously intact considering it was shipped in an envelope with no other protection, and the trackpad looks barely used in its original box. I’ve gotten used to both very quickly and don’t feel any compromise.
Peace now prevails in this little space of mine.
Logitech Z407 Speakers & Subwoofer
Last year I was still using my MacBook’s built-in speakers for audio playback. I stand by them being fantastic for what they are— but desktop speakers they are not, leaving much to be desired. Research commenced.
Logitech’s Z407 Speakers & Subwoofer set might be the easiest choice I’ve ever made. Nothing above nor below its asking price of $119 offers such pleasingly restrained industrial design, especially not in dark gray plastic. It’s right at home with the rest of my setup.
The primary satellite speakers sit left and right of my monitor, oriented horizontally, with enough distance between for proper stereo imaging. Meanwhile, the subwoofer sits under my desk behind the drawer unit. (Subwoofers are generally location-agnostic, meaning their placement doesn’t greatly affect sound, to an extent.)
Since my carpet is thick enough to touch and disrupt the downward-firing diaphragm, I placed the subwoofer atop an old wooden cutting board, making the bass remarkably responsive and clear. I keep the subwoofer’s volume to around a quarter of the maximum. This is an adequate level of bass for my tastes and living situation, but the system can go ULTRA BASSY if you so desire. As a non-audiophile, here’s how I’d describe the system’s sound in three words: Balanced, clear, and pleasing.
The under-desk subwoofer serves as a central hub for the audio system. On its back you’ll find two input options: auxiliary and USB, plus an option for wireless Bluetooth. I utilize the USB port as it syncs my computer’s native volume with the speakers’ volume. Control of volume is handled either with my keyboard’s controls or the included wireless dial. Two more cables come out of the subwoofer, one for each stereo speaker. Though this system adds 4 extra cables in total to my setup, I prefer a rock-solid, reliable wired connection.
Speaking of the wireless dial, it constitutes my primary criticism of this product. It’s fun to use 95% of the time— the remaining 5%, it frustrates me to no end and has worrying implications for the longevity of Logitech’s system. On occasion, the dial ignores commands or delays them for a few seconds. If all of the speaker’s controls could be handled via keyboard controls, I’d be fine with tossing the dial in a drawer and forgetting about it. However, this ignores the other two crucial controls the dial offers exclusively: bass adjustment and input switching. Neither subwoofer nor speakers contain buttons for control adjustment. Let’s say I lose the dial, or its two AAA batteries leak and corrode the internals irreparably. In either of these situations, I’d be stuck at whatever bass level and input the system was last set to. Frustratingly, Logitech overlooked this issue entirely. I pray my dial has a good long life ahead of it.
Anker PowerExpand 5-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Mini Dock
Only I would buy a laptop with four Thunderbolt ports, yet still demand every peripheral connect through one singular cable. I settled for two cables coming out of one side for a good while, one for power and one for monitor output, until I got my speaker system. When I need to grab the laptop to use portably, unplugging two is an annoyance, and unplugging THREE is a dealbreaker— especially considering the third cable would have to plug into frontward side of my laptop, ruining the tidy desk aesthetic I’ve otherwise achieved.
Technically, a simple USB-C hub with HDMI, power delivery, and a few USB ports would have fit my needs. Unfortunately the USB-C standard is a fucking mess. (I say this as one of USB-C’s greatest evangelists!) Without testing each and every USB-C hub on the market for compatibility with my specific setup, it’s impossible to guarantee it supports video output, audio output, and sufficient power delivery for my space heater of an Intel MacBook Pro.
As overkill as it seems, only a full-fat Thunderbolt dock guarantees the same compatibility as my MacBook’s inbuilt Thunderbolt ports, and this type of dock does not come cheap. I chose the most bare-bones model I could find from a trustworthy manufacturer— Anker’s PowerExpand 5-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Mini Dock. At $199, it just barely scraped into my budget. This dock connects to my computer via an included Thunderbolt cable to provide data transfer and 85W charging. The dock itself offers three downstream Thunderbolt ports, in addition to one classic USB-A port. Its selection may not be generous but it serves my needs perfectly.
In terms of design, Anker’s dock is an inoffensive little thing. It’s housed in a faux-aluminum (plastic) enclosure, satisfying fluted for texture. When mounted underneath a desk its slimness keeps it out of sight. What doesn’t stay out of sight, however, is its oddly large external power supply, which substantially clogs up my cable trays and uses an antiquated barrel plug. The dock only requires 100W of power, and even Anker itself sells much tinier 100W power adapters. I assume this compromise was made for the price point so it’s one I reluctantly accept. Also, the three downstream Thunderbolt ports only supply up to 15W of power, meaning they’re not ideal for a MagSafe charger or powering larger devices. I got what I paid for and nothing more, meeting my requirements precisely.
Twelve South BookArc
For a time I preferred Twelve South’s Curve stand, as it allowed me to keep my MacBook open and use it as a secondary display. But this setup used a surprising amount of desk real estate and at times I found the secondary display distracting. Once I got my speaker system, the laptop no longer needed to remain open for me to play audio.
Twelve South’s BookArc stand has been a staple amongst Apple enthusiast setups for years. It takes the form of a slim yet solid aluminum arc, in Space Gray or Silver, with rubber feet and a swappable insert to perfectly cradle your MacBook in upright orientation. Ample room for cooling airflow is provided and the aluminum even acts as a mild heatsink. Its asking price of $59 is certainly high considering it doesn’t quite reach Apple levels of build quality— But buy it during a sale as I did and you’ll get your money’s worth.
11+ O-Fan
Summer heat calls for the seasonal installation of a little desk fan. I couldn’t choose some inconsiderately-designed model you’d buy at Target, I like to pretend I’m above that.
One of my earliest blog inspirations, Minimally Minimal, introduced me to a little design brand called 11+, spearheaded by designer Yeongkyu Yoo. 11+ is best known in industrial design circles for its iconic Bottle Humidifier. I took interest in the company’s O-Fan when my need arose.
Uniquely, I’ve never had a better-smelling unboxing experience. The box itself seems infused with a zesty and sweet aroma which caught me by absolute surprise. A lovely touch if intentional. Within that aromatic packaging you’ll find the fan and its stand, colored like a days-from-ripe raspberry, as well as a microUSB power cable in signature 11+ pale orange.
Its design is quite creative. Atop a stout rounded-out cylinder sits the fan, freely rotating by hand to position its air stream. Sphere and cylinder intersect for the form, with an impressive and attractive amount of restraint. But to explain its greatest novelty, I need you, the reader, to do something for me. Go find the nearest cooling fan in your space, whether it be a tabletop or floor unit. What order do the control knob’s speed selections go in? Chances are they go in the order of off-high-low. Have you ever considered how unintuitive this order is? Now you have. Most fans use this order for mechanical reasons, something about preventing stalling.
The O-Fan’s rear end delighted me with a naturally-ordered speed selection knob. It goes in the order of off-low-high. What a revelation!
MagSafe Charger
This lovely little puck has replaced my old Ikea wireless charger. Attach to an iPhone with a joyous magnetic snap for 15W fast charging while any other Qi-compatible device gets 5W. Built of aluminum and supple silicone, it’s pleasing in the hand and keeps my space visually undisturbed. Just don’t ask about the price.
iPhone 7 (as webcam)
In ninth grade gym class, a friend of mine showed me his brand-new iPhone 7, a thin and gently-curved device with less holes than ever before. I drooled over it and hoped I’d someday own anything as beautiful.
I got what I asked for last summer when the cellular connection on my iPhone 8 Plus gave out permanently. My sister generously allowed me to use her old iPhone 7 until I could buy something newer. It served my needs, though not particularly well due to its aging processor, battery, and camera. Once my current iPhone 13 Pro arrived I tossed the Space Gray aluminum-and-glass slab known as iPhone 7 somewhere in my closet, doomed to be forgotten.
As it turns out, when your laptop no longer sits open in your setup, its webcam can no longer be utilized. I still attend video meetings on occasion which makes things problematic without a webcam. An app called Camo allows any iPhone’s camera to be utilized as a webcam on MacOS for free. I simply plugged that iPhone 7 into the computer, opened the app, and now I have a webcam with better image quality than most on the market.
This still left me without a way to mount the phone atop my monitor. I found a solution in this unusual mount from Amazon, which bends to the shape of any monitor’s top surface for a secure hold. I may swap in my iPhone 8 Plus once Apple’s new wireless Continuity Camera feature releases as the iPhone 7 doesn’t support the required software update.
Now that I’ve upgraded my setup to a new standard of perfection, I see how overkill it is for my simple summertime needs, which primarily consist of web browsing and reading emails. It’ll be properly put through its paces once I return to college in the fall.
And to those of you who’ve read to the end, I extend my deepest gratitude. This blog is an outlet for the rants nobody in my life ever wanted to listen to before, but here you are, lapping it up like a puppy. I’ll never get used to people caring.
I’ve been feeling better. Things are still weird and new and constantly changing. Therapy has helped. I have good friends as well.
With love,
Nate Pfeiffer