16inch and that is! NO external monitor?

[umbilical]

Does anyone work/use a MBP 16 without any external monitor and that is? You feel don't need an external monitor?

I working (web development/code/design) on a MBP 15 inch late 2013 and recently bought a 27 Monitor, I start to feel that I don't need an external monitor, sometimes helps on some large excel sheets but I feel is not a huge advantage, I place most apps on the center and I waste space on the sides, maybe is nice have visible the desktop icons on the right but that is, so I'm thinking buy the 16 inch and that is.

Also I don't need external keyboard or trackpad and I bet the resolution of the 16 is way better than my old 2013 and I'll have more space than the 15.

Just curious, thoughts?

 

[rumz]

Not me. When I even do some light work (when traveling or something) on the MBP 16 without a big external, I at least use my 12.9“ iPad Pro as a secondary display. Generally just want more screen real estate and have gotten to where I now just put the 16” in clamshell even. I do like using a single display… just too used to bigger displays to have the patience with just the 16” screen

What resolution setting do you use on your MBP 16?

 

[umbilical]

Not me. When I even do some light work (when traveling or something) on the MBP 16 without a big external, I at least use my 12.9“ iPad Pro as a secondary display. Generally just want more screen real estate and have gotten to where I now just put the 16” in clamshell even. I do like using a single display… just too used to bigger displays to have the patience with just the 16” screen

What resolution setting do you use on your MBP 16?

I'm on the 15 here, 1440x900, thinking on buy the 16 to finally retire this (2013, great machine by the way, that serve all this years without issues).

 

[rumz]

I'm on the 15 here, 1440x900, thinking on buy the 16 to finally retire this (2013, great machine by the way, that serve all this years without issues).

ah, my mistake. I’m sure you’d really enjoy the current 16” MBPs

I was just thinking about when I bought my first laptop 20 years ago— it was a Dell Latitude And it has a 1920 x 1200 15” display and on Windows of course the interface was pretty small— it felt like I had quiet a large canvas to work on even though the display was 15”, and I used that in school studying design and it was always sufficient. Oh to have the eyesight I had back then But yeah. I can see how some people make it work. (Not sure how well the macOS interface would have worked at that scale, but on Windows using Adobe design apps it worked for me.)

 

[iPadified]

I do, at work. Have an iMac 27 inch at home and 16 inch at work. I go full screen on the 16 inch and move between them using four finger swipe. At work I have a 32 inch HP 4k screen. I really prefer the smaller 16 inch miniLED to the, by comparison, lousy 32 inch HP screen. The 27 inch is sometimes better (excel) but for writing manuscripts, full screen on 16 inch and no distractions is great. Actually, I go full screen on the iMac as well to remove distractions.

 

[neo_cs193p]

Using the laptop display as the primary/only display is less than great for ergonomic reasons. If you place the laptop comfortably for your typing hands, you always need to look down and hunch over to see the screen. If you move it up so it's better for your eyes & neck & back, it's too high for your hands and the shoulders and wrists suffer.

Ideally, the keyboard needs to be low, and the display needs to be high in front of your eyes.
So 3 options.
1. If you like small screens & portability, you can use the laptop display as your only display and place it high on a stand; add external keyboard and mouse
2. Use the laptop on the desk as a keyboard+trackpad and add external display at eye level
3. Do away with the laptop in clamshell mode and use all external peripherals

I've worked in all 3 modes, but now I primarily do #2. I get great ergonomics and don't really need external keyboard, mouse, speakers, web-cam. Just my 24" 4K display (I like sharp screens but hate big screens - don't like too much artificial light in my face and also dislike "immersive" sensorial overload)

I also use the laptop on my lap for short sessions, when I need to get away from my desk, or when traveling. Short sessions are fine, but I would not consider doing this all the time.

 

[umbilical]

I go full screen on the iMac as well to remove distractions.

that's one my things that I start experimenting using a 27 that don't like: a lot of windows everywhere, I like focus on full screen on one thing, I use a lot spaces, so yes the 16 can be enough.

 

[DHagan4755]

This resonates with me. It's becoming apparent that an external monitor may be necessary for what I've been doing lately. My 16" is great but...

In my previous job I had a 13" MacBook Pro along with a 27" Dell monitor along with separate keyboard & trackpad. The MacBook sat open on one of those Griffin elevator stands. I had never worked this way before & it took awhile to get acclimated to this kind of arrangement. But it was really convenient because it was grab & go.

 

[ctjack]

The work can be done even on 12 inch - you just lose in productivity, ergonomics and comfort.
Those who tasted the beauty of external are never going back to laptop only screen and those who never had or long forgotten, they can feel comfortable with the laptop screen alone.
Human being is a creature of habit - you get used to what you use.

 

[weeener]

Does anyone work/use a MBP 16 without any external monitor and that is? You feel don't need an external monitor?

I working (web development/code/design) on a MBP 15 inch late 2013 and recently bought a 27 Monitor, I start to feel that I don't need an external monitor, sometimes helps on some large excel sheets but I feel is not a huge advantage, I place most apps on the center and I waste space on the sides, maybe is nice have visible the desktop icons on the right but that is, so I'm thinking buy the 16 inch and that is.

Also I don't need external keyboard or trackpad and I bet the resolution of the 16 is way better than my old 2013 and I'll have more space than the 15.

Just curious, thoughts?

Curious about your use of the words “…and that is.”

Are you by any chance forgetting to add the word “it” to the end, three times in a row?

 

[TechnoMonk]

I travel quite a bit with my MBP 16 with out an option of external monitor. Its not gonna make much difference in development, presentations, excel, and editing documents. I do use high res monitor if I am doing any video or image processing at high res.

 

[maerz001]

Using the laptop display as the primary/only display is less than great for ergonomic reasons.

Ideally, the keyboard needs to be low, and the display needs to be high in front of your eyes.

I got different information by some doctor checking our work place in a big company.
He said for ergonomic reasons its better to look down like standard monitors come. Not in eye height.

 

[umbilical]

Curious about your use of the words “…and that is.”

Are you by any chance forgetting to add the word “it” to the end, three times in a row?

Sorry, my native language is not english.

Where I forget add the “it” ?

 

[umbilical]

Human being is a creature of habit - you get used to what you use.

that's true, I working on 15 inch during 10 years, so maybe I need get to used to the 27 inch and I confess feeling uncomfortable.

One thing that I don't like is have a keyboard and trackpad separates, I even thinking on buy something like this: https://www.etsy.com/listing/110861...f=sr_gallery-1-3&pro=1&organic_search_click=1

I move so fast with the keyboard on the top of the trackpad (like on the macbooks).

 

[DennisdeWit]

I have been coding on a 16” for the past 3 years. Just laying on the couch and it was fine. However, I still use a display and Mac Studio for my mainjob.

 

[ctjack]

that's true, I working on 15 inch during 10 years, so maybe I need get to used to the 27 inch and I confess feeling uncomfortable.

One thing that I don't like is have a keyboard and trackpad separates, I even thinking on buy something like this: https://www.etsy.com/listing/110861...f=sr_gallery-1-3&pro=1&organic_search_click=1

I move so fast with the keyboard on the top of the trackpad (like on the macbooks).

I can feel for you cause i am only recent convert: first time with 27 inch felt horrifying and pressing on me - i felt uncomfortable.
But on day 7 of actually doing the work, i noticed that i was 2 times faster.

I also digress any external things - so i put my laptop screen right in front of me and the external screen sits behind it, being naturally taller, my external screen’s bottom is my laptop’s most top of the screen. So at this point my laptop is mainly a keyboard and trackpad with added feature like a screen.

I then by luck ventured into the logitech mx518 gaming mouse story: I don’t game but this mouse has 6-7 buttons, basically all my swipes, 2-3-4 hand gestures on a trackpad were assigned to one of these buttons. It feels even faster and more useful after the fact of adjusting.
Sample setup below:

 

[weeener]

Sorry, my native language is not english.

Where I forget add the “it” ?

Sorry, i feel like a jerk now, the rest of it was perfect so i didn’t consider english is not your first language

 

[umbilical]

Sorry, i feel like a jerk now, the rest of it was perfect so i didn’t consider english is not your first language

no problem my friend, that help me to put more attention on what I write, I confess that I'm a little lazy on trying to study more grammar 😁

 

[prospervic]

Sorry, i feel like a jerk now, the rest of it was perfect so i didn’t consider english is not your first language

We get that. But you forgot to answer his question. “…and that is it” is the correct way (in this situation).

 

[umbilical]

I can feel for you cause i am only recent convert: first time with 27 inch felt horrifying and pressing on me - i felt uncomfortable.
But on day 7 of actually doing the work, i noticed that i was 2 times faster.

I also digress any external things - so i put my laptop screen right in front of me and the external screen sits behind it, being naturally taller, my external screen’s bottom is my laptop’s most top of the screen. So at this point my laptop is mainly a keyboard and trackpad with added feature like a screen.

I then by luck ventured into the logitech mx518 gaming mouse story: I don’t game but this mouse has 6-7 buttons, basically all my swipes, 2-3-4 hand gestures on a trackpad were assigned to one of these buttons. It feels even faster and more useful after the fact of adjusting.
Sample setup below:

Update, I spend 7 days on the 27 monitor + mac mini + external apple keyboard + external trackpad, and I hate it! I don't move 2 times faster, is other wise two times slower. The big space helps for some things but is not mandatory to me.

What's the problem? I move so slowly with the external keyboard and trackpad on the side, I miss the keyboard plus trackpad on the MBP, both tied one to each other and one on the top of the other! that's make a huge difference for me. And I'm not alone, there's some crazy ideas like this for that reason: https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/110...type=ss&ref=landingpage_similar_listing_top-2

Also due I need move across a bigger screen, I do things slowly, sometimes I miss where I want to point or do unwanted things, on my 15 inch screen I move crazy fast due I don't need move across a large screen, I never miss with the pointer.

Now, even with a $10 mouse I move quicker than the external trackpad. I want try the Apple Magic Soap, maybe not good ergonomics but have the gestaures, we'll see. The only bad is those clicks are annoying, the whole day listen "click" "click"...

So now I miss my MBP! I'll buy the M2 or well wait to the M2 MBP to use it without an external keyboard or trackpad.

Maybe I keep the 27 inch display to put it on the back! like you do, MBP on the front, Monitor on the back and that is, like the picture attached below.

By the way, I also hate how text looks on my 2K Asus Monitor, I miss the retina of my old 2013 MBP, yes! even that old screen looks better, even some people tell me the 4Ks don't look as good a retina dislay, overall I'll think on buy the MBP and the Studio Display and problem fixed!

 

[daneoni]

Mostly use mine with the studio display. But there are times i solely use the 16"MBP.

 

[lsh]

I have a lot of neck pain when I go side to side with another screen for long periods, so I'm thinking of going to the 16 as well.
I have a '21 14" MBP.
I do have an iPad I use when I want to cross ref two documents. I've tried it as a true 2nd screen but never got in the habit. I keep wanting to navigate the iPad separately.

 

[DHagan4755]

I've been thinking of positioning my laptop in front of a 27" studio display. In the picture above it looks like the studio display with the height-adjustable stand could accommodate the smaller MacBooks in front of it but I don't think the 16" would work as well in that regard - at least on my desk.

 

[umbilical]

I create this post two months ago, I use the external 27 display all this time and guess what??? I totally change my mind! I start to love the bigger screen than my laptop, actually I'm thinking on get two more monitors to get some
multiple monitor setup, I start to feel that I don't want back to smaller screen.

I can work only on a 16 inch for sure but I love the bigger screen, also I don't need move so much (for now), so I don't need a laptop, I like the idea that don't deal anymore with batteries or damage keyboards o break screens or things on "one unit only", I start to like the idea of separate pieces, my mac mini base works great, actually I'll upgrade later to the Studio M3, also I'll wait for a Studio Display next model.

I rarely change my mind drastically on things, this is one!

 

[curnalpanic]

I feel like the 16-inch is just large enough that you could use it alone with no external display. It depends a lot on what you are doing of course. And it's hard to find an equally nice display to pair it with.