I spent many years in the multi-monitor “maximum efficiency” world, but for the past several years I have been enjoying the single monitor life and I think I prefer it. I even like to leave my laptop in clamshell mode instead of using it as an optional second display. The theory being one screen allows for maximum singular focus.
2021 Macbook Pro 16" M1 Pro/32GB/512GB - work laptop
2022 Macbook Air 13" M2/24GB/512GB - personal laptop
2024 Mac Mini M4/16GB/256GB - personal home server/experiment machine
(Slighly off screen) Desktop PC built in 2020 - gaming
Other Hardware
Dell Ultrasharp U2720Q 4K 27"
HHKB Professional Hybrid Type-S
Magic Trackpad
Anker PowerConf C200
Cheap Logitech speakers, but I normally use wireless headphones (Sony Wh-1000xm3)
Notebook (grid/graph paper), pen (Pilot Hi-Tec-C 0.5mm), coffee. Also very important.
Some Notes
This monitor has plenty of I/O including USB-A and 3.5mm AUX, and it can deliver 90W of power over USB-C, so I can effectively live the single cable life without the need for a docking station or any dongles. It is so nice to be able to unplug a single cable and take my laptop with me. The monitor essentially is my dock.
I wanted to go to the Studio Display when it was released but it doesn’t play well with non-Mac devices so it’s a nonstarter for me unfortunately.
It is starting to show it’s age a bit and the modern version has several great improvements (120hz, thunderbolt 4, 140W power, even more ports) but honestly it was a fantastic monitor when it was released and is working great today. These Dell Ultrasharp displays really are nice at a great price point.
The one legitimate complaint: Because it’s only USB-C/Displayport and not Thunderbolt you only get USB-2 speeds with peripherals, so I wouldn’t plug any external storage into it. But that’s fixed on newer versions that use Thunderbolt.
I’ve been using a single Dell U2723QE with MPB M3 (previously MBA M1) in clamshell mode for years and really love the single cable life. I was tempted by the Dell 32 6k but instead went for Asus PA27JCV 27 5k display. I really like it, although it’s wake time is slower than the Dell U2723QE. I can’t cope with more than one display, single display is the best for me. Also using Belkin iPhone holder for webcam, which has been great. My desk is too messy for public display.
I have a Studio Display at home, but for my working-on-the-other-side-of-the-country apartment I got the same Asus. I’m very happy with it and would probably get it instead of the SD if I find myself needing another 5K display. I’m also a single monitor person, but I do keep my MBP open as well.
Just for fun. A 32” monitor is big enough for four squares. I often have a browser, VSCode/Intellij, Slack and Drafts all at the same time. Sometimes I will even do 5th app in the centre.
I run a single 27 inch monitor as well.a Dell C2722DE which has good enough speakers, camera and microphone integrated. Makes for a single cable with a Windows work laptop. And the integrated KVM is brilliant for the two cable life with my private Mac mini M2.
I’ve balanced a stationary computer against a mobile one before. In the end, this is my setup too. One computer which goes into clamshell mode when I am in my (home) office and is otherwise a laptop when I’m not. The advantage is I no longer worry about syncing and I am, occasionally but hoping to be regularly, better about backing it up.
(To be clear, the M1 MacBook Air changed a lot for me: I gave up hauling an iPad around as well. My devices are simply a laptop and a phone.)
To be fair I did tidy up before I took a photo but I do generally try to keep a clean desk…I find that it helps me focus. Cluttered desk, cluttered brain.
Yes, that is one of the drawbacks. I recently got myself pretty black and silver a Magic Keyboard and a matching Magic Trackpad. Now the KVM is not really useful…
I have a U2720Q too. I use an M3 MacBook Air (previously an M1 that was handed down). As a teacher, I mostly carry it around but I really enjoy using it with the big screen at home. I 3D printed a clam shell stand and a mount for my phone to use with Continuity Camera as the webcam. Also an MX Anywhere 3S mouse and a Keychron K3 Pro low profile keyboard, which is quite similar to the internal one.
but I do generally try to keep a clean desk…I find that it helps me focus. Cluttered desk, cluttered brain.