Importance of a good desktop setup

Think, what is the importance of a motorcycle. If you use it for commuting to work, it is very important to you. You will purchase a motorcycle accordingly. Because motorcycle is just a tool to complete your task, which is commuting.
What if you are a full time motorcycle racer? You will surely not purchase a commuting motorcycle. Instead, you’ll purchase a high-performance motorcycle. This time, rather focusing on the cost, you will focus on efficiency.

This is the principle I have used for my ideal setup. My current setup is not a one day purchase, but it has evolved according my work and my passion for technology.

When I started, I used a low cost, slower running desktop computer. After that I purchased a second hand laptop, which served me very well for years. As my work evolved, efficiency and peace of mind was required, I purchased an Apple MacBook Pro. It was a giant leap for me though (because it was earned with hard work). It took 6 years to go from a slow desktop computer to an Apple MacBook Pro.

I had never even seen a MacBook in reality before purchasing it. This was funny too. A devotee of technology did not even see the pinnacle of technology – A Steve Jobs Creation – An Apple MacBook Pro. I purchased it only because of the admiration I had for Steve Jobs. And the funny thing is – this was my first Apple Product (People usually have iPhone first and then MacBook). I read about Steve Jobs, and I was impressed by him the best. If Steve would have had sold a banana for the price of Starbucks Coffee, I would have purchased it too – only because I was fascinated by Steve. At that time, I only admired two people, Warren Buffett and Steve Jobs. I found later that MacBook Pro is the greatest, sleekest, and fastest notebook I had ever used (and my current 3 years old MacBook Pro works just like it was new). It is a no-nonsense tool. It never distracts you from your work, it just works. It never surprises you with sudden problems. I personally feel that technology is a tool to make your life easy and organised.

Steve Jobs said that a great design is something which becomes invisible and still works.

What is my current setup?

I have been featured here around 2 years ago. A big thanks to thesweetsetup.com for featuring me there. Since then, my setup has evolved for efficiency and quality.

My Current Desktop Setup

Since July 2015, I have been using a 13” Retina MacBook Pro. This machine is a beast. It has not slowed down yet, neither it has gone buggy. This machine is working at full throttle yet today.

I have it connected to a Dell U2414H 24” Full HD monitor. I have been using it since more than 3 years. This screen is gorgeous. When I purchased it, it was more on the costlier side, but it was a quality product at that time too. The cost has faded now, and the quality is still there. Besides, it has multiple display ports and an in-built usb 3.0 hub, which is great for multiple cables and great as well for connecting my MacBook Pro and PS4.

I use “Original IBM Model M” Buckling Spring Keyboard. This thing is a Tank. It is dated 21/08/1991 – Can you believe that this keyboard is as old as me, and still working!? This is the pinnacle of typing, Pure ASMR. Even though this thing is a luxury, this thing is practical, and durable. I won’t be able to settle down for anything less in future for typing.

I use Logitech G502 Gaming Mouse. I never had games on my MacBook Pro. I use it for productivity purpose. It helps me with various macros, which I am able to set via bettertouchtool e.g. I have keys for changing tabs, closing tab, new tab etc. set to various mouse buttons. I can not perform hassle-free without a gaming mouse. This is a must-have thing for me.

For music and audio, I use Mackie CR3 Studio Monitor Speakers. They are crisp and clear. I find them nice. I use Audio Technica M50x as my headphone. It is crisp and clear. No complains, these two things works. A DAC connects both of them.

As a gaming device, I use a PS4. This thing is cool and connected to the same monitor.

There is one more thing which usually is on my desk, it is a Fujifilm X100F Mirrorless Camera. I find this thing aesthetic, a luxury, and a practical camera.

Where can you find my macOS wallpaper?

It is a stock macOS wallpaper.

What software do I use and for what do I use it?

Like hardwares, softwares are the world we live in for a particular work. A world needs to be easy, beautiful, and fun as well, so as every software we use need to be. I choose softwares on these filters.

• Safari – Safari is my only preferred web browser. It is embedded within Apple ecosystem. It handles webpages very well. I usually have more than 50 tabs open at times, yet it handles them great.
• Reeder – I prefer RSS feed over click-bait websites. It gives more control over filtering articles and saves time. Reeder is elegant, beautiful, and practical RSS feed reader. I love it.
• Spark – Spark is the most easiest email client I have had. It has smart inbox which filters e-mails by itself. I can schedule my mails as well in it. It is super sleek and smooth.
• Numbers – I prefer Numbers over Excel anytime. Is there any other spreadsheet app that is as good-looking as Numbers. To me, other spreadsheet apps are dull, this one is lively.
• Pages – As like numbers, Pages is beautiful as well. It is smooth, has all the functions that I need from a word-processor.
• Bear – This app is just another level. I am blown away by its simplicity, ease of use, and visual appearance. The tagging system is revolutionary. Have you ever noticed the little tag icons, they are cute. Never I have to touch mouse when I am using this app. I use it for writing, book notes, business brainstorming and thinking.
• Bettertouchtools – If any app that is the most value for money is this. This is the app which makes me productive by leaning the manual work I have to do always. Like if I want to change a tab, I’ll have to move my mouse pointer to the little x mark on tab to close it. With this app, I can set the extra button on my gaming mouse to do the same. This doesn’t seem a significant difference, but multiply it by 3 years and hundreds of times daily, it is significant. Like this simple macro, I’ve set this app for more than 100 micros, which in exchange makes me think less about the manual task and lets me focus on my productivity.
• Lightroom & Photoshop – I use both apps for my photography. They work.
• Alfred – Easiest app launcher I use, hit cmd+space, type the app you want to launch, and boom.
• Calibre – This is the best open-source tool I found for managing my digital library.
• Send to Kindle – I usually send articles and documents from my MacBook to Kindle. I don’t need to connect my Kindle for that, This app delivers wirelessly.
• Bartender – Easy menubar icon managing app.
• Aware – This app does only one thing, keeps tab of how much time I have spent in the current session. This is handy for taking interval breaks.
• Copy’em paste – I use this more. It keeps history of your clipboard. I am able to use that history at later time also.
• Vuze – This is my preferred client for torrent downloads. The best thing I like about it is we can prioritise files in a numerical way.

How would my ideal setup would look and function?

I always say, my setup will never reach end. To reach end means death. My setup is like a growing organism, it will always evolve. It is always progressively ideal. Whatever I am using is functional and useful at this time. It will keep on evolving in future too. In near future though, I don’t find anything worth upgrading.