using a mac as extended desktop for windows pc

#USING A MAC AS EXTENDED DESKTOP FOR WINDOWS PC HOW TO#
#USING A MAC AS EXTENDED DESKTOP FOR WINDOWS PC FOR MAC#
#USING A MAC AS EXTENDED DESKTOP FOR WINDOWS PC PRO#
#USING A MAC AS EXTENDED DESKTOP FOR WINDOWS PC TRIAL#
#USING A MAC AS EXTENDED DESKTOP FOR WINDOWS PC PC#

#USING A MAC AS EXTENDED DESKTOP FOR WINDOWS PC PRO#

Right, so you’ve got a nice monitor and a new keyboard to hook up to your MacBook, but do you have a place to put it? You could absolutely get away with stacking a few books on your desk and just plopping your MacBook Pro on top of them, but there are some real benefits to getting a proper stand. You’re going to want a MacBook stand, too. If you don’t mind shelling out the cash, the new Magic Trackpad 2 is extremely nice, but let’s be honest it’s a bit overpriced at $129. Buying an Apple-specific mouse is less important, as just about any mouse will work as you expect. It’s hard to beat the minimalist design, and for a quality Bluetooth keyboard, the $99 price tag isn’t bad (if you’re an Amazon Prime member, however, you can get a new, last-gen Apple Wireless Keyboard for just $56).

Your other option, if you choose to forego the Logitech, is to snag one of Apple’s new Magic Keyboards, which now come with Lightning ports and built-in, rechargeable batteries. If you do a lot of typing in a dim or dark room, having a backlit keyboard can be a lifesaver. The real reason it gets a mention here, however, is that it’s one of the only Bluetooth Mac keyboards that’s also backlit. To that end, it has all of the Mac keys you want, but it also has easy-switch buttons that let you pair it with your Mac and two other devices and swap between them with a keypress. The first is Logitech’s K811 keyboard ( $85 on Amazon), which is designed for use with both Macs as well as iPads (and even iPhones, if you want). If you’d rather buy a keyboard designed and labeled for use with your Mac, you have two good options.

#USING A MAC AS EXTENDED DESKTOP FOR WINDOWS PC TRIAL#

You’ve probably got a USB keyboard and mouse lying around, and these will work fine, for the most part even if they’re designed for use with Windows, you can figure out what the Mac-equivalent keys are with a bit of trial and error. If you’re planning on using your MacBook with just an external display (that is, with the MacBook closed and its display turned off) you’re going to need an external keyboard, as well as either a mouse or a trackpad. We like the idea of using at least a 1440p display because it lessens the need to use the internal display of the MacBook it’s often really difficult to get a comfortable setup that uses both a bigger external display and the smaller internal laptop screen at the same time. The Apple Thunderbolt Display is in dire need of a refresh, but it’s still a great (if expensive) option, since you can charge your MacBook at the same time. If even these wide displays are too imposing, you can still hook up a 27-inch 1440p or 24-inch 1080p monitor through your video-out ports. That means you can plug in your monitor and your power, and be done the speakers and USB ports in the back of the display can run over Thunderbolt.

#USING A MAC AS EXTENDED DESKTOP FOR WINDOWS PC FOR MAC#

If you can’t quite handle driving a 4K monitor, you can still connect some pretty impressive displays: LG makes a 34-inch, very widescreen display (the LG 34UM95) with a resolution of 3440×1440 – what makes this such an interesting display for Mac users is that it has a Thunderbolt connection. If it’s one of the MacBook Pros or MacBook Airs from the last couple of generations, you’ll be able to use a 4K display, which is great if you can swing it properly set up, your external monitor can offer the same kind of Retina detail you’re used to seeing on your mobile devices. Chief among them is an external display, and the kind of display you can use will depend on the kind of MacBook you have. It’s all about the display.īefore you get started, there are a few things you’re going to need. As a result, unless you know you need a desktop, your current MacBook is probably more than enough for most of your needs (for reference, this article was written around using a four-year old 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display, and the overall experience is still very slick).

These days, even a midrange laptop (that is, neither low end nor premium) is more powerful than a high-end desktop was just a few short years ago, and the needs of most people haven’t changed much in that time.

#USING A MAC AS EXTENDED DESKTOP FOR WINDOWS PC HOW TO#

Here’s how to get the most out of using your MacBook as a desktop.

#USING A MAC AS EXTENDED DESKTOP FOR WINDOWS PC PC#

While there will always be customers who need the sort of power that only a workstation or gaming PC can provide, most of us are content with our laptops and MacBooks – sometimes, however, we can all get envious of those big, beautiful displays.

Using a mac as extended desktop for windows pc