Macbook desktop set-up?

[Koldov]

Not Mac desktop related as such, but Macbook...

 

My HT decided that when they started here that they were too old to learn Windows and ordered themselves a Macbook Pro.

 

They have now been told that they need a desk set-up due to Health and Safety DSE (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations...

 

So, I'm here to ask what kind of silly money does the school have to spend to allow them to use the Macbook as a desktop.

 

They won't use a normal keyboard so Mac compatible keyboard, mouse, monitor I guess... Macbook is something like a 2015 model, but I'm not entirely sure what input and output ports it has, only I know they can be fussy with a different HDMI standard (and who knows what else) etc.

 

Some sort of dock (AND all the peripherals) or just USB keyboard, USB mouse and HDMI monitor?

 

EDIT - Just looked up the specs on Apple support:

 

Two Thunderbolt 2 ports (up to 20 Gbps)

 

Two USB 3 ports (up to 5 Gbps)

 

HDMI port

 

3.5 mm headphone jack

 

SDXC card slot

[Brimstone]

Macs are not fussy about HDMI I have gone into hundreds of schools and connected to screens with both my iPad and MacBook and never had a problem at all...

 

A Mac keyboard and mouse with USB-A less than £35.00

USB-A Hub with as many ports as you need..

 

I really don't understand your problem

[3s-gtech]

As above really - they work great docked. HDMI/mini-DP, USB or Bluetooth for the keyboard and mouse, off you go. Sometimes you need a converter to HDMI but they're cheap enough.

[Koldov]

Macs are not fussy about HDMI I have gone into hundreds of schools and connected to screens with both my iPad and MacBook and never had a problem at all...

 

A Mac keyboard and mouse with USB-A less than £35.00

USB-A Hub with as many ports as you need..

 

I really don't understand your problem

 

Of course you don't as obviously your reply comes from the vantage point of having used Apple products extensively for a number of years.

 

However, not being a Mac user I wasn't sure if generic £35 Mac keyboards and mice were going to be suitable as I was looking at the £99 official keyboards and £79 mice. I don't want to buy anything that's going to give issues...

 

I can only go by my experience on the HDMI ports, as our HT needs a powered adaptor for our projectors whereas none of the other Windows based laptops do, whilst troubleshooting the problem I seem to remember reading somewhere they were underpowered... it also doesn't seem to be a very snug fit and the signal drops out if it's touched or whenever it's moved slightly (and it's not through over use as they never attach it to a monitor).

[3s-gtech]

It has Thunderbolt ports on it. Use these for a display output with a mini-DP adapter - these tend to be really snug and durable. You should be able to bypass the HDMI output entirely.

 

Macs recognise the keyboard layout of many keyboards - but some keys will differ like Option and Cmd. Otherwise they’ll work with a wide variety of USB keyboards. Mice are even simpler.

[Roberto]

Of course you don't as obviously your reply comes from the vantage point of having used Apple products extensively for a number of years.

 

However, not being a Mac user I wasn't sure if generic £35 Mac keyboards and mice were going to be suitable as I was looking at the £99 official keyboards and £79 mice. I don't want to buy anything that's going to give issues...

 

I can only go by my experience on the HDMI ports, as our HT needs a powered adaptor for our projectors whereas none of the other Windows based laptops do, whilst troubleshooting the problem I seem to remember reading somewhere they were underpowered... it also doesn't seem to be a very snug fit and the signal drops out if it's touched or whenever it's moved slightly (and it's not through over use as they never attach it to a monitor).

 

I don’t doubt your experience with Macs and HDMI to your projectors but this is the first I’ve heard of such an issue. They are using an 8 or 9 year old computer if it’s a 2015 vintage, and a 9 year old laptop of any sort might have idiosyncrasies.

 

Logitech will have lots of Bluetooth keyboard and mouse options for a Mac. They’re all fine. They can be expensive but they don’t have to be.

[dhicks]

Mac compatible keyboard, mouse, monitor I guess...

 

Macs turn out to be suprisingly fine about what devices they will work with - I use an iMac (now formatted with ChromeOS, but ran MacOS for several years) with a 20-year-old Dell keyboard and a Microsoft mouse as my daily-use workstation. Whenever I've had to plug a screen into a Mac (iMacs / Macbook) it's been quite okay, even touch screens - just plug in the USB connection, MacOS handles touch input with no fuss.

 

Macbook is something like a 2015 model

 

It's probably time for an upgrade - we've just moved on our 2017 iMacs as they were about to end support for security updates for MacOS.

[3s-gtech]

My 2017 Macbook Air has responded well to OpenCore - now it’s running MacOS 15 rather well.

 

Not so successful with an old 2011 Macbook Pro - non-Metal graphics meant it was limited on compatibility.

[TomL]

I was about to say the same as those above me. Monterey is the last supported version of macOS on that machine; so you're already on borrowed time w/ it.

 

If they're 100% wanting macOS & don't need a portable machine - the new Mac mini (for once!) presents half-decent 'value for money' on a price : performance ratio. Otherwise, you're probably on M1 MacBook Air territory. Even today, that's getting on a bit. Potentially M2 (w/ the new redesign) is more viable.

 

Intel's likely 100% dead in Apple's book by this time next year.

Edited November 18, 2024 by TomL
Inadvertent emoticon.

[flyinghaggis]

As above really - they work great docked. HDMI/mini-DP, USB or Bluetooth for the keyboard and mouse, off you go. Sometimes you need a converter to HDMI but they're cheap enough.

 

Does any size/resolution of HDMI monitor generally work OK or is there a particular monitor type you'd recommend as I've heard some don't play well with MacOS font/icon scaling?

[3s-gtech]

You'll want greater than 1080p - and there may be borders due to the non 16:9 resolutions of Apple screens. The closer you can match to the built-in screen for mirroring, the better - for extended, anything will work. Scaling wise, you'll want to use overscan settings.

[Koldov]

I mean it's great everybody is so positive that I can chuck anything at it and it will just work.... But is it possible to get a keyboard that isn't supported (or just doesn't work)... I find the fact that there are 'system requirements' for a keyboard, a little disconcerting...

 

"System Requirements - Mac with macOS 15.1 or later"

 

"System Requirements - Mac with Apple silicon using macOS 11.3 or later"

 

Why?

[Brimstone]

Of course you don't as obviously your reply comes from the vantage point of having used Apple products extensively for a number of years.

 

However, not being a Mac user I wasn't sure if generic £35 Mac keyboards and mice were going to be suitable as I was looking at the £99 official keyboards and £79 mice. I don't want to buy anything that's going to give issues...

 

I can only go by my experience on the HDMI ports, as our HT needs a powered adaptor for our projectors whereas none of the other Windows based laptops do, whilst troubleshooting the problem I seem to remember reading somewhere they were underpowered... it also doesn't seem to be a very snug fit and the signal drops out if it's touched or whenever it's moved slightly (and it's not through over use as they never attach it to a monitor).

A projector in a heads office.....?

oh dear

 

And it's attached to the ceiling...?

 

even worse

Edited November 18, 2024 by Brimstone

[Brimstone]

You'll want greater than 1080p - and there may be borders due to the non 16:9 resolutions of Apple screens. The closer you can match to the built-in screen for mirroring, the better - for extended, anything will work. Scaling wise, you'll want to use overscan settings.

Unless this head is planning to work on UHD video presentations 1080p screens are absolutely fine

[Brimstone]

I mean it's great everybody is so positive that I can chuck anything at it and it will just work.... But is it possible to get a keyboard that isn't supported (or just doesn't work)... I find the fact that there are 'system requirements' for a keyboard, a little disconcerting...

 

"System Requirements - Mac with macOS 15.1 or later"

 

"System Requirements - Mac with Apple silicon using macOS 11.3 or later"

 

Why?

 

Those specs are based on using a Touch I.D. Apple Wireless keyboard, Apple do not make a USB connected keyboard or mouse.

 

Here are a few Apple 3rd party keyboards

 

https://www.cherry.de/en-gb/products/keyboards/mac-keyboards

 

https://shop.xtrememac.com/collections/keyboards/products/wired-keyboard-for-mac

 

https://www.keyboardspecialists.co.uk/collections/shopbytypeapplemackeyboards/products/accuratus-301-apple-mac-keyboard-usb-type-c

[Koldov]

Great info thank you.

 

No, the projectors they use are in the meeting room or in the hall.

 

They have also now requested an ergonomic style mouse and minimal keyboard... so these are the options I've found:

 

Mouse

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-Vertical-Ergonomic-Bluetooth-compatible/dp/B07W5JKHFR?crid=11VQIPW5YXWHI&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.95lyHhgYy4zCpBeZ77e8_Gtg6CSReFNxtQU3DwrXdvcd1Un16CzW8Jt_vkfGlp9yuLPgK_X-2WAGOS4b6utG6hMjLKFfpkYdxwgmmk_YnRtr-RKPDk_nP5mIc8wGVXu8_Brty_pzaiulnGEUu1aKIimnlcTuMAk-vi35OW-XX_Z7cmnHk1MUudrAMXUL2xQqJ8AKwOMU5LNEUpYjEj3ehww4czC2LRXaOKI-ypPPTYnr_4He6aZs2xMKWS3I4c6xhoQY3hm4AHenEfUfXxUddS3Qw9htFLG6XKYynMNSVJs.FSTaCWzG8cS-ypVspS6MrFRJspeRd-ubHhRxMdilND4&dib_tag=se&keywords=logitech%2Blift&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1731927131&s=computers&sprefix=logitech%2Blift%2Ccomputers%2C82&sr=1-5&th=1

 

Keyboard

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-Minimalist-Illuminated-Bluetooth-Compatible/dp/B07W6HG7LV?crid=1KYEOOGQ3SF6W&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.zjFpJKesmsb2ijmnpafbhZUfI7bqo3zyVC9V_LV3mxpxec8YotGlEXWQ6BzG72hHjWEi61bUTPq4DtqxdXZUyCe_GNcoHtFSKXmOOH9jswbABN7YNYaFTneM6jRTyVo9A4WHxGVsPrZEI0qcNhwN2URANrjg3X0v1_uy4Qv5R3SIyE5jGwnIQtaZXuXbbJLbYeu68oNsXYp64unFp8XS1FxMw6eq01YguWh_BOMIyRTV0z8730BEaEw7IDrBc4DLJyoTG5WNJJHdYvOOurSYHeRf4Mhpgr2aI6f93VQTXmk.7d7ADME4uBu-jRBlPrtwkhAABd89ZAANeLBmDA9ak2w&dib_tag=se&keywords=logitech%2Bmac%2Bkeyboard&m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1731926733&refinements=p_6%3AA3P5ROKL5A1OLE&rnid=419151031&s=computers&sprefix=logitech%2Bmac%2Bkeyboard%2Ccomputers%2C76&sr=1-5&th=1

 

Monitor

 

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/7899283?clickSR=slp:term:24%20inch%20monitor:59:201:2

[Brimstone]

Great info thank you.

 

No, the projectors they use are in the meeting room or in the hall.

 

They have also now requested an ergonomic style mouse and minimal keyboard... so these are the options I've found:

 

Mouse

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-Vertical-Ergonomic-Bluetooth-compatible/dp/B07W5JKHFR?crid=11VQIPW5YXWHI&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.95lyHhgYy4zCpBeZ77e8_Gtg6CSReFNxtQU3DwrXdvcd1Un16CzW8Jt_vkfGlp9yuLPgK_X-2WAGOS4b6utG6hMjLKFfpkYdxwgmmk_YnRtr-RKPDk_nP5mIc8wGVXu8_Brty_pzaiulnGEUu1aKIimnlcTuMAk-vi35OW-XX_Z7cmnHk1MUudrAMXUL2xQqJ8AKwOMU5LNEUpYjEj3ehww4czC2LRXaOKI-ypPPTYnr_4He6aZs2xMKWS3I4c6xhoQY3hm4AHenEfUfXxUddS3Qw9htFLG6XKYynMNSVJs.FSTaCWzG8cS-ypVspS6MrFRJspeRd-ubHhRxMdilND4&dib_tag=se&keywords=logitech%2Blift&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1731927131&s=computers&sprefix=logitech%2Blift%2Ccomputers%2C82&sr=1-5&th=1

 

Keyboard

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-Minimalist-Illuminated-Bluetooth-Compatible/dp/B07W6HG7LV?crid=1KYEOOGQ3SF6W&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.zjFpJKesmsb2ijmnpafbhZUfI7bqo3zyVC9V_LV3mxpxec8YotGlEXWQ6BzG72hHjWEi61bUTPq4DtqxdXZUyCe_GNcoHtFSKXmOOH9jswbABN7YNYaFTneM6jRTyVo9A4WHxGVsPrZEI0qcNhwN2URANrjg3X0v1_uy4Qv5R3SIyE5jGwnIQtaZXuXbbJLbYeu68oNsXYp64unFp8XS1FxMw6eq01YguWh_BOMIyRTV0z8730BEaEw7IDrBc4DLJyoTG5WNJJHdYvOOurSYHeRf4Mhpgr2aI6f93VQTXmk.7d7ADME4uBu-jRBlPrtwkhAABd89ZAANeLBmDA9ak2w&dib_tag=se&keywords=logitech%2Bmac%2Bkeyboard&m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1731926733&refinements=p_6%3AA3P5ROKL5A1OLE&rnid=419151031&s=computers&sprefix=logitech%2Bmac%2Bkeyboard%2Ccomputers%2C76&sr=1-5&th=1

 

Monitor

 

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/7899283?clickSR=slp:term:24%20inch%20monitor:59:201:2

 

All those will work fine...

[TomL]

I mean it's great everybody is so positive that I can chuck anything at it and it will just work.... But is it possible to get a keyboard that isn't supported (or just doesn't work)... I find the fact that there are 'system requirements' for a keyboard, a little disconcerting...

 

"System Requirements - Mac with macOS 15.1 or later"

 

"System Requirements - Mac with Apple silicon using macOS 11.3 or later"

 

Why?

 

With Apple's own Keyboards the Touch ID only works w/ Silicon Macs. Depending on which Keyboard you were looking at - it may be related to that. I believe it's related to the security handshake they do when communicating. Intel Macs had the T2 chip in as a stop-gap; but as I said above - they're likely to bite the dust before not too long support-wise.

 

In my own use case - my production system is still running Sonoma. I bought the new Apple Magic Keyboard w/ USB-C. Even though I'm on an Apple Silicon machine - the Touch ID portion still won't work until I update my OS.

 

I'm not too bothered given Touch ID is a convenience rather than anything 'mission critical'. You are right that Apple is a bit odd when it comes to certain accessories and their compatibility.

 

Even some Dell Displays (for example) don't fully work on macOS. There are certain specifics that cause quirks (i.e screen flickering, etc). This is documented by Dell themselves (although, strictly speculatively - it may be done to upsell their higher spec'd displays!). The hardware issues do exist though in the real world w/ certain makes/models.

 

But, that's not to say that in (probably) 98% of cases - you'll be fine plugging in what you want with them.