Reddit reviews Twelve South BookArc for MacBook | Space-Saving Vertical Desktop Stand for Apple notebooks (Silver)

Does $500 include the monitor, keyboard and mouse?


For mounting your MacBook Pro properly to desk, you have 3 real options depending on if you want to be able to work from it (unlikely) or just have it closed in clamshell mode and use an external keyboard and mouse to mount vertically to save desk space.
Option 1: Rain Design mStand (comes in Silver and Space Grey) $40. I use this personally when I have my MBP set up next to my 5K iMac and 27" Thunderbolt Display.
https://www.amazon.com/Rain-Design-mStand-Laptop-Silver/dp/B000OOYECC
Option 2: Twelve South BookArc (comes in Silver and Space Grey) $50 - for use in clamshell mode only
https://www.amazon.com/Twelve-South-Space-Saving-Vertical-notebooks/dp/B016EWLDTE?th=1
Option 3: General vertical laptop stand (I have it in Silver, unsure how well their space grey matches) - $20. Cheap, minimalist, but does the job. Clamshell mode only.
https://www.amazon.com/Vertical-Adjustable-OMOTON-Aluminum-Chromebook/dp/B074PPGHMC


Next is an external keyboard, I'm going to stick with an Apple aesthetic for this recommendation and not any gamery mechanical ones. Depending on if you want a numeric keypad or not, there's either Apple's Magic Keyboard 2 or a Satechi wireless one with a numeric keypad. I don't think Apple's Magic Keyboard 2 with Numeric Keypad is worth an extra $70 over the Satechi.
Option 1: Satechi Wireless Keyboard with Numeric Keypad (comes in all colours) $80.
https://www.amazon.com/Satechi-Aluminum-Bluetooth-Keyboard-3-Device/dp/B07F2SF4RH
Option 2: Apple Magic Keyboard 2 (without numeric keypad - White only) $99.
https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MLA22LL/A/magic-keyboard-us-english


For mice, I'd avoid Apple's Magic Mouse like the plague because words can not describe how bad it is to use.
I'd recommend mouse that you can also use with just your MBP while on the go, not heavy, big mice that only really belong on the desktop at home. No mouse really stands out to me apart from this one, honestly.
Logitech MX Anywhere 2s (unfortunately they stopped making them in white) $50. Can connect via bluetooth so no dongles.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071VK5KXN


For monitors, at this price range you won't have a neat 1 cable display and power solution like you'd get from a 23.7" 4K LG UltraFine display for example or HDR10, or Retina. 1440p 27" displays are a bit out of this price range, but I'd personally sacrifice pixel density and get a 1080p display anyways so I still have a 27" display.
Option 1: HP 27es 1080p 27" bezel-less IPS display (Silver) $219.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N9H3BI4
Option 2: ASUS VZ239H-W 1080p 23" bezel-less IPS display (Silver) $139.
https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-VZ239H-W-1080p-Monitor-White/dp/B07489Q7TY/


Then you need cables to connect your MBP to the display (the keyboards and mice are bluetooth). If you only have 2 TB3 ports, you may want to buy a multiport adaptor or else you will have 0 free ports with my solution (as you need the other port for power).
USB-C to HDMI cable (Black) $12.6. I have it to connect my MBP to my 4K TV and it works flawlessly.
https://www.amazon.com/CableCreation-Thunderbolt-Compatible-MacBook-Chromebook/dp/B06XDMKQKJ/
If you need a multiport adaptor, I'd recommend this Satechi one (comes in all colours) - $60
https://www.amazon.com/Satechi-Aluminum-Multi-Port-Adapter-Charging/dp/B01J4BO0X8


Total price as configured (BookArc + Satechi Wireless Keyboard with Numeric Keypad + MX Anywhere 2s + HP 27es + USB-C to HDMI cable) = $412. If you need a mulitport adaptor and don't have one already, it'll be $472.

https://www.amazon.com/Twelve-South-Space-saving-vertical-notebooks/dp/B016EWLDTE/ref=dp_ob_title_ce

No, that'd be fine for your desk though. Something like a salt lamp, a table lamp with a base and shade in neutral colors like this, or maybe something like this? I think if you got the last one in black it would help balance the all the black on the other side of the room.

If you keep your desk, I think you need a taller shelf unit/bookcase for your printer and stuff. If you don't, I'd get a longer desk that can hold the printer on top and keep the wooden cubes underneath. Ikea has tons of cheap table top and leg options. I really like this chair from them and I think the yellow/beige with a black/white base would good in your space. A stand for your macbook would also give you more desk space.
I second the potted plants, some smaller ones for the window sill, and something above the bed. I think your ac doesn't look entirely awful, but the filter probably needs a good dusting.

Overall, this is a huge improvement. Nice job!

Thanks! It's the BookArc by Twelve South https://www.amazon.co.uk/Twelve-South-Space-saving-vertical-notebooks/dp/B016EWLDTE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1541187895&sr=8-2&keywords=Twelve+South+BookArc

I have this dock, it's fairly overpriced for what it is but I like it. I was originally considering a used Henge dock but they weren't available for my 2018 when I was looking.

On my desk my MBP faces backwards; it's flat against one side of my desk which is cubes (IKEA Kallax/Linnmon combo), and the bottom/vents face out. I also have it upside down so that no part of any vent is blocked. That means that my ports and dongle are up the air instead of on the desk but it has good airflow. I'm happy with this dock and haven't thought about the Henge docks until now.

Does anyone know if the gs63vr would fit in this macbook stand? I gotta figure its about the same width...

https://www.amazon.com/Twelve-South-Space-saving-vertical-notebooks/dp/B016EWLDTE/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1478634059&sr=8-5&keywords=macbook+stand

I would recommend something like this for the macbook

I had a similar issue (well, nothing broke I just wanted to use my new monitor) so I got a stand a bit like this one . If you set your power settings not to sleep when you shut the lid, then just plug in a keyboard and mouse, you've got yourself a fairly sleek looking faux-desktop

http://www.amazon.com/Twelve-South-MacBooks-Space-saving-Notebooks/dp/B016EWLDTE?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=od_aui_detailpages00

 

seriously overpriced, but it is nice.

tldr: 4k at 31.5 (i.e. 32") is useable, which I wouldn't necessarily say for smaller sizes, like 27".

I've actually bounced around many monitors, none of which are even close to perfect imo. I'm always looking for a glossy, high-resolution, gigantic display at a low price. This seiki hits 3/4 but has an matte finish I don't love. Also, the design is average (very limited adjustability and thicker bezel by today's standard). I've owned the dell p2715q previously which also had a matte finish AND was too small to use @ 4k easily. It had a better design, though. Previous to that, I had 2x Dell s2415H which had a beautiful design and glossy finish but were low resolution and fairly expensive for what they were. I've owned other similar monitor setups, but this is my favorite so far. I vastly prefer 1 high resolution monitor rather than multiple lower-resolution monitors. I have also exchanged my (excellent) rain Design mStand for a Twelve South BookArc since I prefer using just 1 monitor.

The short version is I'd like a 5k 32+ inch monitor which is glossy and does not cost all of the money. I figured Apple would make something like that soon and instead they're making a 27" version through LG which costs $999. While priced right for the market, it's just too small to use at higher resolutions and I don't have enough money, nor would I prefer, having multiple monitors at that price.

This Seiki 32" is simply the best compromise for me, at the moment.