A Geek Goes Flying

This little $9 case is the perfect thing to throw in a tote bag and keep all the expensive little nick-knacks from wandering off. Mine’s holding: AirPods Pro 2 in their charging case  Apple Pencil (I still have Lightning iPads, so...) USB C to Pencil Adapter Stylus pen and a rOtring disposable USB C to C data + power cable (also useful for, e.g., side loading my Kindle on the go) USB C to Lightning adapter Short USB A to USB C cable USB A to USB C adapter USB C to USB A adapter USB C to micro USB B adapter Watch charger

Not sure why it took me this long to learn how to do this (it took like 3 clicks). The Displays control panel in system settings Update: And then, inevitably, I started accessorizing. To put it at eye level when used with the arm-mounted monitor on my sit-stand workstation, or with a laptop elevated on a Moallia laptop stand / riser , I found this AiFeelife Height Adjustable Portable Monitor Stand to be the best compromise of quality, available height, reported durability, flexibility, and sturdiness ($38; make sure you get the one with the wingnut-looking “adjustment knobs,” the reviews of the ones that are Allen key adjusted are fairly negative). It should also fit my 16" portable 2K monitor, though I haven’t tried that yet. Dining Table Workspace: Portable monitor stand holding 10th gen iPad

I have an old (9 years?!) iPad Pro 9.7" that’s still in immaculate condition. It runs a little slowly these days, and the battery life has degraded, but for getting productive stuff done during random intervals during the day, it’s still a contender. I had it equipped with a Zagg keyboard case ‡ , but after about 2 years of light use, the hinge split on the keyboard part, and I figured it was time to try something else. Priced at $149 when it was a current SKU , the Apple Smart Keyboard for this old iPad is now available for $35 “renewed” on Amazon . Attaching to the “Smart Connector,” it doesn’t require a separate battery to be charged, it doesn’t rely on flaky Bluetooth, and like most Apple tech, it ‘just works.’™ The feel takes a  lot  of getting used to (it’s not a typical “chicklet” keyboard, it’s ... weird ...), but once you do it’s quite serviceable. It folds up to prop up the iPad in landscape orientation at a recline, that makes it a decent writing-on-the-go platform,...

  After being inundated with ads for a similar stand (probably the same one, made in the same factory, just with different branding), and both needing to bump an order past the same day delivery threshold and having a “coupon” pop up bringing the price down significantly, I picked up this stand from Amazon:  Moallia Laptop Stand with 360 Rotating Base, Computer Notebook Laptop Riser Metal Holder for Desk Collaborative Work, Fully Foldable for Easy Storage, Fits All MacBook, Laptops up to 16 inches . The “collapsed” photos shown for the product are at a deceptive perspective; when folded up, this is still a large product. And it’s not quite as travel-friendly as the MOFT stand I have and love . But for an impromptu kitchen counter or balcony session, it seems to be decently high quality and flexible. With the arm setup to position it about 5" above table height, the screen is at a perfect position - though I note my laptop (a MacBook Pro 14") wobbles a bit as I type. Anyway. I...

I’ve been using an ancient (2004?) Think Outside XTBT01 (a/k/a iGo Stowaway) Bluetooth pocket keyboard, and it does the job well enough. I like that it uses AAA batteries and won’t be eWaste when the battery chemistry eventually degrades past the point of usability. But. It’s kind of a cramped keyboard, the “Del” key being right next to the right arrow key f’s with my muscle memory, and it’s rare and expensive enough I think twice about taking it places where it might genuinely be useful. So. When I found the Rovinda Foldable Bluetooth Keyboard for $25 on Amazon, I decided to give it a spin. (I really wanted to try the  ROYAL KLUDGE F68 for the low profile mechanical switches, but the 12" length meant it wouldn’t fit in a Loungefly , and it would be otherwise pretty awkward to carry out and about in most circumstances.) I like it well enough. I need to re-learn how to type (using the home row this time, not whatever it is I’m doing now). It folds up nicely, it’s compact and...

Tripodsy standing desk with MacBook Pro A trip to Mammoth validated my concept of a portable office. (Of course, this trip we ended up in a condo with a desk, making the standing desk less of a requirement - though still useful - and rendered the collapsible stool superfluous. But, this condo doesn't have a Keurig, so now I’m thinking: Amazon Basics Compact Dual Brew Single Serve Capsule Coffee Maker . But I digress.) Stuck inside while an atmospheric river dumps snow outside (the picture here was taken on the third floor!), I’m getting work done with the following setup: Tripodsy standing desk , that I carried up in a 24" duffel bag : Apple MacBook Pro 14" with a ShaggyMax screen protector and Speck FlapTop sleeve (says it’s for the 13" Air and it fits that, too, bu the MBP 14" fits perfectly). NuPhy Air75 with brown switches, shine-through keycaps and revised logic board . (I’m not sure I’d use this keyboard like this again. The brown switches aren’t my ...