5 tech accessories that’ll help you get more out of your laptop
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Brandt Ranj / Business Insider
When you buy a computer, one of the first questions to consider is "do I want a laptop, or a desktop?"
Both have pros and cons: desktops have more power for the money, but laptops are portable. Wouldn't it be nice to have both?
Well, with a laptop and a few accessories, you can actually turn it into a desktop. When you're home or at your office you can reap the benefits of a big screen and wireless accessories, then take your laptop on the road when you leave.
I've been doing this since high school, and it's surprising how well this "best of both worlds" setup works.
A laptop stand
Because a big chunk of your desk will be taken up by accessories and your monitor, a key part of the laptop-to-desktop conversion is a laptop stand. There are two different styles of stand, and I use both on a daily basis. At home I use Twelve South's BookArc(pictured) because it lets me store my laptop on a lower shelf on my desk. It's out of the way and totally organized.
At work I use an elevated dock. My laptop is still connected to a monitor, but instead of being closed and out of the way, I use the laptop's screen as a second display. Griffin's laptop stand has the added benefit of being designed in an open way, so you can store an accessory or two under it.
Regardless of which you pick, a laptop stand is key part of turning your laptop into a desktop.
Twelve South BookArc for MacBook Pro, $39.99, available at AmazonGriffin Technology Elevator Laptop Stand, $32.49, available at Amazon
At work I use an elevated dock. My laptop is still connected to a monitor, but instead of being closed and out of the way, I use the laptop's screen as a second display. Griffin's laptop stand has the added benefit of being designed in an open way, so you can store an accessory or two under it.
Regardless of which you pick, a laptop stand is key part of turning your laptop into a desktop.
Twelve South BookArc for MacBook Pro, $39.99, available at AmazonGriffin Technology Elevator Laptop Stand, $32.49, available at Amazon
A Bluetooth keyboard
Since your laptop's keyboard will either be inaccessible or in an inconvenient spot, you'll need a keyboard. I've been using Anker's Bluetooth keyboards for over a year now, and they're rock solid. I haven't notice any latency problems, and the key size and spacing should be very similar to your laptop's. Just be sure to pick up some batteries, because this keyboard isn't rechargeable.
Anker Bluetooth Ultra-Slim Keyboard, $13.99, available at Amazon
Anker Bluetooth Ultra-Slim Keyboard, $13.99, available at Amazon
A Bluetooth mouse
You're also going to need a new pointing device, since you won't be able to use your laptop's trackpad.
There are a lot of Bluetooth mice out there, but I like this one from Logitech so muchthat I bought two of them. One for home, one for work. It's small, accurate, and has very good battery life. A major advantage of getting a Bluetooth mouse is you don't have to take up one of your laptop's USB ports with a wireless receiver. They're usually small, but I'm always afraid I'll break or lose it.
Logitech Bluetooth Mouse M557, $25.99, available at Amazon
There are a lot of Bluetooth mice out there, but I like this one from Logitech so muchthat I bought two of them. One for home, one for work. It's small, accurate, and has very good battery life. A major advantage of getting a Bluetooth mouse is you don't have to take up one of your laptop's USB ports with a wireless receiver. They're usually small, but I'm always afraid I'll break or lose it.
Logitech Bluetooth Mouse M557, $25.99, available at Amazon
A monitor
Arguably the most important part of turning your laptop into a desktop is getting the monitor. Which you get will depend on how big your desk is, and how much space you really need.
I opted for this 28" 4K monitor because I occasionally work in InDesign and edit video. It's a big, gorgeous display that can be raised, lowered, and turned vertically. For a while it was the only TV I had, so the two HDMI ports on the back were dedicated to my game consoles. It might be overkill for some, but part of the fun of turning your laptop into a desktop is having a big screen.
As a side note, if you're going to use this monitor at 4K, you'll need to connect your laptop to it through a Thunderbolt to DisplayPort cable.ASUS 28" 4K monitor, $386.99, available at Amazon
I opted for this 28" 4K monitor because I occasionally work in InDesign and edit video. It's a big, gorgeous display that can be raised, lowered, and turned vertically. For a while it was the only TV I had, so the two HDMI ports on the back were dedicated to my game consoles. It might be overkill for some, but part of the fun of turning your laptop into a desktop is having a big screen.
As a side note, if you're going to use this monitor at 4K, you'll need to connect your laptop to it through a Thunderbolt to DisplayPort cable.ASUS 28" 4K monitor, $386.99, available at Amazon
Speakers
If you listen to music, you're going to want a set of speakers to complete your desktop setup.
My friend has a set of Bose speakers just like these that she's been using since college, and they sound excellent. Besides having some experience with Bose computer speakers, I'm recommending these because they have a headphone port on the front. Sometimes you want to blast music, but other times it's important to listen to music without disturbing other people.
On a stand, your computer's headphone jack may be in an inconvenient place; with these speakers, it's right in front of you.
Bose Companion 2 Series III Multimedia Speakers, $99.99, available at Amazon
My friend has a set of Bose speakers just like these that she's been using since college, and they sound excellent. Besides having some experience with Bose computer speakers, I'm recommending these because they have a headphone port on the front. Sometimes you want to blast music, but other times it's important to listen to music without disturbing other people.
On a stand, your computer's headphone jack may be in an inconvenient place; with these speakers, it's right in front of you.
Bose Companion 2 Series III Multimedia Speakers, $99.99, available at Amazon
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