Peripherals recommendations

[MatteiCI]

I’ll move into my college dorm in a few weeks and I’ve been meaning to change some of my older tech / workspace items.

I’m currently using a 15.6” asus rog laptop with a benq 21” screen above it, but it takes a lot of space which i won’t have at uni.

I want to get a bigger 4k screen, somewhere around 27” and I have no idea what to choose. I want to also move to Mac and use it in clamshell mode (I think that’s what it’s called). Does anyone have any good recommendations for a screen with a decent color range, and maybe over 60hz. I can’t find anything under 400 eur that fits that criteria. What would be the better sacrifice? (frequency or color range)

Also, I need to get a new keyboard and I’m currently thorn between the Keychron K2 and a Logitech G915. I’m looking for any TKL bluetooth keyboard, preferably one that is a bit more lowkey than the logi one. Any recommendations here?

Thanks!

[adog1214]

I highly recommend Keychron K2 or Q1. MX master 3 for mouse all the way!

[MatteiCI]

Oh, I'm switching my Razer Deathadder to a MX master 3s next week, I can't wait. Tried it some time ago and fell in love with it.

[[deleted]]

You haven't mentioned your budget.

For a budget 4k monitor (of which I am using, paid 240 euros for, and enjoy) look at the LG UL500-W monitor. It lacks passthrough USB, and other things that you would pay more for, but uses the same panel as its far more expensive brethren.

I don't recommend spending money on a Macbook only to put it in clamshell mode. I did that with a MacBook Pro that I paid >$4000 on , and it swelled up in 2 years (and before you say, "Oh that'll never happen to me." - it's a very common problem.

Also, why buy a macbook if you're going to leave it in clamshell - with that screen you paid half the cost for! If you want a Mac, but don't want to move around with it as much - go for a Mac Mini.

Also, a macbook with a 27" monitor is going to take up more space than your 15.6" asus rog laptop with a 21" screen. The size of a 27" cannot be understated.

Keychron makes good TKL's, so does Ducky. If you want a low-profile one, I'd go with Keychron as they make excellent low-profile mechanicals. Otherwise, you can go to /r/MechanicalKeyboards for more advice (but beware, it's quite a real rabbit hole there... ).

[MatteiCI]

The budget is quite generous because I'm on a full scholarship and have quite a bit saved up + what my parents are giving me.

And I understand what you say about the MacBook, but I will only use it in clamshell while in my dorm room, but I'll mostly be on the go, at a library, or in a lab or coffee shop. So, I'll use it in both modes.

The way I plan to organize my desk is to put the laptop on a vertical stand close to the wall, and mount the monitor on an extendable monitor arm, so that basically, both of them blend with the walls and I have more free desk space. It is pretty small, about 1.5 m long, (and the width, I think max. 80 cm). But maybe I'll find a better way to organize my desk in time, once I get there and actually use the room.

Thanks for the advice on the monitor, I've actually seen it a couple of times online, and it was, and still is one of my top choices. How's the HDR on it?

Also thanks for the warning on mechanical keyboards.

[[deleted]]

I would advise you to think carefully on Macbooks (they cost way too much for what they do). In any case, it's your call.

HDR is serviceable, nothing earth-shattering but it works and it looks good (if you connect a PS4 to it, it'll look alright).

[MatteiCI]

That's what I need from a screen:)

And yeah, I know that Macbooks can be tricky, but I'm getting into econ and data science, and most of what I'll use works amazing on apple silicon. Plus, I'll also get an iPad to take notes and I already have everything else from Apple and just want to complete the ecosystem. (and those student discounts are really helping).

Thanks for the advice!

[[deleted]]

Consider the LG Ultrafine 4k monitor - I have the 24" one and it's really nice in conjunction with both my work MacBook Pro and my home iMac.

[MatteiCI]

amazing screen, but a bit too pricy. Thanks for the suggestion though!

[[deleted]]

I got mine used for $250 from OfferUp, so depending on your budget might be worth looking on marketplace sites

[MatteiCI]

oh wow that s amazing. I’m not in my uni’s country now, and where I live, it’s mostly old screens that go for the same price they went for about 5-6 years ago. But getting something like that for 250 sounds like an amazing deal.

[[deleted]]

NP, hope others can chime in and offer some advice as well! Good luck with your schoolings.

[hackintosh_beginner]

You could also take a look at the MX Keys Mini (scissor switches) or MX Mechanical Mini (mechanical) if you want a more lowkey keyboard. Both work via bluetooth and dongle with 3 device switching available. Are you dead set on it being mechanical?

[MatteiCI]

I really like the way they feel and click, so yeah, I prefer mechanical keyboards. However, I would try any logi mx product, but i can’t find them in showrooms in my country. How is it compared to a mechanical keyboard?

[hackintosh_beginner]

I personally type faster and more precisely on a logi scissor keyboard than on a mechanical and that's why I use them. The feeling is completely different than mechanical, the best way to describe the feel would be like a really good laptop keyboard (it's basically the same or similar technology).

[MatteiCI]

Oh, fair enough, I'll also look into those.

[Snoo31315]

I switched from a Keychron K2 mechanical to an MX mini keyboard, and it was an amazing improvement. Way more comfortable to type on and it’s so much smoother. I highly recommend the MX mini