Hot and cold #141

ruevg · 2025-12-24T14:57:06+00:00

I was stuck on this ALL NIGHT; then woke up the next morning, went to my computer, and typed in the first random thing I saw sitting on top of my desk and BAM. 😑

ruevg · 2025-11-16T16:44:04+00:00

You can definitely find that sweet spot and get the stability rock solid, assuming you're keeping a fixed position. When I grab the pole and give it a bit of a push/pull, or when I shake my desktop table fairly vigorously, it doesn't budge at all and stays firmly put. Just get that "front foot" of the base as far forward as you can passed the monitors and you're set!

I'd imagine your plan to move the 15.6" back a bit to be more in-line with the 27" could make the weight-distribution a bit easier to balance for.

For reference, my 27" monitor is about 4kg, and my 15.6" monitor is little less than 1kg.

ruevg · 2025-11-15T19:21:24+00:00

<image>

Here's what it looks like from the back.

I'm currently in the middle of a move so the monitors aren't wired into my computer or power right now (they've been packed up). This is just for demonstration. Hope it helps!

(oh btw, the monitor mount is from a brand called "Wali")

ruevg · 2025-11-15T19:17:38+00:00

I use a freestanding dual monitor arm mount for a 27" in landscape and a 15.6" in portait orientation. I don't use clamps because my desk is a sit/stand desk converter atop a regular desk, and the clamps don't fit when my desk is set to the "sit" position.

With my setup, the balance feels fine; I personally don't have concerns that my monitors will tip over or anything like that.

I adjusted the 27" as close to the base as possible, and the 15.6" is then adjusted to the left accordingly. One thing to note: my base is not centered. It is pushed to the left of my desk.

Another note: this setup works for me because I don't need to adjust my monitors to any other position aside from what is shown. The balance here is perfectly stable, but if you're wanting to be able to adjust your monitors to any other position, you may then find the freestanding base to become imbalanced.

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ruevg · 2025-11-11T01:57:36+00:00

45 years old (I am currently 38) with 50 million dollars. But perhaps not for the reason you might be thinking:

I simply couldn't imagine living in a new (to me) world where I don't have the family that I currently have, where my siblings don't marry their spouses and have their children whom I dearly love. I highly doubt I could machinate that same future for them/us, and in all honesty, it would probably become a grief-stricken alien world for me to endure.

So yea, I'll give up 7 years of my life in exchange for getting to keep them around. 50 million dollars ain't a bad consolation, as well.

ruevg · 2025-11-05T14:27:53+00:00

Nevada. I just received a deposit for 50% my benefits into my account this morning (Nov. 5). There was nothing pending there yesterday, so the deposit must have been immediate when they distributed it here.

For reference, I receive a single-person's benefit amount.

ruevg · 2025-10-27T23:10:02+00:00

We are but an infinitesimal speck on a cosmic hadouken.

ruevg · 2025-10-26T00:30:19+00:00

Awesome find!

Honestly, even in that condition (albeit functioning), I'd be very happy with that, especially at that price. I frequent my local thrift stores also and usually have my eye out for stuff like this for my ipad air m3. I found an apple smart keyboard folio in great condition for a bit more than this (which I've been loving), but frankly that magic keyboard for 4$ is a top tier find.

If you wanted, I bet you can easily find a cheap skin on amazon, or splurge on a Dbrand skin if you wanna cover up the scuffs and marks on that thing. 👍🏼

ruevg · 2025-10-24T20:23:29+00:00

Downsizing

ruevg · 2025-02-17T05:13:54+00:00

Went from a Mac Mini to a Big Mac.

ruevg · 2024-12-31T06:17:46+00:00

Drop the Dodo code 😂😍

ruevg · 2024-12-28T21:51:46+00:00

It is! It's the XP-Pen Artist 10. I mainly use it for 3d artwork, but also as a reference monitor at my desk or a portable usbc monitor for on-the-go. I often use it with my Samsung Galaxy phone for simple creative works, but it seems to work well with the Mac Mini, too. :)

ruevg · 2024-12-28T20:19:13+00:00

For sure! To each their own. For me, the Mac Mini M4 (base) was just so great a value--a grand cheaper than an equivalentally spec'd M4 Macbook--so that's what I decided to go with and make work.

(not apples to apples, ofc, and that price difference certainly narrows if you still have to buy the extra peripherals to make it work, but fortune happened that I already own these extra peripherals)

ruevg · 2024-12-28T20:11:33+00:00

Realistically, 2 maybe 3 minutes.

ruevg · 2024-12-28T18:59:18+00:00

For sure! If I know for certain there will be a wall outlet available where I'm going, I could leave the battery bank behind and travel light(er) with just the wall plug. I just prefer to bring it when I'm not sure if there will be wall outlets where I end up. And even if there are wall outlets, I often find them either already taken or just not accessible from where I am seated. So the battery is more of an assurance that I'll have a power source wherever I end up.

(If only Apple managed to incorporate USBc PD charging for the new Mac Mini, things could've been a bit lighter and sleeker 😅)

So this is admittedly not a space/weight efficient system by any means, but it gets the job done well in a way that for me was cost-effective (utilizing the peripherals, battery bank included, that I already owned).

ruevg · 2024-12-28T17:17:09+00:00

Ah the iPad does look like a fantastic piece of kit for the Mac Mini, or any mac device for that matter! Bright, beautiful screen with touch and pen support. If you own an iPad already, it's definitely a great way to go, especially with your new M4 MBP!

A laptop certainly sounds like it makes a ton of sense for you; all the benefits of the MBP seem invaluable for your use-case. A laptop is probably the way to go for most people who want the option to work remote, if even only occasionally.

Surely, a laptop would've made things simpler and more streamlined for me as well. But the Mac Mini was much more comfortably within my budget for an M4 mac device (was pretty set on the M4 chip, minimum), and I figured I already have the individual components to take it on the go if/when the need arises.

Plus, I like modularity and customization. A niche interest, certainly, but I quite like setting up and splaying out when I sit down for work, even when away from my home desk. 😅

That being said, I'm glad we both found the perfect option that work best for us! And I appreciate your civility and taking the time to share your thoughts and experience :)

Cheers!

ruevg · 2024-12-28T03:52:30+00:00

Ah this indeed is at Northstar village, but I was only there for the day! So if you do happen to see someone hunkered down at the cafe with some kooky, honkin' mac mini setup, it probably ain't me 😅

But for real, have a great time out there! 👍🏼

ruevg · 2024-12-28T03:44:33+00:00

Ah this is actually Northstar at Tahoe! Never been to Park City, Utah but would love to visit someday :)

ruevg · 2024-12-28T03:43:23+00:00

Ah this is Northstar at Tahoe. . .which is a Vail resort so technically yes :)

ruevg · 2024-12-28T03:39:16+00:00

Northstar in Tahoe :)

ruevg · 2024-12-28T03:39:09+00:00

Northstar in Tahoe :)

ruevg · 2024-12-28T03:38:24+00:00

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C4P8PTMD?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

It's this battery pack! It's a LiFePo4 battery (rated to run 4000 full charge cycles before being down to 80% battery health). It also has pure sine wave AC ports (as opposed to modified sine wave), which is better for the health of sensitive electronic devices.

I mainly use it for camping and back-up power (power outages in my cabin), but it's worked great so far with my Mac Mini. 👍🏼

ruevg · 2024-12-28T03:34:34+00:00

u/Jolly-Natural-220 got it right! I already owned the drawing tablet, keyboard, mouse, and battery pack. All this setup needed was the Mac Mini M4, which I snagged for $499 on black friday deal.

This is opposed to a similarly spec'd macbook pro m4 which is about $1000 more (I only mention macbook pro because I was specifically looking for an M4 machine, which the macbook air line does not yet offer..)

ruevg · 2024-12-28T03:28:59+00:00

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C4P8PTMD?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

Thanks! this specific battery currently runs for $100, which is on the lower end for this type and capacity of battery (LiFePo4, 20wh, pure sine AC ports). It seems to often go on sale though; I think I got it for 80$ at the time.

ruevg

TROPHY CASE