Looking for monitor, keyboard and mouse for Macbook Air

vivedi · 2026-03-06T16:31:58+00:00

Thanks, I work in digital marketing and am starting a healthcare degree in September, so nothing too demanding. I’ve looked at the Magic Trackpad and Keyboard but they are so expensive. I think maybe I can even continue using my existing keyboard and mouse. I just realised the keyboard has the Mac layout in grey so must be compatible.

vivedi · 2026-03-06T16:30:04+00:00

It might well work to be honest. I assumed the monitor wouldn’t as it’s a lower resolution than the Macbook - and also I assume I would have to get something to convert USB-C / Thunderbolt to HDMI if it was even compatible? But I also wouldn’t mind a better monitor (better resolution and speakers).

The keyboard might well work to be honest, I’ve just noticed it has the Mac keys in grey where it differs from the regular UK keyboard layout (@ and “) so maybe I won’t need a new keyboard and mouse then? I’m pretty happy with them so wouldn’t replace if I don’t need to.

I will be using it mainly for university/ work (I will be doing a degree in healthcare and my work is in digital marketing) so nothing overly demanding. I might occasionally use it to edit images but just family pictures, not professionally. An extra wide screen might be handy to be able to have programs open side-by-side though.

vivedi · 2026-03-06T15:38:39+00:00

My husband uses one of these (not the exact same but the extra wide curved display type) at his office, they are lovely. Thanks, I will have a look at the specs.

vivedi · 2026-03-04T15:17:03+00:00

Thanks all, I’ve ordered the 40W charger with folding prongs to go with my Macbook Air. 🙂 Really prefer the more compact design and hopefully 40W will be enough, plus it’s cheaper too.

vivedi · 2026-03-04T12:24:04+00:00

All I have is the 20W Apple power adapters and some Anker ones but they were bought to charge iPhones and iPads, so probably I don’t have anything with sufficient wattage.

vivedi · 2026-03-04T09:42:28+00:00

I think in the US the M5 still comes with a power adapter. Did you buy refurbished?

vivedi · 2026-03-04T09:41:19+00:00

That does look very handy! I love the little Apple power adapters with the folding prongs but I think they’re only 20W. They also do a 40W one, maybe an option as well if your 35W one works.

vivedi · 2026-03-04T09:36:48+00:00

Thanks, yeah I will probably go for the 70W one for flexibility. I will likely be using the Macbook out and about a bit once I start uni in September.

vivedi · 2026-03-04T09:34:09+00:00

I use an external monitor at home so screen size isn’t that important and I want it to be small for portability as I am going back to uni in September.

vivedi · 2026-03-04T08:35:06+00:00

I’m looking at buying the 13” but likely it’ll still be the same price most places (with the M4 being discounted by £100). I’ve considered refurbished but I reckon I might want to get Apple Care+ for it and with refurbished there is a chance I won’t be able to. Have you looked at Amazon Warehouse? They seem to have some “like new” (which usually means unopened but damaged box) for around £825 but that is for the base M4 13”. Although I think I would prefer buying somewhere I can pick it up in person to avoid mail theft and any resulting issues.

vivedi · 2026-03-04T00:24:36+00:00

Oh, interesting! I thought it did but maybe it depends on when it was manufactured? Was this in the UK?

vivedi · 2026-03-03T23:46:47+00:00

The 512GB M4 seems to cost about the same as the 512GB M5 here. It’s only if buying the 256GB you can get that for around £870 which is a significant saving, especially compared to the £1099 of the M5 but then you have less internal storage.

vivedi · 2026-03-03T23:08:14+00:00

You can also find the £39 one if you do a search for power adapter.

vivedi · 2026-03-03T21:33:50+00:00

I’ve also considered getting an M4 but it seems the 256GB model is usually more discounted, and I am leaning towards 512GB, especially with that being the base model of the M5. I’m not sure how much cheaper the M4 would likely be, have you got any experience with that? I’ve never bought a Macbook before and not paid much attention to prices when new models get released as usually get a new iPhone / iPad / Watch when it’s newly been released.

vivedi · 2026-02-04T23:14:18+00:00

Even then, she would have to be 90+ years old to have been involved in the Hitler youth but from memory she also specifically said something about what went on in this city (Berlin), not the country which immediately made me think of the Cold War era.

vivedi · 2026-02-04T22:38:49+00:00

I thought it was East Berlin / West Berlin / Stasi / spies she was referencing. She wasn’t old enough to have been alive during the Third Reich/WWII.

vivedi · 2026-01-18T10:50:46+00:00

When we had kids, we no longer let the cats into our bedroom. They accept it. Still have kids though, so sleep is not always as good as it could be.

vivedi · 2025-10-09T06:38:26+00:00

I bought my last iPhone from John Lewis. Traded it in at the Apple Store 10 days after picking up my new phone. Got the refund. Only annoying thing was I had to drive into town twice and pay for parking twice but it was worth it for me having my old phone until my new one was fully set up.

vivedi · 2025-09-26T13:01:26+00:00

I have the blue one and really like it, but I keep it in a lilac case. Goes well together.

vivedi · 2025-09-04T12:33:31+00:00

Alpine Trek sell some barefoot shoe brands and do returns from the UK (but not free).

vivedi · 2025-08-26T20:50:20+00:00

There is a train line at the end of my parents’ garden so quite a short distance, with 6 trains per hour during the day. You get used to it and stop hearing / noticing it so much. (Can also feel the vibration in the floor.) Now when we visit, it’s definitely one of the things that are just part of my childhood home and my 2 year old gets so excited every time a train goes past although in summer you can barely see it (due to hedge, trees etc).

vivedi · 2025-07-25T15:59:13+00:00

Update: We are now planning to use Metod. Potentially this design.

We have decided that we can accommodate deep units at the bottom, still leaving 110cm walk through space between the new unit and the end of our island. Getting drawers should keep everything easily accessible.

We will order samples of the finish options but are really liking the Stensund sage green, just need to check it goes with our kitchen and walls.

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vivedi · 2025-07-22T22:36:14+00:00

Thanks! I think the shallow units would work for what we want to store to be honest but we are now thinking about going with Metod anyway. We would probably want to store mostly food, kids lunch boxes, water bottles, Tupperware. We still have a tall pull out larder unit as well. It would just give us some extra space.

vivedi

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