Originally published at: Switching from a 27-inch iMac to a 14-inch MacBook Pro: A Fresh Start - TidBITS
At long last, I have replaced my 27-inch iMac. I bought the original 2014 27-inch iMac shortly after it was released because it combined impressive power with an astonishingly crisp 5K Retina display for a thoroughly affordable price. When that Mac suffered an SSD failure in early 2020, I limped along with an external boot drive for a few months but replaced the Mac as soon as Apple introduced the 2020 27-inch iMac later that year. Little did I know that would be the last 27-inch iMac model. 2020 was also the year I swapped my 2017 MacBook Air for an M1 MacBook Air shortly after it was releasedāI had been avoiding the previous models with the infamous butterfly keyboards.
The M1 MacBook Air is still going strong, but the 27-inch iMac has been struggling. Its fans were running more regularly, Photos frequently paused iCloud syncing for the Mac to cool down, some actions were taking longer than they should, and the scroll wheel of my Contour Designs RollerMouse Pro was becoming increasingly flaky. And, of course, itās an Intel-based Mac, so I couldnāt test Apple Intelligence on it or use certain apps that require Apple silicon. It was only a matter of time before I would switch my primary Mac to one with Apple silicon, and the time finally arrived.
The Decision Tree Leading to a MacBook Pro
My upgrade decision hinged on three key requirements: support for dual 27-inch displays, compatibility with my standing desk setup, and maintaining my preferred pointing device position. I work at a standing desk that places the keyboard at an ergonomically correct typing height and holds a pair of 27-inch displays approximately 13 inches (33 cm) higher, so theyāre at the ergonomically correct viewing height for me. To start, whatever Mac I chose had to support two 27-inch displays, and I felt that I had to make that decision first.
The Apple Studio Display was the obvious choice, but itās expensive and didnāt meet the high expectations we had for Appleās consumer-level display when it finally arrived. I flirted with the idea of one of those ultra-wide curved displays, but they lack the pixel density of actual 5K displays, and Iāve never been able to find a store where I could test one to determine if its display quality met my needs. I also debated whether I should save some money and opt for one of the newer 5K 27-inch displays from Asus or BenQ, but most lacked webcams, and the build quality of the Apple Studio Display was superior, so the lower price wasnāt as compelling as it might have been. In the end, I decided it was best to stick with the Apple Studio Displays despite the cost so I would have Apple-native displays that will probably last for at least the next decade (Iāve used the same 27-inch Thunderbolt Display since 2014, and it still works fine).
Initially, only the higher-end Apple silicon Macs could drive two external displays, but Apple gradually enhanced these capabilities, enabling the M3 MacBook Air to support two external displays with the lid closed and subsequently providing the M4 MacBook Air with sufficient power to manage two external displays in addition to the built-in display. Any one of the M4 MacBook Air, M4 MacBook Pro, and M4 Mac mini would meet my needs. But which to choose?
Iāve always maintained a strict desktop/laptop split, with powerful desktops for most work and light laptops for travel. That pointed toward the Mac mini, but there was a problem. Because Iāve used a Contour Designs RollerMouse Pro or a MacBook Air for so many years, I prefer my pointing device to be in front of my keyboard, not off to the side. Although a Mac mini would be cheaper than the other options, Iād need to buy an Apple Magic keyboard (Touch ID was a must-have) and another RollerMouse, which would increase the price by about $500. (I would prefer a trackpad, but itās tricky to get a Magic Trackpad positioned in front of a Magic Keyboardāa custom tray is necessary to get them at the right level.) With the input devices, the M4 Mac mini would cost about $1800 and the M4 Pro version about $2100.
The cost and fuss associated with input devices, combined with the allure of a third screen, were sufficient to push me back to laptops. Although a standard M4 MacBook Air or 14-inch MacBook Pro would provide more than enough power for everything I do today, I decided to future-proof my decision with an M4 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro configured with 24 GB of memory. It also offers more pixels than even the 15-inch MacBook Air, an SDXC card slot, an HDMI port, and an additional Thunderbolt port with support for Thunderbolt 5. At $2200, it was $600 more than the M4 MacBook Air ($1600) and only $200 more than the equivalent M4 14-inch MacBook Pro ($2000). Since I already have an M1 MacBook Air that Iāll probably continue to use for lightweight tasks away from my desk, the extra money seemed worth it for a notably more powerful MacBook Pro.
The final check before ordering the M4 MacBook Pro was to rebuild my IKEA Jerker desk to see if I could get it to provide a larger typing surface. Previously, the shelf under the displays held my keyboard and RollerMouse Pro fine, but lacked space for a laptop with the lid open. By cannibalizing the main surface from Tonyaās previous Jerker desk, I was able to give myself plenty of room for the MacBook Pro with the lid open.
When I switched from the 2014 27-inch iMac to the 2020 model, I simply removed the old iMac from my desk and replaced it with the new one, using Migration Assistant to transfer everything. Apart from faster performance, the experience was nearly identical. This move has involved much more adaptation and new ways of working, not least because I decided to do the cleanest of clean installs, transferring data and settings from my old Mac in only a few controlled situations. I wanted to see how Iād do things when given the option to start from scratch. And it proved quite interesting.
A Completely Clean Install
Unlike some, I have no particular complaints with Migration Assistant. However, during an investigation into what was taking up space on my iMac, I discovered that I had significant quantities of data in my userās Library folder that hadnāt been modified in over 4 years because it was associated with apps I hadnāt used during that time. In ~/Library/Containers alone, I found nearly 400 old folders that occupied over 2.6 GB of space. Migration Assistant would have blithely transferred all that unnecessary crud along with data and settings I actually care about. And I donāt even want to think about the 2400 items occupying nearly 19 GB in my iMacās Downloads folder.
That made me decide to set up the new MacBook Pro fresh. I knew it would take a bit longer because I would have to download and configure apps as I needed them, but it was worth doing to eliminate cruft. The iMac has 170 apps in its Applications folder, but after installing the apps Iāve needed in the past few weeks, Iām at only 100 on the MacBook Pro. (Lots of those were pre-installed by Apple.) I have reconfigured nearly all of those apps from scratch, although I manually transferred settings or support files for a couple that would have been tedious to set up again, such as Dejalās Simon monitoring tool, which tracks changes on approximately 15 webpages for me.
The only notable hiccup associated with the migration came with a Nisus Writer Pro macro I use to convert a folder of RTF files to DOCX. After the migration, it failed with a completely inscrutable error, even while I could use it on the same data on the iMac with no problems. After a lengthy conversation, ChatGPT made a comment that set me on the right pathāI needed to install the Rosetta 2 translation environment, which enables Intel-based apps to run on Macs with Apple silicon. Normally, that happens when you open an Intel-based app on an Apple silicon Mac, but launching the Nisus File Converter utility (buried within the Nisus Writer Pro app package) from a macro didnāt trigger macOS to get Rosetta. Once I manually launched Nisus File Converter, macOS downloaded Rosetta, and the macro started working again.
The two configuration tweaks that required a bit more effort were displaying the Library folder in the Finderās Go menu so I didnāt have to press Option to see it each time (see āDealing with Lionās Hidden Library,ā 20 July 2011) and getting proxy icons to appear all the time (see āTipBITS: Always Show Window Proxy Icons,ā 26 March 2022)
The remaining question revolves around how to bring over documents and other files in my home folder. For the moment, Iāve decided to treat such data like settings and bring it over manually as needed. At some point, Iāll probably copy the remaining data in each folder in my home folder to the new Mac or archive completely unused folders to an external drive. Additionally, I may keep a duplicate of the iMacās drive around indefinitely, just in case I need to restore something I missed in the more distant future.
Cloud Storage Proves Helpful
Part of the reason I could get away with not migrating all the data in my home folder is that a significant amount of it came over automatically once I set up iCloud, Google Drive, and Dropbox. I use iCloud Driveās option to sync my Desktop and Documents folders between devices, and Tonya and I share certain personal files in Google Drive and Dropbox, although weāre moving away from Dropbox to avoid the additional cost. In particular, I was pleased that I could access my Keyboard Maestro macros and BBEdit text factories instantly, as they sync via Dropbox.
After setting up all the cloud storage services to sync and turning on iCloud Photos, I have so far only needed to bring over one or two folders from the iMac. I was initially surprised by that, but upon reflection, the vast majority of what I do is either entirely online in Web apps like Google Docs and Lex or synced among my Macs by one of the cloud storage services.
Honestly, I can see why cloud storage is so popular with those who have grown up with constant high-speed Internet and arenāt perturbed about storing personal or corporate data on servers outside their control. Itās undeniably helpful to be able to access all your data on any device, and it makes spinning up a new device vastly simpler.
A Third Screen for Ambient Apps
Since I have long been accustomed to having two 27-inch displays, I wasnāt quite sure how Iād end up using the MacBook Proās built-in display. Itās too low for ergonomic useāIād end up craning my neck down too much to use it for long. However, Iāve found it handy for apps that I want running at all times but that occupy my attention for only moments at a time, currently Messages, Slack, Music, BusyCal, and 1Password. I think of them as ambient appsājust as Iād glance at the wall to see the current monthās calendar grid, I can switch to and glance at BusyCal with the tap of F5 or a three-fingered swipe.
Previously, I layered these ambient apps under others on my left-hand screen, accessing them with an F-key. There was nothing wrong with that approach, but Iām liking having them in a known space on the MacBookās screen. In fact, while I keep Messages and Slack together, each of the others gets its own space so I can interact with it full-screen.
I have experimented with some different window positions for my main apps on the two Apple Studio Display screens, but having Arc left-justified on the right-hand screen and Mimestream right-justified on the left-hand screen keeps my Web browsing and email front and center. (Refer back to the photo at the top to see that arrangement.)
MacBook Trackpad Requires a Wrist Rest
Part of the reason that Spaces works well for my ambient apps is that I can switch between them fluidly using three-finger swipes on the MacBook Proās trackpad. Iām familiar with trackpad gestures from previous laptops, but without a trackpad on my iMac, I never quite appreciated how easy they are to use. Itās also nice to have essentially the same keyboard as on my M1 MacBook Air. Previously, I was using a big, clicky Das Keyboard, which was so different from the thin Apple keyboards that my fingers had trouble switching back and forth at times. It will take some time to retrain my muscle memory for the new input devices, but I think itās worthwhile.
The main problem Iāve encountered with mousing on the MacBook Pro is that its front corner is so sharp that itās actively painful to rest my hands on it. Thereās nothing new about thisāI think every Mac laptop has had too-sharp corners since the polycarbonate white iBook. Itās not an issue when typing because my palms naturally come down on the palm rests on either side of the trackpad. But since I primarily use the trackpad with the index finger on my right hand, I have to pull that arm back, causing the right palm to rest on a surface in front of the laptop. When the laptop is in my lap, my thigh provides that surface. I wasnāt sure what Iād do when the MacBook Pro was on a standing desk.
Initially, I tried aligning the front of the MacBook Pro with the edge of the desk surface to encourage myself to hover my palm in the air. I hated that approach instantly. I spend a lot of time reading text with my right handās fingers on the trackpad to scroll or position the insertion point for editing, and I need somewhere to rest my palm while Iām doing that. I experimented with a few items I had on handāa square Kensington trackball palm rest and a promotional hand squeezer from Datto that resembles a large Lego blockābut ultimately settled on several layers of a bubble mailer encased in some old T-shirt material. (Thatās the green thing in front of the MacBook Pro in the desk photo above.)
My homemade wrist rest works acceptably, but I donāt intend for it to be a long-term solution. Now that Iāve seen how it works, I can look for a commercial wrist rest in the correct dimensions for my setup.
A Laptop That Seldom Sees a Lap
I do feel a little weird working on a MacBook Pro that rarely leaves my desk. In fact, Iāve disconnected it from the Apple Studio Displays only once, and the immediate complaint from macOS about how I had forgotten to eject my Time Machine backup drive first reminded me that if I were going to do this regularly, Iād need to get a copy of St. Clair Softwareās Jettison, which simplifies the process of dismounting drives (see āAppBITS: Jettison Solves macOS Disk Ejection Annoyances,ā 28 May 2025).
The other oddity of treating a laptop like a desktop Mac is that it needs to remain plugged in at all times. Iām using the MagSafe 3 power adapter purely because it shows a green light when the MacBook Pro is 100% charged and an orange one otherwise. Having it at 100% would be ideal only if I were planning to leave on a trip. Otherwise, itās much better to use Appleās Optimized Battery Charging option and let macOS try to keep the battery at 80% most of the time. To find it, open System Settings > Battery and click the ā next to Battery Health.
As has been discussed extensively on TidBITS Talk, optimized battery charging does a fine job of minimizing the impact of keeping a MacBook Pro plugged in all the time. In short, thereās no need to be concerned that youāre limiting the batteryās lifespan.
Apple Studio Displays Are Solid, If Uninspiring
Perhaps Iām jaded from working on 27-inch iMacs with 5K Retina displays for the last 11 years, but the Apple Studio Display just isnāt that impressive. Itās exactly what I expect to see in terms of size and quality, although I do greatly appreciate the fact that I now have matching displays of equal quality.
Most people probably donāt know or care about this, but screenshots reflect the resolution of the display on which theyāre taken. As a result, if I took a screenshot of a 300-by-200-pixel window on the iMacās screen, it would be 600-by-400 pixels in size. (The same screenshot taken on the non-Retina Thunderbolt Display would be 300-by-200 pixels.) Even if you shrink a screenshot down to its original dimensions, the pixel-doubled version usually looks sharper, and if a TidBITS reader zooms it on our website, it gets bigger. The practical upshot of this is that I no longer have to pay attention to which display contains a window I want to capture.
One benefit of attaching two Apple Studio Displays to my MacBook Pro is that they each provide three additional USB 3.2 ports (10 Gbps), which are sufficient to connect my Time Machine backup drive and the Audio-Technica ATR2100x USB mic I use for podcast appearances, plus another external drive on which I plan to store virtual machines. My two external archive drives arenāt currently connected, but since I turn them on only occasionally, itās no hardship to connect them manually. I have a Thunderbolt 3 hub in the closet but havenāt seen any benefit to connecting it yet.
The only quirk is that I just remembered that I used to connect my iMac via Ethernet for the ultimate speed and stability, with Wi-Fi as an automatic fallback. I have a two-part dongle (Thunderbolt 2 to Gigabit Ethernet and Thunderbolt 2 to Thunderbolt 3) that can provide wired Ethernet to the MacBook Pro, but it only works when connected to a Thunderbolt port, not to one of the USB 3.2 ports on the Apple Studio Display. Since each Apple Studio Display must be connected to a Thunderbolt port, that leaves only one open for Ethernet, but Iām not sure I want to dedicate it to that purpose forever. Perhaps Iāll try that Thunderbolt hub after all.
Finally, both the Apple Studio Displays and the MacBook Pro boast 12-megapixel Center Stage cameras, which are vastly better than the 720p FaceTime HD camera in the Thunderbolt Display and the 1080p FaceTime HD camera in the 27-inch iMac. I havenāt had a chance to compare the video quality of the Apple Studio Display with the iPhone 16 Proās rear camera using Continuity Camera, but I appreciate not having to dedicate my iPhone to the task for video calls.
A Fresh Start Indeed
Moving from my beloved 27-inch iMac and ancient Thunderbolt Display to the 14-inch MacBook Pro with a pair of Apple Studio Displays has been more than just a hardware upgradeāit has been an opportunity to reconsider some long-standing ways of working. Starting fresh without Migration Assistant, although more time-consuming, has helped me create a cleaner, more intentional setup that should reduce quirks for years to come. Even without Migration Assistant, cloud storage significantly reduced the potential headaches of migrating much of my data. The addition of a third screen to hold ambient apps has proven welcome, and although Iāve liked the MacBook Proās keyboard and trackpad overall, Iām still addressing some ergonomic challenges of using it on a standing desk. In the end, whatās important is that the new MacBook Pro feels fast and fresh while still retaining the most essential aspects of my everyday Mac experience.
