Getting my computing environment under control

Update: I traded in the 13” iPad Pro and got a base-model Mac mini and a Magic Keyboard for the 11” iPad Pro. I also sold the MacBook Pro, which leaves me with the Mac mini, MacBook Air, and 11” iPad Pro.

The state of my computing environment is absolutely ridiculous right now. I ended up here trying to figure out what is best for my needs and it spiraled. Now I need to get it under control. Below is what I currently have and what I’m thinking about doing. Please feel free to give me some feedback, because I… I have problems 😬

Currently (in order of purchase):

13” M4 iPad Pro (w/Magic Keyboard)

A couple of years ago, I was using an iPad Pro for pretty much everything and that was the plan here, but how I use my iPad has drastically changed over the past year or two.

13” M4 MacBook Air

This started out as my only computer (an upgrade from a previous version) and spent most of its time on my desk connected to my Studio Display and I used (or tried to use) the iPad Pro everywhere else. These days, it moves around the house, travels with me, and gets used whenever I’m not at my desk.

11” M4 iPad Pro

I loved the 13” iPad Pro at my desk with a keyboard, but it was way too big for anything else—awkward to hold, annoying in bed, and just kind of clunky. With the 11” model, I can use it comfortably in my hands, with a keyboard (I’m writing this post on it right now), or while laying in bed. Before buying this one, I tried an iPad mini to fill this gap but returned it because I felt like it was a little too small.

14” M4 Pro MacBook Pro

I bought this on sale a few months back (it was a screamin’ good deal). The plan was that I was going to give the MacBook Air to one of my boys. That plan changed, and this has been mostly shackled to my desk and Studio Display ever since and is essentially a desktop computer these days.

The 2 options I’m considering:

Option 1:

• Trade in the 13” iPad Pro now and get an M4 Mac mini for my desk
• Keep the MacBook Air to fill the role it has now
• Keep the 11” iPad Pro until the M5 iPad Pro models are released and then trade it in
• Keep the MacBook Pro until the M5 iPad Pro models are released and then trade it in

Going this route, I’d end up with a desktop computer, a laptop, and an iPad Pro, but would also have to hold on to the MacBook Pro for a while¹.

Option 2:

• Hang on to everything I currently have an then trade it in for an M5 iPad Pro when they’re available and MacBook Air with 24 GB of RAM

Going this route, I’d end up with a laptop that I connect to the Studio Display on my desk and then disconnect to move around the house or elsewhere, and an iPad Pro (ideally with a Magic Keyboard and Smart Cover that I would swap out depending on what I’m doing).

I’m undecided on what I’m going to do. Part of me really loves the idea of having a dedicated desktop computer and also a laptop for mobility, but do I really neeeeed two computers?

Decisions, decisions.

While I realize this is 100% a first world problem, I’d love to hear your feedback and/or ideas as to what you would do. You can tell me over on Mastodon.