Why I Switched to an M4 Max Mac Studio + M5 iPad Pro Combo

I finally rebuilt my entire desk setup, and it completely changed how I work. After years of trying to force a laptop-first workflow, constant dock issues, drive ejection errors, and offline libraries pushed me to rethink everything. So I sold my M3 Max MacBook Pro, retired my Thunderbolt dock, and moved to a desktop-first setup built around the M4 Max Mac Studio and the 11-inch M5 iPad Pro.

In this video, I walk through how my old workflow fell apart, why the Mac mini experiment didn’t work, and how the Mac Studio plus iPad combination finally solved all my problems. Whether you’re a creator, photographer, designer, or someone trying to simplify your workflow, this might be the setup you’ve been looking for.

What I cover in this video:
The old MacBook Pro + Thunderbolt dock setup and why it failed
Drive ejection problems, offline photo libraries, and workflow chaos
Why the M4 Pro Mac mini experiment didn’t fix anything
Switching to a fully connected Mac Studio with tons of I/O
Upgrading to the 11-inch M5 iPad Pro as my portable device
How I separate “thinking mode” and “doing mode”
Using the Screens app to access my Studio remotely
Why I don’t need a laptop anymore
My final desk setup and storage configuration

If you’re trying to decide between the Mac Studio, Mac mini, or a MacBook Pro, or if you’re looking for a cleaner and more reliable workflow, I hope this helps.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Intro
00:33 - The Reason for the Switch
01:42 - What I Had Before
06:18 - What I Have Now
08:39 - Two Modes of Working

AFFILIATE LINKS (I get a small commission for each sale):
Beelink Mate Studio 80Gbps Hub: https://amzn.to/3XUkfCt
Samsung 990 EVO Plus SSD 4TB: https://amzn.to/3Xj2Sv1
BENKS Magnetic iPad Stand for iPad Pro 11-inch: https://amzn.to/4pzBK7g

#m4maxstudio #m5ipadpro #techstack