TL;DR
Ben Lovejoy revisited a two-Mac workflow after decades of switching between one and two machines. He found a lightweight 13-inch M1 MacBook Air made mobile computing easier while keeping a larger MacBook Pro for heavier tasks.
What happened
Ben Lovejoy, a long-time Mac user who bought his first Macintosh at launch, describes shifting back to owning two Macs and why it worked for him. His first stretch as a two-Mac user began when a cycling trip to the Netherlands made carrying his main, large MacBook Pro impractical, so he acquired an 11-inch MacBook Air to handle route planning and daily blog writing. Maintaining two separate systems created overhead in the form of duplicated apps and a fiddly sync process, especially before cloud services matured. He later consolidated to a single mid‑sized MacBook Pro for convenience, but last year bought a five‑year‑old 13‑inch M1 MacBook Air and unexpectedly began using it regularly for mobile work. The Air proved lighter than his iPad and Magic Keyboard setup, convenient on trains and in tight spaces, and sufficient for most travel tasks; he still resorts to the MacBook Pro for heavier video editing.
Why it matters
- Portable, lightweight laptops can change how and where people work, enabling opportunistic productivity on transit or while sightseeing.
- Maintaining two machines carries setup and synchronization costs, though cloud services have reduced that burden compared with earlier eras.
- A smaller secondary laptop can serve as a practical companion to a more powerful primary machine, balancing mobility and performance.
- User preferences between iPad and Mac remain influenced by app availability, UI familiarity, and physical ergonomics like lap comfort.
Key facts
- Author Ben Lovejoy has owned Macs since the original 1984 Macintosh.
- He has alternated between owning one Mac and owning two over the years.
- An 11-inch MacBook Air was purchased to accompany a cycling holiday in the Netherlands because the larger MacBook Pro would not fit in panniers.
- Running two Macs required duplicating many third-party apps and utilities, and syncing was more difficult before cloud-based tools improved.
- In 2016 Lovejoy upgraded to a 15-inch MacBook Pro and effectively returned to one primary Mac.
- Last year he bought a five-year-old 13-inch M1 MacBook Air and began using it regularly for mobile tasks.
- He found the MacBook Air lighter than an iPad Air with Magic Keyboard and more practical for seatback tables and backpacks.
- He still favors the MacBook Pro for heavier video editing and larger-screen work.
What to watch next
- The practical effects of iPadOS 26 and similar OS changes on users' choices between iPad and Mac, given the author's preference for the Mac for many mobile tasks.
- not confirmed in the source
- not confirmed in the source
Quick glossary
- MacBook Air: Apple's lightweight laptop line, positioned for portability and everyday tasks.
- MacBook Pro: Apple's higher-performance laptop family, aimed at users who need more processing power and larger displays.
- M1: Apple's first generation of custom ARM-based chips for Macs, offering improved energy efficiency and performance over older Intel models.
- Cloud syncing: Using internet-based services to keep files, settings, and app data consistent across multiple devices.
- Magic Keyboard: Apple's detachable keyboard accessory commonly paired with iPads to provide a laptop-like typing experience.
Reader FAQ
Does the author recommend two Macs for everyone?
No — the author frames it as a personal choice based on travel and workflow needs.
Was syncing multiple Macs difficult?
Yes; Lovejoy says replicating setups and syncing was cumbersome in earlier periods, though cloud-based syncing has since made this easier.
Did the author stop using iPads entirely for mobile work?
He switched from occasional iPad use to preferring the MacBook Air for mobile tasks, citing app power and lap comfort.
Will he keep both machines long-term?
not confirmed in the source
Rumor Replay: iPhone Fold’s crease-free display, and more Ryan Christoffel Jan 8 2026 My return to being a two-Mac guy really worked out for me Ben Lovejoy | Jan 9 2026…
Sources
- My return to being a two-Mac guy really worked out for me
- Connect 2 Macs for Better Performance
- Optimizing macOS workflow for managing multiple projects
- Expanding from 1 Mac to 2 — Is it worth it? – MPU Talk
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