01/03/2026 12:35 pm
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Just dropped 2k on a new MacBook Pro for my design freelance gig starting Monday and now im panicking that I forgot the basics. I saw people recommending vertical stands and those fancy hubs but then others say the cheap hubs fry your battery... so confused. What do I actually NEED for a portable setup on a 150 budget?
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01/03/2026 12:50 pm
Regarding what #1 said about "In my experience, you mostly just need a..." - i totally agree, but quality matters. A cheap hub overheated on me once and it was terrifying. The Anker 555 USB-C Hub 8-in-1 handles power delivery way better and fits your budget. Toss in a Tomtoc 360 Protective Laptop Sleeve and you are basically set for your first day.
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01/03/2026 1:40 pm
@Reply #2 - good point! Love that Anker hub, its a beast with data speeds! Since youre doing design, you absolutely need a mouse that doesnt lag. I once used a generic one and my pen tool was jumping everywhere... nightmare! To stay under budget:
- Logitech M720 Triathlon Multi-Device Wireless Mouse with 1000 DPI and Bluetooth 5.0
- Whoosh! Screen Shine Kit 1oz with its non-toxic formula That M720 is fantastic for multitasking!
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01/03/2026 12:35 pm
In my experience, you mostly just need a hub and a sleeve. I think I heard those cheap dongles can actually fry ports... definitely dont want that on your first day lol.
