AppleInsider Weekend News Hub and Zoom/Podcasting Studio.
1 Facebook x.com Reddit BlueSky
Charles really loves his mostly old Apple gear, but 2025 will be the year of change. Here's how he does his job at AppleInsider.
I only develop and write articles for AppleInsider on weekends, hence my title as Weekend Editor. As a result, I have a fairly modest setup and workflow compared to most full-time employees.
Travel versatility is one of my key requirements, as I’m on the go at different times of the year. Even when I’m home, I’m often hanging out in coffee shops or occasionally working for local radio as a “computer guru” or teaching online tech courses on Zoom.
As a result, when it comes to writing, the center of my Apple universe is my MacBook Pro, which isn’t a new model anymore. In fact, it’s one of the last Intel-powered MacBook Pros.
To be specific, it’s the 2019 15.4-inch with a 2.3GHz 8-core Intel Core i9 processor, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and integrated Intel and Radeon Pro 560X graphics. It’s still plenty fast for a Mac despite the lack of an M-series chip, and it has a Touch Bar — which I find useful for my essential apps.
I mainly use this computer for writing, online research, photo editing, and WordPress — none of which require a particularly powerful or high-end computer. I bought it in December 2019 for half its usual $3,000-plus price because it was being cleared out to make room for the 2020 models.
It’s connected to an external 4K monitor, and I tend to use the Apple Bluetooth trackpad instead of the built-in one when I’m at home. I have a couple of hubs — the one shown above for home use, and another for the iPad Pro — to give me Ethernet and HDMI, as well as USB-A ports and a camera card reader when I need them.
I mostly use my MBP in a corner desk configuration, where everything I might need for writing, website work, Zoom meetings, FaceTime, and podcasts is at my fingertips. I mainly use Byword for writing, Pixelmator Pro for graphics, Luminar for photo editing, and Safari as my browser of choice.
Since I do tech support for a lot of clients, friends, and family — not all of whom have Apple products — when I'm not working here, I also keep an eye on Windows updates. I have a current Lenovo laptop, which I probably don't love most of the time, but it really helps me help people who are running Windows 10 and 11.
The Machine I Can't Live Without: iPad Pro
Sometimes, I have to do some of my AppleInsider duties entirely on my second-generation 11-inch iPad Pro, which I purchased in 2020. With the HyperDrive USB-C hub, I can add photos or connect to the hotel TV if needed.
This makes things easier, which is important to me when I travel. In 2024 alone, I visited five countries and more than half a dozen cities.
With an iPad Pro, a USB-C hub, a Magic Keyboard case, and a travel bag to hold it all, that’s pretty much all I need for tech on the go. That’s except for my iPhone 12 and reliable internet, of course.
Hyper’s iPad Hub and HDMI cable let me use my iPad Pro on a 27-inch monitor.
When I occasionally need to bring my MacBook Pro with me, the iPad can be used as an extra screen wirelessly, which is super helpful. When I only have the iPad Pro, I’ll often use the hotel TV as my main screen, thanks to AirPlay or my travel hub and HDMI cable.
In addition to being lighter, the iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard case also fit on the tray tables in economy class where my larger MacBook Pro would be a bit awkward, and it’s invaluable for in-flight work. The iPad Pro’s battery life never fails to impress me.
My other must-have piece of tech gear is my second-generation AirPods Pro, which I bought in 2022. Noise cancellation is a must when traveling and in restaurants, and now the hearing protection features are invaluable when I decide to go to loud rock concerts or other noisy events.
2025 Is a Rebuilding Year
While I still get plenty of decent use out of my current hardware, I really like to upgrade before the machines start to fail or lose too much resale value. With all three of my primary Apple devices over four years old, 2025 and the rave reviews of the M4 chip are really pushing me to upgrade.
Boxing Week deals — or post-Christmas sales as they’re called in the US — provide a serious opportunity to compare local carrier deals on iPhones. One of our local tech store chains decided to start its holiday deals early, so I took the opportunity on Christmas Day to finally upgrade my iPhone 12 to the iPhone 16 Pro, since I tend to do a lot of photography.
While I’ve enjoyed the screen space of my current 16-inch MacBook Pro, I really need a primary computer that can run Apple Intelligence. The M4 Mac mini looks like a find at the new price, though I might want to stick with the M4 MacBook Pro instead — but if I do, I’ll downsize to the 14-inch model this time, since I prefer the more compact size for travel (check the sale prices).
I'm also looking to upgrade my 11-inch iPad Pro to the M4 model, though that's probably the least urgent upgrade. If that turns out to be unavailable before tax refund time, I'll probably replace my pair of full-sized first-generation HomePods instead if a new model comes out.
I currently use my HomePods for streaming music and also as my TV speakers via an Apple TV 4K, which has been a really nice combination and is truly one of my favorite pieces of home tech. A further smart home upgrade to HomePod, which seems to be in the works, would be really cool.
Obviously, 2025 is going to be a bit pricey for me. While my primary use of Apple hardware will likely pale in complexity to many of our readers, I must maintain my “guru” status for my many friends and family who rely on me for tech support — and that means judiciously upgrading my PC arsenal for the best results.
Follow AppleInsider on Google News
