My setup is always in flux, and so will this page be. I’ll try to keep up here, as well as keep a log of older setups. I’ve decided to divvy up my gear in what I’m doing, such as writing or traveling, rather than breaking it down to hardware and software.

As always, if you have a cool workflow or a gadget that you just have to have, please tweet to @tdh on Twitter and let me know. I love that stuff.

Updated November 2018 (Minor update concerning the new iPad Pro. I’ve also removed the Freewrite, which I’m putting up for sale soon, and Unread is now my official RSS reader of choice.)

Overall setup

I’ve broken down my setup a bit, because it gets a bit silly otherwise. This is not an exhaustive list unfortunately, I have way too many gadgets. Some would say it’s a problem.

• Mobile devices and their accessories:
  • iPhone XS Max (256 GB, black), often in a black Bellroy case supporting three credit cards. AirPods for talking and listening to other people talking.
  • 11” iPad Pro (256 GB, LTE, space gray) is my primary computer. It mostly lives in the Smart Keyboard Folio, which I like. The Apple Pencil 2 is either attached, or in a small Muji canvas pen case.
• Computers:
  • 15” MacBook Pro with Touch Bar (3.3GHz i7, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD in somber space gray), sometimes with Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, and propped on a Rain mStand.
  • 12” MacBook (1.2GHz Core M5, 8 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD in gorgeous gold), which actually is my preferred Mac of choice, despite its limited power.
  • Mac mini (2.3GHz Core i7, 8 GB RAM, 1.2 TB Fusion Drive) with a Magic Trackpad and Logi Keys-to-Go, connected to the TV at the apartment I’m renting.
• Entertainment devices:
  • Nintendo Switch with Pro controller, also known as the Zelda and Skyrim machine.
  • Dual CS 5000 turntable, connected to Denon PMA1510AE receiver, with two B&W floor speakers, and a B&W subwoofer. I have a bunch of records too.
  • B&W Zeppelin Wireless handles the tunes in my apartment for the moment.
• Various gear, tools, and other things that’s worth mentioning:
  • Bowers & Wilkins PX headphones, when the AirPods won’t cut it (and when traveling).
  • Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II is my camera of choice.
  • Punkt MP01 dumbphone.
  • Batteries from Kanex: GoPower USB C and GoPower Watch. I also have a small Qi battery from Exelium
  • Volvo XC60 for driving around.
  • Chemex (ten cup model) for coffee, with beans grounded by the Virtuoso coffee grinder.

Apps I’m currently using

This list only contains the primary apps that I use fairly regularly. That means that you won’t find Adobe Premiere CC here, even though I fire it up every now and then.

• Writing and taking notes:
  • Notes (stock app, macOS and iOS) for quick notes, longer ones go in iA Writer (macOS and iOS) for notes and longform writing.
  • GoodNotes (iOS) for serious note taking.
  • Pages (macOS and iOS) when needed.
  • Dropbox for sync, and Paper for collaborative writing (macOS and iOS).
• Development:
  • Sublime Text 3 (macOS) for web development.
  • Textastic (iOS) can open git repositories from Working Copy.
  • Tower (macOS) for git.
  • Working Copy (iOS) for git.
  • ForkLift (macOS) for FTP’ing (but most deploys are through git).
• Design and graphics:
  • Adobe Illustrator CC (macOS) for logos.
  • Adobe Lightroom CC (macOS and iOS) for photo stuff. I hate it.
  • Pixelmator (macOS and iOS) is mostly used to fix blemishes, cropping, and resizing.
  • Sketch (macOS) as little as possible.
  • Adobe Comp CC (iOS) for design.
  • MindNode (iOS) to mindmap something.
• Various:
  • Keynote (macOS and iOS) for my presentations.
  • Numbers (macOS, rarely iOS) houses all my budgets.
  • iTunes (macOS) plays Apple Music on the Macs.
  • Music (iOS) plays Apple Music on the iOS devices.
  • Pocket (iOS) is where I read all longform pieces.
  • Unread (iOS) for RSS.
  • Flipboard (iOS) has made it back to my reading habits.
  • Comixology (iOS) has all my comics, although I read very little at the moment.
  • Korg Gadget (iOS) is glorious.

Travel kit

Depending on the trip, I’ll use different bags. I’m currently in love with the Hunters Satchel from Peg and Awl, but I also use the North Face Base Camp backpack. I never check luggage, so either I’ll stick with the Base Camp, or use the Rimova Classic Flight Cabin Multiwheel (there’s a mouthful).

The contents inside the bags rarely changes however, not counting whatever clothing I’d need for the climate.

• iPad Pro in the Smart Keyboard Folio and Apple Pencil.
• B&W PX headphones, because of noise cancellation.
• Kindle Oasis.
• Exelium Qi battery for iPhone X and USB charging. I’ll add the Kanex GoPower USB C (which charges other things too, not just USB C) if I’m unsure of access to power.
• Notebook (various sorts, by Field Notes) and Pilot G2 pens (blue or red, or both). I also carry a Pilot VBall 0.5 in black, which I like a lot.
• Klean Kanteen water bottle (and sometimes it’s thermos equivalent).
• Miscellaneous:
  • 29W charger and USB C to Lightning cable.
  • Micro USB to USB cable.
  • USB to USB C adapter.
  • Cleaning cloth.
  • Local currency, hand sanitizer, chewing gum.
  • If I’m traveling overnight, I’ll add the Kanex GoPower Watch battery.

Older setups

• My setup from October 2018.
• My setup from September 2018.
• My setup from March 2018.
• My setup from November 2017.
• My setup from October 2017.
• My setup from April 2017.