Interesting that the Magic Trackpad has helped your RSI. I tried using one for a week and it made the pain ten times worse. Also there is some kind of disconnect in my brain when using it attached to a MBP and when it's sitting on a desk. My accuracy plummets.
One other thing. How do you deal with the vasty different monitor sizes when using your MBP as a second display? Every time I try to move the mouse pointer between them, I have to remember OS X requires you to be in the right portion of the smaller monitor size or it just rams itself up against the side of the bigger display. That has single handedly kept me in one monitor land.
For Ron or anyone else experiencing RSI sitting at a computer all day doing mostly typing, I have to say that if you are adventurous look into the Dvorak keyboard layout. I mostly type, and have for many years. Awhile back in my late 30's I had chronic pain from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. I switched to the Dvorak keyboard layout and the pain left. About 4 years ago I switched back to Qwerty, mostly because I had to use other computers that weren't customizable to my whims, and the pain has not returned.
I am a touch typist and felt like I was losing my mind for the 2-3 weeks it took to get used to the new layout but it was well worth it. I hope this helps someone else. Jim - Key West, FL
I can't speak for anyone else, but I can vouch for the fact that I currently use no mice and have no pain in my wrist. It's been amazing for me.
I position my laptop next to my monitor with the top edges aligned. Then I go into the Displays pane of System Preferences and align the monitor in the Arrangement tab as it exists on my physical desktop. That's all the visual connection I've needed, the mouse jumps screen with no visual glitches, one smooth motion.
What stand do you use?
Is that question for me, or TJ? And for MBP or iPad? I use the Griffin Elevator for my laptop, and a Twelve South BookArc for my iPad (at least when I'm at home… I use a Twelve South Compass or a PadFoot when I'm out and about).
I have a MacBook Air showing up in a week, and I plan to take the same approach. I set up Mac Pro with two displays yesterday as a permanent home station, and will let the MacBook Air be a portable work machine, with a little help from DropBox and an external drive. I'm waiting to see how fast the Air is under heavier loads, but for 90% of what I do I think it's going to be perfect.
I dig the iPad as nvALT preview idea. We gotta get that new version out, we just have to work out a few details!
I had the same experience recently. I ran my iMac without its second monitor for awhile and found that it was really annoying.
On the other hand, I can use my MBAir without a second monitor most times without any problem, probably because I've never gotten into the habit of hooking one up to it, although I do have AirDisplay and occasionally use my iPad as a 2nd monitor for it. (Coincidentally enough, I was using it yesterday to write in nvALT and show the preview on the iPad :-)
Remarkbox