Geek Posted May 2, 2012 Posted May 2, 2012 <div class="KonaBody"><p><img src="http://cdn.osxdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/macbook-air-11.jpg" alt="Maximize productivity on small screens like the MacBook Air 11" " title="macbook-air-11" width="620" height="353" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29840" /></p> <p>Many people equate productivity with screen size and assume it’s difficult to get much work done on a small screen. That simply isn’t true, I use a MacBook Air with the 11″ display and use the following tips to stay focused and maximize productivity with the small screen.</p> <ul> <li><strong>Hide Inactive Apps</strong> – Use Command+Option+H to <a href="http://osxdaily.com/2010/10/26/hide-all-windows-on-a-mac/">hide</a> all applications and windows except for the active app, also you can Option+Click out of a specific app to hide it as you begin working elsewhere. Hidden apps are easy to identify if you <a href="http://osxdaily.com/2010/06/22/make-hidden-application-icons-translucent-in-the-dock/">enable translucent icons</a> in the Dock.</li> <p><img src="http://cdn.osxdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/hidden-app-translucent-icon.jpg" alt="Hidden App translucent icon" title="hidden-app-translucent-icon" width="327" height="113" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29841" /></p> <li><strong>Auto-Hide the Dock</strong> – Hit Command+Option+D to enable auto-hiding of the Dock, summon it when needed by swiping to the bottom of the screen with the cursor. Dock is a great app launcher but keep it hidden when not in use.</li> <li><strong>Use Full Screen Apps</strong> – Full Screen apps help you stay focused and make the most of small screens. I would suggest the feature was designed with Mac laptops in mind, so don’t forget to use it. Click on the Arrow icons in the upper right corner of an app to enter into full screen.</li> <p><img src="http://cdn.osxdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/full-screen-app.jpg" alt="Full Screen App in OS X" title="full-screen-app" width="550" height="344" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29845" /></p> <li><strong>Use Virtual Desktops</strong> – Create new Desktops through Mission Control by hovering over the right corner and clicking the + button. Use this with Full Screen apps to create a great desktop workflow that can be quickly swiped between</li> <p><img src="http://cdn.osxdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/add-new-desktop.jpg" alt="Add New Desktop in Mission Control" title="add-new-desktop" width="461" height="119" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29846" /></p> <li><strong>Assign Window Positions & Split Screen</strong> – Utility apps that assign window positions and split the screen between active apps are very useful for laptops, I use <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/doublepane/id409737246?mt=12">DoublePane</a> but free options are available. Use these anytime you need to see two apps at once.</li> <p><img src="http://cdn.osxdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/split-window-positioning.jpg" alt="Assign Window Positions" title="split-window-positioning" width="600" height="375" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29847" /></p> <li><strong>Use an External Display or AirDisplay *</strong> – When possible, connect a portable Mac to an external display. For me that’s an <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002453K5G/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=oxd-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002453K5G">Acer 22″ display</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=oxd-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B002453K5G" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /> or the <a href="http://osxdaily.com/2012/04/02/ipad-hidpi-retina-mac-air-display/">iPad and Air Display</a>. Is this cheating? Maybe, but your productivity doesn’t care.</li> <p><img src="http://cdn.osxdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/macbook-air-ipad-airdisplay.jpg" alt="MacBook Air with iPad using AirDisplay" title="macbook-air-ipad-airdisplay" width="550" height="236" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-29842" /> </ul> <p>Have any ideas on how to make the most of a Mac with limited screen real estate? Are they OS X tips or hardware tricks? Let us know in the comments.</p> </div> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/kVyWnL4e_7sYJG-JR9YRhQvQiFA/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/kVyWnL4e_7sYJG-JR9YRhQvQiFA/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/kVyWnL4e_7sYJG-JR9YRhQvQiFA/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/kVyWnL4e_7sYJG-JR9YRhQvQiFA/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/osxdaily?a=me_ipMXbkY4:BpJJKNVneAA:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/osxdaily?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/osxdaily?a=me_ipMXbkY4:BpJJKNVneAA:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/osxdaily?i=me_ipMXbkY4:BpJJKNVneAA:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/osxdaily?a=me_ipMXbkY4:BpJJKNVneAA:D7DqB2pKExk"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/osxdaily?i=me_ipMXbkY4:BpJJKNVneAA:D7DqB2pKExk" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/osxdaily?a=me_ipMXbkY4:BpJJKNVneAA:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/osxdaily?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/osxdaily?a=me_ipMXbkY4:BpJJKNVneAA:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/osxdaily?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/osxdaily/~4/me_ipMXbkY4" height="1" width="1"/> View the full article
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