My Product Recommendations
About my recommendations
One of the most common email questions I receive from clients is regarding what product they should buy. Whether it comes to computers, iPhones, mice, monitors, printers, hard drives, cables, smart bulbs, etc., I will try to distill it down to one or two choices.
What factors do I consider when evaluating products?
A product that I own or have used often. A lot of the time, when a customer asks for advice on a product, I end up at some point needing to help them with it. It's much easier when I know that product well.
Ease of use. Some products have lots of bells and whistles. I don't mind when the bells and whistles stay out of the way when you don't need them, but all too often, products really assert these features that not everyone needs. Unfortunately, I can't always get away from those, but if there is a simple option out there, I'll often go with that.
Mac and iPhone compatible. Of course, being established in the Apple ecosystem myself, it would not make sense for me to recommend products that don't interoperate well with Apple products. Some products I overlook, no matter how great they are, if they won't work well with my existing products.
Recommended by review websites. In particular, I am a fan of the New York Times Wirecutter. While I don't always go with their top recommendation, I find that their articles guide me in discovering what considerations to make for a particular product. Their recommendations are usually the best for "Most People" but Mac users aren't always most people.
This list may start out with just a few words about each product, but as it evolves, some of these sections may get their own full article. I will keep this page updated.
Computer & Peripherals
USB-C Hub (article coming soon)
Portable
iPhone case: Most important thing is to get a case with MagSafe. But choose a case that speaks to you. The only Apple-branded case I recommend is their clear case. Many people find that their silicone cases have a tendency to peel. Article coming soon.
Network Equipment
WiFi Router: carrier-provided router or Eero (article coming soon)
Apps & Software
Password Manager - Apple Passwords for people in the Apple ecosystem, 1Password for power users and people who need cross-platform compatibility (PC, Android, Firefox, Chrome).