When technology advances, so do the different settings and specifications of the devices you’re using. If you’re used to working on a very specific workstation, it can be hard to adjust to these new needs. If you’re looking to rent an iMac  for your team, be sure to give them the best start on these new workstations with the following tips and tricks! Don’t worry, if you’re planning to rent a MacBook Air  or  rent a MacBook Pro, these are still going to be of use to you, too!

1. Optimizing Storage on macOS

When you’re working in visual arts and animation, storage is going to be of the utmost importance. Thankfully, the M1 series of Macs allows you to optimize storage easily! First, you’ll have to be updated to the latest Sierra MacOS version (don’t worry, we’ll handle that). After that, follow these steps to make sure your storage is optimized.

1. Go to the Apple menu
2. Select “About This Mac”
3. Click on the Storage tab
4. Click the “Manage” option
5. Click the “Optimize Storage” option

It’s as easy as that! This is especially useful on the MacBook Air  when you aren’t always carrying extra storage drives with you.

2. Using Other Apple Devices as Scanners

Something that’s really impressive about the M1 series products is their ability to use your iPhone or iPad as a portable scanner. When you’re constantly making sketches on the go, this can really come in handy. Here’s how to turn your mobile device into a mobile scanner.

1. Make sure you’re using the same Apple ID on your Mac and your mobile device
2. Turn Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on your Mac
3. Open a new document in Pages
4. Control-click anywhere on the document and select “Import From iPhone or iPad”
5. Select your device
6. Take a photo, scan a document or add a sketch

The convenience of having a portable scanner is a plus when you want to connect your workflow with workstations like the iMac M1  or any of your Apple devices.

3. Copy Between All of Your Devices

An underutilized feature of the M1 series of Mac computers is the Universal Clipboard. Universal Clipboard allows you to copy from your Mac devices to your portable Apple devices, and vice versa. As long as you’re using the same Apple ID, you can copy it into one device and send it to another instantly. There are so many uses for this, especially when you’re working with multiple devices. It could even be used on multiple MacBook Pros, so long as the same Apple ID is being used.

4. Rent the Latest Line of Mac M1 Computers

From 3D modeling to video editing, our team has all your VFX equipment needs in one place. We are always looking out for the latest technology designed for creative professionals. Whether you prefer macOS or Windows 10, we have a variety of computer rental options readily available. Check out our Mac M1 options here or view all our rental categories here to see what you can rent for your next project!

Have a MacBook? See how to secure and encrypt your MacBook here.