NEW USER - Seeking advice: Best Mac Setup (2026)

[CA_Russell]

All,

 

I'm in search of what works best for the everyday workflow.

 

Current setup:

MacBook Pro M3 Pro chip w/ 36GB integrated ram, 1 TB ssd.

CA x17 Premier on MacOS Tahoe 26.3

Apple Magic Mouse

 

I would like current details as to what your using for pointer, and trackpad, if any aids.

There seems to be a great deal of appreciation for 3D Connexion and Logitech.

What do you like? Why? What works? 

 

Are there any resource(s) / app(s) outside of CA that you incorporate?

 

Pro's & Con's would be helpful in purchasing decisions.

I would like to know what works and how to augment my current workflow for speed, etc.

 

Thanks,

Ryan Russell

 

P.S.:

Converted from Nemetschek Vectorworks Architect 2026

VW Architect used Renderworks & Twinmotion for rendering.

[para-CAD]

Apps:

• Dropbox
• Raycast or Alfred
• Sketchup
• Notes or Evernote

Hardware:

• MX Master Mouse
• Caldigit Docking Station
• 3D Connexion (works perfect in Sketchup...not in chief)
• StreamDeck. Start mobile first - repurposed iPad.  $49 lifetime license

Training:

• Dan Baumann's Pro-Academy

 

I'll think of more in a while

[Renerabbitt]

Tagging onto mikes response

I second Dropbox, no comparison to iCloud OneDrive or Google drive.

I prefer blender over sketchup especially for its decimation tools and voxel modeling but if you know sketchup stick with sketchup.

I use onenote but fan of Evernote. I use cursor AI for system design, i.e. folder organization and standardization.

 

Hardware

Logitech G604 is the greatest mouse ever created..I think the internet agrees, it's discontinued and sells for a 500 % markup from original MSRP. It's a 14 button mouse with antighosting and macro programmable keys

Spacemouse pro wireless for your left hand. John schrader of chief experts has done some extensive troubleshooting of its problems in Chief and I think got it working perfectly. Might want to reach out to him

Streameck is a great device. I use the radial menus of the spacemouse in conjunction with modifier keys on my g604 giving a potential 500+ hotkeys with on screen graphics.

 

Here is a link to Pro Academy

https://www.chiefexperts.com/a/17203/23723z2t

[para-CAD]

Cool.  I've had this laying around in a "tech" drawer.  I am now trying it out.

 

It has quite a few buttons.

 

 

Edited February 18 by para-CAD

[para-CAD]

More apps:

 - Build Calc (better than Construction Master) https://www.buildcalc.com

 - Setapp  https://setapp.com (subscription is worth the access) All Legal. See pics below

    - Cleanshot X

    - PDF Squeezer

    - Text Sniper

 - Grab2Text https://www.softwarehow.com/grab2text/

 - Thriftmac https://www.thriftmac.com

 

Websites:

 - https://globe.adsbexchange.com  Just to know what aircraft are flying overhead

 - https://www.youtube.com/@RailCowGirl  Just a 4K view out the front window of electric trains crossing Norway.  Nice to have just out of direct eye sight.  Like you're working on a plan in the front of a train.

 - https://www.chiefexperts.com  Dan Baumann

 - https://www.rabbittdesign.net  Rabbitt Design

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 18 by para-CAD

[para-CAD]

More:

 

Streamdeck for 1-button shortcut key (hotkey) activation.

 

The 32 button physical deck

 

Followed by the repurposed iPad with up to 128 buttons per screen in dual app mode

 

The most used hotkeys start in the bottom left and move outward.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 18 by para-CAD

[Chrisb222]

8 hours ago, para-CAD said:

https://www.youtube.com/@RailCowGirl

 

Fire, thanks

[CA_Russell]

I took the plunge and purchased both ChiefExpert and a Logitech MX Master 4 wireless mouse.

Pleased with the purchase of both!

[para-CAD]

Dan's live training starts again in 8 minutes

 

Log in and say hi

 

[ValleyGuy]

On 2/16/2026 at 10:50 AM, CA_Russell said:

 

I would like current details as to what your using for pointer, and trackpad, if any aids.

There seems to be a great deal of appreciation for 3D Connexion and Logitech.

What do you like? Why? What works? 

 

I use a Logitech roller mouse on the right hand. A 3D Enterprise plus a Keychron Q0 Max programable number pad on the left hand.

 

I like the roller mouse a lot and probably will never go back to shoving a mouse around. No mouse pad, small desk real estate foot print. Very comfortable on the wrist.

The 3D Enterprise has well over 250 tools / library items on it - love it. The 3D mouse really shines with customer virtual walk throughs. It does have a couple of things that doesn't play nice with Apple's OS. It would probably be more efficient if Apple would allow the 8-tool radial dial instead of only 4, but not a deal breaker.  

My Keychron number pad has over 100 plus different things on it and almost eliminates using any of the keys on the keyboard, other than typing out sentences. Every key is programmable (keystroke / macros) so the four layers (x26 buttons) are enhanced further by programming the shift and option keys into the mix. The number pad doesn't have an on-screen radial dial view of all the hot keys, but a paper Rosetta Stone pinned to the wall provides a quick reference. I purchased shorter keys caps for comfort and to provide very good visual identifiers. Having almost all of the keyboard keys in a compact unit right beside the Enterprise is great. No more reaching to the middle for the keyboard. So far, I am really liking this addition. 

 

[ComputerMaster86]

On 2/17/2026 at 9:52 AM, Renerabbitt said:

I use the radial menus of the spacemouse in conjunction with modifier keys on my g604 giving a potential 500+ hotkeys with on screen graphics.

 

I have always wondered about this part.  You must have figured out how to modify a configuration file to have radial menus populate using buttons on a non 3dconnexion device.