Efficiency has always been one of my primary values in the way I engage with the world.

If you know me well, you’ve heard how I speak only when I have something to say and am very intentional with my words; how I seek to expend minimal energy and always look for ways to increase effectiveness for time spent; and why I generally prefer Apple products to alternatives.

The Whole Widget

Apple has long proven its ability to increase product efficiency by being in control of the whole widget. The company’s integration of hardware and software enables customers to benefit from devices that use less energy than the competition.

It’s more recent development of services brings users access to high quality content and increased flexibility among their devices.

And Apple’s foray into making its own Mac computer processors (Apple Silicon) stretches this integration to new heights, realizing benefits like true all-day battery life and unheard performance in a laptop, sometimes without even a fan.

Energy Conservation

Apart from all the ways hardware and software are more integrated and use less energy, there are also implications for how we interact with these technologies. Apple maintains a strong relationship with developers, encourages them to design applications consistently with each other, and provides a set of Human Interface Guidelines.

As a result, users benefit from needing less time to learn each application and can use less energy in the course of all of their tech engagement activities. If we so choose, we can even reduce our screen addictions by learning to spend less time using our devices, thanks to their extreme ease of use.

Mac vs. iPad

Speaking of addiction, when I got my first iPad in 2010, I developed a nasty habit of reading email and news in bed before I got up in the morning. I remember lying in bed, staring at the bright screen too close for comfort. While I was excited about the new technology in my hand, I soon realized that the behavior was terribly inefficient.

It also made my arm tired — the same reason Steve Jobs (and Tom Cruise via Minority Report) haven’t seen the viability of touchscreen Macs.

Instead, I deferred email until I got up and sat down at my Mac. The advent of a keyboard and mouse, working in tandem, as well as a multi-window interface, have led me to find it easier to be productive on a Mac than an iPad. I can simply get more accomplished in time.

To be sure, iPad has its benefits especially in the domains of creative arts, entertainment, and zoning out. However, noting how much Apple has invested in creating mouse and keyboard accessories for iPad leads me back to my conclusion that the device is just not designed for extreme productivity.

What technology experiences make you feel most effective? How have you invested in your own efficiency? Feel free to reach out for more insight on being efficient, conserving energy, and discovering new ways to be productive.