Butler draws on his experience with a 14-inch MacBook Pro, arguing for larger working windows, purposeful gestures, and quieter settings during light work. For Windows users, that translates into a practical experiment: make the portable workflow comfortable first, then decide which compromises still bother you.
Give the task room—not just more pixels
Butler’s screen complaint is personal and specific: his MacBook has enough resolution for two crisp windows, but he finds the resulting text uncomfortable to read. His preference is to give each task most or all of the display rather than squeeze everything into view.
Try the simplest Windows approach first: maximize the active window with Windows + Up Arrow, then use Alt + Tab to switch between open windows. Microsoft documents both shortcuts. You do not need multiple virtual desktops just to alternate between a browser and a document.
If you prefer separate workspaces, use this sequence:
- Open your first app and maximize its window.
- Press Windows + Ctrl + D to create another desktop.
- Open the second app there.
- Switch between the desktops with Windows + Ctrl + Left Arrow or Right Arrow.
- Press Windows + Tab whenever you want Task View’s overview. Windows + Ctrl + F4 closes the current virtual desktop.
The important distinction is that the arrow shortcut switches existing desktops; it does not create them. If nothing appears to happen, create the second desktop first. Microsoft’s shortcut reference explicitly separates those actions.
Keep split-screen when the work needs it
There is no prize for hiding information you need to compare. For side-by-side work, Windows supports snapping the active window left or right with Windows + Left Arrow or Right Arrow.
Butler also suggests giving a reference webpage a narrow column and leaving more room for writing. Treat that as an experiment, not a universal layout: keep it only if the particular page remains readable.
The takeaway: choose between switching and splitting according to the task. The goal is comfortable reading, not winning a contest for the most visible windows.
Give the touchpad a specific responsibility
Rather than replacing every mouse action with a gesture, start with one useful job: navigating your open work.
Microsoft documents these Windows touchpad gestures:
| Gesture | Default action |
|---|---|
| Three fingers upward | Show all open windows |
| Three fingers downward | Show the desktop |
| Three fingers left or right | Switch between open apps or windows |
| Four fingers left or right | Switch virtual desktops |
Some gestures require a precision touchpad, so availability is not identical across laptops.
On Windows 11, open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad, then expand Three-finger gestures or Four-finger gestures. Use the drop-down menus to inspect or change their actions. On Windows 10, Microsoft documents the corresponding location as Settings > Devices > Touchpad.
Test your chosen gesture with two windows or desktops already open. Success means reaching the intended destination reliably—not memorizing every possible swipe. If the action differs from the table, inspect its assignment; if the controls are missing, remember Microsoft’s precision-touchpad qualification.
The takeaway: learn one gesture that solves an annoyance. Leave the finger gymnastics for another day.
Match the power profile to the workload
Butler recommends checking the laptop maker’s utility for a quiet preset before accepting fan noise as inevitable. There is a concrete manufacturer-backed example: ASUS says Armoury Crate’s Silent mode limits CPU and GPU power to prioritize quieter operation, while Performance balances performance, temperature, and acoustics. Available modes depend on the supported machine.
That is a trade-off, not free performance with a muffler attached.
For a Windows-level starting point, Microsoft documents Settings > System > Power & battery > Power mode in Windows 11. Select Best power efficiency to prioritize reduced power consumption, including when plugged in. This is an efficiency setting—not a promise that the fans will stop.
A sensible trial is to:
- Note your current profile.
- Try the manufacturer’s supported quiet preset, if available.
- Repeat the same browsing, writing, or video task.
- Keep the change only if noise and responsiveness suit you.
Butler also raises custom fan curves and undervolting. Neither is necessary for this basic workflow exercise. His advice does not establish a supported voltage adjustment for your particular laptop, so it should not be treated as a universal procedure.
The takeaway: try documented presets before considering hardware-specific tuning.
Adapt the workflow without blaming the user
The strongest version of this advice is modest: test a readable window arrangement, one useful gesture, and an appropriate power profile.
These changes are worth trying, but they are not obligations. If switching windows interrupts your work, keep them visible. If gestures feel awkward, use keyboard shortcuts or a mouse. If quiet mode makes your workload sluggish, choose a different balance.
A laptop should serve your work—not require you to develop a new personality.