The difference is I won’t have the nice large screen of a desktop - I’ll only have the laptop BUT I have the option to be provided a separate monitor - I don’t know that I can choose, it may be company provided - but having it is an option and one I think in my new role will be useful. But if the opportunity is there for “choices” - like getting one on my own and being reimbursed, it’s nice to hear what others like.
I think that it’s clear that laptop + monitor + wireless keyboard/mouse + docking station and MAYBE a laptop stand would be a good set up, not over the top.
Desk space and good chair also no brainers and I have those.
But also interested in the “add-ons” - the things beyond tech that make your home office pleasant and purposeful for you.
I have had my monitor on bricks and a board for the past 30 years – at work and at home! Now my old office space downstairs has moved to my 10x10 sewing room and it’s a multipurpose area. Desk is a 59L"x29D" Ikea table with adjustable height legs and I have a Kallax shelving unit next to it. I run everything on my laptop, which lives on a shelf in the Kallax unit. A docking station/hub connects the all the cables and my HDMI line to the monitor. The laptop is out of the way when I’m working, but if I need to take the laptop elsewhere, I just disconnect two cables and off I go. Have other tables and shelves for storage/work area, and a thrifted wooden chair for when H comes to visit my office.
I have one monitor angled into the corner of the table. Have a regular keyboard, trackball mouse and webcam – all Logitech. I hate earphones so don’t use them. My webcam is fine for my Zoom synagogue meetings. H loves headphones and keeps trying to convince me to use them. He goes through a pair about every three months, so I can’t recommend any specific models. He won’t spend on Bose, though by now, the Bose aren’t any more expensive than the three sets he’s gone through this year.
My printer/scanner is wireless and is in the downstairs office where H is now WFH. Not fond of that arrangement, but there is no room up here to add a printer. I have two other tables, which I use for for fabric cutting, plants and sewing notions. Donated enough fabric that my big Costco wire storage shelving unit now has a shelf dedicated to files/office supplies, etc.
Got a really good chair for sewing just before Covid started and it has been worth every penny because it’s comfortable and supportive.
My plant collection is a fairly new hobby, and getting plant lights has been a game changer, not just for the plants, but for my lighting in the room. Much less eyestrain! Sansi puck lights are terrific, 10 W each but they are bright, easy to install and come with timers. I have a Barrina pendant light I’m going to install soon that will give me plant lighting and task lighting for my sewing machine.
I’m surrounded by plants, sewing stuff and work. It’s definitely my favorite space in the house these days. Cluttered, but with things I love and my hobbies. It would not be a restful, productive space to most folks, but it’s my corner of the universe and it makes me happy.
@CountingDown love how cozy and comfortable your office looks like! And lots of light. Which brings another must have for me in a home office: natural light and a window!
I snagged a photo of my desk for you. You can see the 38” widescreen monitor with a slight curve. Webcam sits on top. The laptop is on a cooling stand (has fans underneath).
The red thing is a port expander. You can see my speakerphone plugged into it, and when the trackpad and keyboard need charging I plug them in there as well (you can see the spare white cable below the monitor).
Next to the red port expander is a wireless charger for my phone. The red mouse is a logitech. That’s an old Alexa spot acting as my clock, affectionally known as “Major Tom”. Below the desk is a radiant heater for keeping my toes warm in winter (quieter and gentler than a portable forced air unit).
Behind the monitor is a desk lamp peeking out. That stray silver thing is an old stand for keeping the laptop upright before I switched to the cooling stand. I wanted a clean, focused area for work and really like how it turned out.
I have small hands and like the laptop keyboards (most people don’t). So when working I used the laptop screen and external monitor. When on site, there were a few years I delighted in having 2nd external monitor and (with tricky setup) was able to use all three. That’s overkill for most people, but it was great for that job.
I have really cheap (like under $20) padded bluetooth headphones from Amazon. When I am out and about, I use one of those (also cheap) headsets that conduct sound from in front of my ears, with the headphones over my ears to screen out street noise (and keep my ears warm when it’s cold outside).
The headphones have excellent sound quality and hold a charge forever. Good mic too.
I work out of the house once a week. I find having an extra monitor very helpful since I can extend the displays. Also, a mouse and keyboard are most helpful. I find it hard to type on a laptop keyboard. A laptop trackpad? Forget about it! A mouse is much better. It helps to spend $30 to get a wireless mouse/keyboard so you don’t have to wrangle with cables.
For virtual calls, you can buy a pair of $15 wired earbuds with a microphone built in and plug them into the computer. A wired connection is always more reliable than Bluetooth, although Bluetooth has gotten better over the years.
First day of home office work! My org provided me with laptop, external monitor, docking station, wireless keyboard/mouse.
Next I’ll consider a printer. Just a basic one that can scan and print. Small footprint. Would like one that can potentially use the ink subscription. Under $100. It won’t be used a lot but need on occasion.
Printer recommendations? Probably looking for an HP. (See ink situation above)
I have an HP printer that I love. HPEDDF (OfficeJet Pro 8020 Series). I bought it at Costco, more than $100 I think but not much more. It came with a few months off HP Instant Ink.
We have an all in one Epson inkjet that does scanning & printing. It’s more reliable than our much more expensive xerox printer that just prints. It’s also a smaller footprint. We paid maybe $200 or $250 years ago. I rarely needs refills of the ink and gas tank refills instead of puny cartridges. It does double-sided printing and is pretty good quality.
I have mine for over a year and I have not needed refills of the permanent cartridges installed at the beginning of instant ink. And print and scan quality are excellent.
Yeah I really prefer HP so I can use Instant Ink which is an easy option for me. This will not be a high volume printer nor do I need it to work for a decade.
Many of the new HP models come with 3 or more months instant ink
I don’t have a specific printer to recommend as mine doesn’t scan. My only recommendation is to look at support for Airprint if you’re an Apple family, or whatever the Microsoft equivalent is.
With our printer and Airprint we can print wirelessly from macbooks, ipads, and iphones. It’s been a really useful feature.
In the best way! You’ve maximized your space so well.
