The working from home thread: tips and advice

Anyone on here who has either built or heard feedback about these types of kits for garden offices? https://dunsterhouse.co.uk/titania-garden-office-w4-3m-x-d3-3m

My £6 IKEA desktop (pretty sure it is the same as yours but was on sale) was fine with a clamped on monitor arm with 2 x 27" monitors. Left a bit of a dent but never fell down.

Correction, a 27" and a 24" (this was before the monitor and desk upgrade and room refurb)

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I think it'd be fine. But I was actually going to suggest the single arm version and then modify it to just have the mount.

You'll need a socket set as the nuts are tight.

Alternatively go to ebay or Dunelm and get a clamping angle poise(?) lamp and remove the lamp.

I need to pick a laptop for my new job. I don't want a Mac, and been on an X1 carbon for the past few years which is essentially fine for the Office bashing I do but no idea of the current range.

What's the Pinnacle Arkose of corporate hardware? I just want it to work.

I don't want a Mac

get a mac ffs

dell xps 13

I just want it to work

get a mac ffs

XPS13

You will have to face the USB-C conundrum though

Whatever Dell fits your budget. Also have a think about how much use it will get as a laptop. In this new remote working world my laptop spends 99% of working time docked to monitor, keyboard, etc so great screen and keyboard aren't that necessary.

Why not just a new x1? Or the extreme if you want a larger screen.

a new x1

A very good point - ordered.

My laptop only has one HDMI input and I'd like to have two separate monitors - can anyone recommend a splitter that will enable one output to extend across two displays?

Looking online I don't trust myself to choose the right one, as lots say 'mirror only' or only act as input selectors.

edit: or is it worth getting something like this to help cable management too?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/QGeeM-Delivery-Compatible-Thunderbolt-Chromebook/dp/B07WYD88M6/ref=sr_1_3?crid=4GINGM78TH2R&keywords=USB+Docking+Station&qid=1647013005&smid=A2J4FWX83TSBYE&sprefix=usb+docking+station%2Caps%2C74&sr=8-3

edit: or is it worth getting something like this…?

In short, yes.

noted :)

How modern is your laptop? Does it have USB C? What resolution are your monitors

If you just want it for the monitor then you can get something for sub £20. If you want the hub too I'd probably get whatever Anker model has what you need. I wouldn't rule out getting a single HDMI hub and plugging the other HDMI into your laptop if you don't want to spend too much.

It’s a 2016 Dell XPS 15 (9550) - so not particularly new.

I only really want to be able to have my remote desktop connection cover both screens (not possible if they’re not the same size as far as i know) so I can have spreadsheets and non-spreadsheets open and visible at the same time - exciting, huh..!

Don’t think they’re USB C, no.

A change in my relationship status means that I now need to rent out my spare room and thus lose my wfh space.
I’ve moved my desk into my bedroom and whilst it’s a bit cramped, I can make it work. It’s a bit of a dark corner though so I think I need some kind of backlight.
I have seen a few people in this thread have some decent set ups. Any recommendations that aren’t more than £30 or so?
Cheers!
EDIT: the paint pot survived the move across the landing 😅

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Not sure about back lights, but you might benefit from a montior/laptop stand to claim back some of the surface area of your desk. Best thing I did.

https://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/dual-monitor-arm-for-monitors-up-to-27-inch-tablet-shelf-dualarmshelf/version.asp

Yeah I think you're right about that. If only it came in white!

I have a desk lamp behind my main screen, pointing down. It creates enough ambient light behind the screen to help with the contrast.

The desk legs are black....

Sold!

There might be white and silver versions out there, I just linked to the cheapest one I could find with a 30sec search.

I have a double monitor one and ms_com has a single monitor gas arm one; both from Vonhaus. But that price range all appear to be the same. Mine is holding up 2 x 27" monitors no bother.

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Keychron/Jabra/Dell twins?

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