The working from home thread: tips and advice

Love a Jabra headset.

Using my webcam mic and monitors more for calls though. The laptop must be doing the audio wizardry that Velocio talks about as I keep checking but no one has complained of any feedback or echos. I use the headset if there is other noise (builders etc).

out of interest how often do you have to charge your trackball?

AAs, and I think I've changed the batteries once in over a year of use.

oh thats interesting, I have the wired version. Was a huge improvment for me as regards to wrist strain

If there's no USB C then I'd probably just get an adapter rather than a hub. The USB 3.0 ones aren't great in my experience and I'd try and minimise what is plugged in.

Remote Desktop should (it worked on my laptop and monitor just now) cover multiple screens even if they are different sizes. So you might just want to look into that first.

Oh! It works for me now, too.
I'm certain it didn't have that functionality a few years back when I started remoting, but I'm not going to complain now :)

If anyone is looking for a cheap USB-C hub with HDMI and PD there seems to be a hefty discount on this Anker one today - down to £27.50.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B096LV7W9D

If only it did dual monitors

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

Bought this and looking forward to making the most of it!

I'm considering getting a standing desk but having never used one before I'm wondering whether it's worth it. Would I be better off buying a standard better quality desk than a cheap standing one. What's the stability like on the flexispots? I've watched a few wobbly YouTube reviews. My current desk is an ancient IKEA Jerker (yep that's what it's called) but it's absolutely solid so I don't think I'll be able to deal with moving to something flimsy. I'm reluctant to switch it really but I'm looking for something a bit more compact.

If only it came in white!

You've got a tin of white paint.

My ~£250 Flexispot is pretty solid, even with a load of crap on it (43" monitor, mic, key light, fan, lamp, two laptops, two keyboards, clutter, dust, etc).

Need to use the standing mode more, considering setting some timers for it. It does take ~20 seconds to switch between heights but that's hardly a chore.

Hold the phones … heated desk

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My EQ5 is solid. I don't have that much on it but it's rated to something like 100kg.

The wobbliness will probably come from a monitor arm so if you're concerned about that have a look at the models and what is most stable.

After 2 years my employer is finally starting to wrap up wfh. But in a very strange way.

We can continue to wfh for 3 out of the 5 days, but all equipment except laptops must be returned to the office. We will have assessments of our wfh set up and if acceptable can continue to wfh 2/5 days.

So now as a result people either have to return to work full time or buy equipment to wfh comfortably. It’s all a bit strange.

do they know what youve got? i work for a large hospital in the north and I know they dont have a clue who has what pieces of equipment

Thanks for the replies on the Flexispots, that's reassuring, the EQ5 is the one I'm looking at.

What level of laptop should I buy? I'm currently using a Macbook Pro from 2015, but today it refused to wake up 3 times after closing it and if I share screen on teams the fan goes into overdrive.

I spend most of my time working between power point, teams, chrome and email.

Bonus points if it's from Dell because I can get a small reduction through the university. I'm not sure if it makes any difference other than cost, but I'm buying it through a limited company.

MS Teams is an absolute CPU pig, and screen sharing makes it 10× worse. I “fixed” the fan noise problem by buying a decent lapel mic for Teams calls.

What level of laptop should I buy?

Lenovo X1 Carbon. Accept no substitutes.

+1
I have a slightly older version, lovely keyboard, lovely trackpad, useful docking station.

Only laptop I'd want if using Windows

Just a quick thanks to @stevo_com for his Google fu and advice. It’s an improvement on the paint pot. 👌🏼

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Smort

Does anyone have any recommendations for garden offices?

Something at the better end, rather than an insulated shed.

Cheers.