The working from home thread: tips and advice

I've switched back and forth between 2 monitors and 1 monitor.

I used to like the 2x when I was doing a lot more front-end web development so I could see changes immediately and/or I was running Outlook or something in the other screen but now I'm just alt-tabbing between browsers and Teams all day long.

I don't know how my missus works so I guess I should suss out how she's using her current setup a little more.

^ This. Everything is native size, just higher res so much easier on the eye

Yes, a square TV too.

Bit late, but imo 27" is a goldilocks size for home use. Just that bit bigger than 24", but not too big that it starts impinging on space.

I prefer having two screens at work (I think they're 24" but could be 27"). However, at home I don't have the space and also need something I can move and set up on the dining room table if needed. As cool as a 30-something Inch would be, they do take up a lot more room - especially if you're laptop is open next to it rather than in front.

Fwiw mine is 2k / QHD and at that size is nice to look at and matches my laptop.

Yeah 24-27 seems fine. I guess I like 24 because we're at opposite (skinny) ends of the dining table and I run decent sized speakers so I don't want my whole desk taken over by a massive monitor.

Me and my wife both wfh. She’s about to take a year off for a career break which means I’ll be moving from the dining room table to the spare room.

I wfh 3 days a week and I’ve got access to 2 24” screens, but I need a usb c with hdmi splitter. Space it at a premium so I’m thinking of putting them one on top of the other rather than side by side are there any pitfalls to this?

Also we have a nice carpet which my office chair will probably destroy are they any aesthetically pleasing mats

Your neck gets tired looking up and down.

Consider putting them portrait side by side though. Although your text will generally be less sharp.

Also you can get a big clear(ish) plastic mat delivered from IKEA.

I’ve got free reign to get a double bracket so may go down that route

usb c with hdmi splitter

Anger tends to be my go to for this stuff. Price will depend on what resolution you want to use, cheaper ones only do 4k at 30fps.

Also we have a nice carpet which my office chair will probably destroy are they any aesthetically pleasing mats

You can also try roller blade style wheels (hundreds of options on ebay), they roll a lot better and are less harsh on flooring.

Also I have a Bluetooth keyboard that slides about on wood. Is there any kind of soft rubber Matt I could put on my desk?

I like to use toolbox drawer liner for this, or a self-healing cutting mat

I’ve got a cutting mat just not sure it gives the right “friction” with the keyboard

I have what is effectively a massive mouse mat that covers most of the desk. It feels warmer than resting on bare wood and stops things sliding around.

Search for neoprene desk mat.

i was recently sent a roll of cork with a fabric covering on top to review. it makes a nice peripheral surface

Something like this? Looks nice

it was simpler than that but similar albeit much cheaper.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=Non-Adhesive+Black+Cork+Board+Roll&i=office-products&crid=B38IBSOGX7KF&sprefix=non-adhesive+black+cork+board+roll%2Coffice-products%2C129&ref=nb_sb_noss

Decided to upgrade my homeworking kit from the crap I just grabbed 4 years ago so thanks for the pointers upthread for the Razer Kiyo webcam and the Logitech Mx Master 3S mouse which I picked up from CEX yesterday and are comically better than what I had before.

If anybody wants a ridiculously cheap USB condenser mic that seems to play nice with Teams and not echo with external speakers and has mute and gain and a headphone jack this £24.99 £19.99 Tascam job may be just the thing. I ordered Saturday 1 pm and it was delivered Sunday 1pm with standard £3.99 shipping which was a bit mad.

https://www.gear4music.com/Recording-and-Computers/Tascam-TM-250U-USB-Condenser-Microphone/3TPA

I use one of these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07CBHX4DB?th=1

Like a giant mouse pad.

^same.

It's great.

Anyone feeling the cold.. I’m attempting to flog a heated seat mat (Stoov) here
https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/400459/

Need a recommendation for reliable, smallish, cheapish desktop active speakers for playing music from PC please.

I have the earlier gen of the PreSonus Eris 3.5BT which were about £100, and a vast improvement on the ancient Creative/Logitech stuff I had before.

But the power is failing and this seems to be be a common issue and not repairable. I can live without Bluetooth feature.

Edifier seem popular for this.

Yes they do - I guess I can trawl for long-term reviews to guard against reliability issues 👍

I have these https://www.edifier.com/global/p/wireless-speakers/e25hd which is a bit overkill if I'm honest and have since reverted back to my creative pebblev3