The working from home thread: tips and advice

Monitor clamp (Mount-it MI-709) turned up (took 3 weeks from the US) and assembled/installed it in a bit of a rush, needs a bit more adjustment (might go higher).

With the old legs the front of the monitor was 19cm from the wall and the bottom of it was 5.5cm from the desk.

With the clamp on and the desk as far back as it can go the monitor is 20cm from the wall and my initial setup has put the bottom 11.5cm from the desk and there's still 13cm spare on the pole for it to go higher. Will have to play with the height and see where I like it (probably another 5-10cm higher at a guess, which would put my eye level just above the middle of the screen.)

Nice and sturdy, monitor doesn't wobble when I'm typing (which would get very annoying.)

Will get updated photos when I've tidied up, got the height sorted, and got my work laptop off the desk again (just 3 working days left!) to go as minimalist as I will ever go.

I have bought a new monitor and need a webcam for Teams calls to fit on top.

Google sent me down a hole, anyone got a recommendation for a webcam that's not shit under £40?

Microsoft HD-3000 Webcam

Argos appear to have stock https://www.argos.co.uk/product/8365534 for £24.99

(Works great with Windows, I find it a bit overexposed with MacOS)

This one has been great for me so far: https://www.amazon.co.uk/AUKEY-Microphone-Recording-Compatible-Windows-black/dp/B0721MKXQ2

I have one of these. Works fine
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-Widescreen-Noise-Reducing-Automatic-Correction/dp/B01BGBJ8Y0

Yep. Got one of these, more than good enough for my requirements (i.e. meetings, not broadcast quality presentations)

I haven't been working for the last 12 months and so this morning was my first day working in the home office.

Looks like I have some work to do and lots of junk to persuade my wife to clear out

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More junk

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You know the thing is: everybody has lots of junk - people just stuff it somewhere where it isn't seen during the Zoom calls :-)

very true, however my garage and my loft and 4 other bedrooms also have loads of junk in them. It's a constant battle against a wife who loves to keep things for this mythical boot sale she talks about or for selling on eBay but rarely gets around to doing so.

Her proposed short term solution is to move it into our bedroom and she will sort it out. But then I have an untidy bedroom for weeks instead.

Anyroad up, my reason for posting was to show the point I'm starting from. Hopefully I can post some updates as I start to enhance the space.

Generally my first task on a Monday morning is shifting all the crap that's been dumped on my desk and chair over the weekend.

Ordered,ta!

With one big sweep, straight into the bin?

Since spring weather has arrived my motivation has absolutely crashed through the floor :/

Same! I had the morning off today, I spent it taking my 2-year old out to the park. Clocked on to work at 13:00 and my motivation for dealing with work nonsense is miniscule.

Plus I watched a YoutTube video about homesteaders in Alaska building a log cabin from scratch, I'm definitely considering packing it all in to become an off-grid spoon-whittler.

Gonna sack the day of at 4pm, get kiddo from nursery then cargo bike to the sand pit park

peak fun in 2021

Last day of work is Wednesday and then I have 6 months off.

#justsaying

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No your a cunt.

Jan '22, if we're flexing...

Any suggestions for what to use for a cheap desktop? Planning on getting a sit/stand desk but don't know how big or what colour I'll eventually need so thinking I'll just have a temporary top until I can work that out.

Really cheap? Just buy a big sheet of MDF and cut it in half and screw / glue together.

Ah yes. I was thinking MDF would be a bit flexy but doubled up I guess it should be OK.

I've basically spent the last week and a half being lazy and doing a spot of gardening. The lack of work undertaken is about to bite me on the arse, and not in a fun way.

I got one of these in January, does a great job