The working from home thread: tips and advice

https://www.anker.com/blogs/hubs-and-doc­ks/do-all-usb-c-cables-support-video

thanks - i still dont get it though... that article says is it just the cable... works fine with my thinkpad (delivers power and transmits the screen). docking station seems the most foolproof though

This is the new version of my current monitor 🤦

Shudda been my first port of call.

This says the 2019 MBP supports

Native DisplayPort output over USB‑C

and the Lenovo monitor @frankenbike linked accepts "USB type-C DP 1.4 alt mode" input. That combination will work so long as the cable is up to it.

thanks ! will investigate - looks like I just need a thunderbolt cable

Is there anything better for the price than the jabra evolve 30 II?

Is there a jabra evolve 30 II equivalent that works with macs? Or is it just easier to put old school hands free headphones in?... Or I guess you just use it without the remote.

Cheers

Side note: It's great the way everything you seem to need to use a Mac, is unique and much more expensive.

My son is after an office chair for around £250, apparently a head rest is preferred. His company will pay for it but will need to have a receipt, so second hand is out.

Any advice what he should be looking at for that price?

This and a forged invoice

https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/markus-office-chair-vissle-light-grey-50521861/#content

Lots of the second hand places will provide a VAT invoice if that's what is required.

Really? I'm sitting on one at a clients office and it's very ish

I have the Markus, also bought with work funds. It's adequate

Could enquire about spending some of that budget on a standing desk maybe.

I have the JÄRVFJÄLLET at £229; similar but feels significantly more substantial than the MARKUS.

Long term reviews seemed to say the MARKUS seat fabric/cushion doesn't last long. JÄRVFJÄLLET seat is leather (assumed it was artificial but just looked it up).

Edit - the MARKUS didn't seem to work so well in a semi-reclining position - which may be important if he's keen on the headrest. Maybe it was lack of moveable armrests.

There are a lot more third-party addons for the MARKUS though:

Interesting, we actually went to IKEA on Monday and we discounted that one because we assumed it was a synthetic cushion that would break up over time (like most of the do). I think he found it quite comfortable, the leather cushion could swing it.

outside of the budget so only mentioning it in case others have similar interests in a high backed chair but I got a noblechair hero last year which is similar shape and I've found it very comfortable. not super adjustable but has been more comfortable than my (also decent) second hand steelcase leap v2 i've had for years.

https://www.noblechairs.co.uk/en-gb/hero-series/tx

Poor video is bad, but poor audio is existential for conferencing - I'm tempted to get a microphone rather than relying on the one in my Logitech webcam.

Would anyone have a recommendation for one that is decent but not $!?

Doesn’t a decent pair of earbuds solve this?

I would steer clear of a separate mic. You have to be really precise with what you hit and how you set it up with external speakers etc.

Best / easiest solution is a full duplex speakerphone.

I have this one and it’s got excellent mic quality, good speaker quality, just plugs in and works as well as having touch controls for mute / hang up / volume. And it’s cheap.

any recommendations for soundbars less than £150? Find earbuds trigger my tinnitus far more than open speakers. Have tried using a Bluetooth speaker but too laggy for calls etc.

What version of Bluetooth is speaker/computer?

I use a Sonos Roam speaker over bluetooth as a PC soundbar and have no issues with lag.

I did have a bit of a search for PC soundbars before that but most of them appeared to be shit. This was what I was going to get https://uk.creative.com/p/speakers/creative-stage-air-v2 but reviews are fairly middling.

I bought a Sonos Roam last year for this - running through MacBook Air on M2, so 5.0. There is still a slight but noticeable delay for Zoom/Teams calls, so I would prefer to run via USB or line in.

I’ve used Creative Labs Pebble speakers connected to dock by old-fashioned 3.5mm jack .. these work perfectly with microphone in my webcam (Logitech) - no lag, no echo etc.
I try to steer clear of Bluetooth for anything

Mine's on Windows, not sure if that is the difference. I was quite surprised there was no delay when I first tried it.

For the conference speaker chat I used to use a plugin Jabra 510 for an issue I won't bore you with.

Anyway point being, it was great. So I'd I recommend getting that, or if needed the Bluetooth version, or whatever the new version is....or the old version from cex.

I also echo soul's point about touch controls being a nice to have. Especially if you have group calls were people have different speaking volumes. Plus the dedicated mute/unmute.

(the reason I no longer use it is because the original issue is fixed, and my laptop mic and speakers are fine).

@aggi Yeah, I was surprised there was delay even via AirPlay.

@smithchild Am trying to keep my desk as clutter free as possible as I used to have Pebble speakers but my ocd aesthetics crept in.

@hugo7 Jabra looks good especially for the price, may see what my local Cex has...

Anyone struggling with the cold .. I’m flogging a heated seat pad thing here

https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/393351/

Seems decent and aesthetically inoffensive .. I just don’t spend enough time in one place to get the benefit

I've had excellent experience with a the snowball usb, I sit a about 60cm away