Share your HOME WORKING workstation environment - pics

[xeny]

Doofus said:

Your description of a paperless office (not a bsd thing in theory), and multiple screens to be able to videocon, email, run a spreadsheet and whatever else all at the same time conjures up in my mind a soulless, windowless cubicle farm manned by drones.

Time away from screens is important, and being surrounded by them would make me feel sad.

I like paper - I seem to do my best thinking on the back of a used A5 windowed white envelope where I can sketch, but am a little constrained, and don't don't feel as if I am wasting paper.

Unfortunately right now I'm spending a mixture of days WFH and in the office, and keeping everything electronic makes the peripatetic existence easier to manage. I have a colleague who was essentially unable to work until the office was open enough someone could retrieve his paper notebooks.

I concur on the time away from the screen, ideally time with the horizon a good distance away is the critical thing for me, which means getting out of built up areas.

[Mr Whippy]

Doofus said:

WHY WON'T ANYONE GET A DECENT SIZED DESK?

It makes my brain hurt.

Lots of people new to it?

Given time they’ll appreciate if you’re genuinely working all your time you need space just like you did in your office.

I have 3m x 0.9m desk
2 x 24” screen
1 x 34” screen
1 x 18” laptop
1 x itx workstation
1 x tower file server
1 x gfx tablet
2 x keyboards
2 x mice

It’s cramped and I plan on 4m x 0.8m with wall mounted screens... when I can.

More space (inc screens) = less stress and more focus in my experience.

[Carbon Sasquatch]

I suppose the thread title just says share - so listing what you have is just as acceptable as a photo..... but then it does say pics at the end.....

[seveb]

ZesPak said:

Doofus said:

I'm Director of three companies, in two countries, with a total of about 70 employees. Manufacture of precision engineering equipment, multi-channel retail and software.

ETA: It's probably fair to say that, due to my positions in those organisations, I don't actually do any 'work', but other than the IT bods, I can't think of anyone who uses multiple monitors. The design engineers, possibly.

I've been optimizing and analyzing business processes, productivity and efficiency for over a decade now. Get your employees dual screens.

In my experience, many people say they want 2 or 3 screens but when they get them they are no more productive than when they had their laptop screen for e-mail plus a single large screen for their main work. It's willy waving for most people . . . like carrying a clipboard used to be in factories in the 70s.

[Doofus]

seveb said:

ZesPak said:

Doofus said:

I'm Director of three companies, in two countries, with a total of about 70 employees. Manufacture of precision engineering equipment, multi-channel retail and software.

ETA: It's probably fair to say that, due to my positions in those organisations, I don't actually do any 'work', but other than the IT bods, I can't think of anyone who uses multiple monitors. The design engineers, possibly.

I've been optimizing and analyzing business processes, productivity and efficiency for over a decade now. Get your employees dual screens.

In my experience, many people say they want 2 or 3 screens but when they get them they are no more productive than when they had their laptop screen for e-mail plus a single large screen for their main work. It's willy waving for most people . . . like carrying a clipboard used to be in factories in the 70s.

I'll have you know, I've got three clipboards: 2x 35cm and a 45cm. I can manage three time and motions at the same time. Now that's efficiency for you!

[jimmyjimjim]

You could add another one to thy by putting your office in the bathroom.

[fastraxx]

seveb said:

In my experience, many people say they want 2 or 3 screens but when they get them they are no more productive than when they had their laptop screen for e-mail plus a single large screen for their main work. It's willy waving for most people . . . like carrying a clipboard used to be in factories in the 70s.

So how do you know they're less productive? Is this what they have told you?

[ZesPak]

seveb said:

In my experience, many people say they want 2 or 3 screens but when they get them they are no more productive than when they had their laptop screen for e-mail plus a single large screen for their main work. It's willy waving for most people . . . like carrying a clipboard used to be in factories in the 70s.

FYI. Your laptop screen + large display = two displays.
I'd say that's sufficient for most people's day to day.

[A900ss]

I’ve bought a second monitor on a whim but now I’m Not sure how to connect it. I currently have my laptop display and 1 x 24 inch monitor and now want to go to a closed laptop lid and 2 x 24 inch displays.

I have a laptop with one HDMI output and several USB’s and I now want to extend my display across 2 x 24 inch standalone monitor and close my laptop lid.

From research I think if I use a HDMI splitter it will only duplicate the displays which is not any good.

Any help is very appreciated.

Thanks.

Edited by A900ss on Saturday 17th October 07:36

[grumbledoak]

A900ss said:

I’ve bought a second monitor on a whim but now I’m Not sure how to connect it. I currently have my laptop display and 1 x 24 inch monitor and now want to go to a closed laptop lid and 2 x 24 inch displays.

I have a laptop with one HDMI output and several USB’s and I now want to extend my display across 2 x 24 inch standalone monitor and close my laptop lid.

From research I think if I use a HDMI splitter it will only duplicate the displays which is not any good.

Any help is very appreciated.

It depends on the laptop. You may need to search by model.

Display Port (DP), HDMI, and VGA are display connectors. Try those first.

If you are "out" you may be able to use the USB-C ports. Again, that depends on your laptop.

Last resort, there are adapters that may work for you.

A general guide found at random -
https://www.theverge.com/21436346/laptop-monitor-e...

[A900ss]

Thanks. I’ve got a USB C port so that should work fine

[DanL]

I bought one of these for just that reason, plus it’s a handy USB hub (and my work laptop is a Dell). Sadly it won’t power the laptop, and does need powering itself.

Dell D3100 Docking Station

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00O0M46KO

May well be overkill for what you need, mind you, but it works for me. It works with my non-Dell laptop too. Uses DisplayLink drivers, and a quick search suggests that DisplayLink do a range of USB to HDMI converters.

[Mr Whippy]

Carbon Sasquatch said:

I suppose the thread title just says share - so listing what you have is just as acceptable as a photo..... but then it does say pics at the end.....

Was more discussing a comment on desk size/density and quality of environment, than sharing my setup (which right now looks a horror as it’s all mid upgrades/swaps amidst multiple ongoing projects, don’t have time for making it look nice for photos haha)

[mph999]

Guys,

Could someone recommend a dual monitor stand, needs to hold 24” monitors, about 4.2 kg each I think.

Quite a few on Amazon, but most have at least some reviews explaining about issues holding the monitors without tilting forward over time.

[Kinky]

[grumbledoak]

mph999 said:

Guys,

Could someone recommend a dual monitor stand, needs to hold 24” monitors, about 4.2 kg each I think.

Quite a few on Amazon, but most have at least some reviews explaining about issues holding the monitors without tilting forward over time.

I've been happy with a single and now a double "Duronic" stand. They clamp the desk with a screw underneath.

[DoubleSix]

mph999 said:

Guys,

Could someone recommend a dual monitor stand, needs to hold 24” monitors, about 4.2 kg each I think.

Quite a few on Amazon, but most have at least some reviews explaining about issues holding the monitors without tilting forward over time.

The Amazon Basics one is excellent for a cost effective stand.

[jimmyjimjim]

I've the amazon basics single arm, very happy with it, so I would recommend their twin arm:

https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Premium-Dual-M...

[Carbon Sasquatch]

ash73 said:

But I don't understand why people have their screens so high up.

Because you're supposed to look straight at it rather than down at it. Laptops on a desk are bad for your back & neck if used for extended periods.

[DoubleSix]

Indeed.

I like my eye height to be about one third from the top of the screen, others say the top but then I find you then have to dip your head to look at taskbar etc