£1000 work from home starter equipment advise

[tredd]

Hello!

I am starting a job whereby I will be working from home 4 days a week, having never needed to buy my own IT equipment or have a work from home package before, I'm looking for some advise from those in the know of what equipment I will need as I'm getting lost in pixels, EU speakers that auto turn off, adapters etc...!

Looking to set a budget for up to £1k, I would much prefer to spend less! I am an engineer so use a lot of schematics, Excel and general MS office tasks and a lot of Teams calls.


I will already have a desk, chair and laptop.


I'm looking for the below and linked what I am currently looking at, if you know of better or cheaper products I would be grateful to know :

Here is my list so far, I imagine there are a few bits I have missed or could do better on!


- 2x Monitors I presume around 24" and would like them to be really clear.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08C32QR9M/ref...

- Desk clamper multi screen bracket.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dual-Monitor-Stand-Adjust...

- I think I need this to link multiple screens.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0874M3KW4/ref...

- Surge protection extension.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00OE45MVK/ref...

- A pair of speakers for the music streaming and calls.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B075QVMBT9/ref...

- A proper keyboard and multiple direction scrolling mouse.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B079Z3LK9G/ref...

[Funk]

I would suggest getting one large ultrawide 32-34" screen instead of a pair of 24s - if you do a lot of work with wide documents/apps etc it'd likely be far nicer in the long term.

Edit: https://www.amazon.co.uk/LG-34GN73A-Inch-Gaming-Mo... or https://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-U32R590-Inch-Curv...

Edited by Funk on Thursday 14th April 13:22

[Tim330]

I'd consider a USB webcam to clip to the main monitor. I often find in Teams calls I can only see what someone is presenting if I move the teams screen to my desktop monitor. Then when I'm talking I'm no longer looking at the camera on the laptop so other participants see my head at an angle. This may not be an issue for you though.

[dirtbiker]

Tim330 said:

I'd consider a USB webcam to clip to the main monitor. I often find in Teams calls I can only see what someone is presenting if I move the teams screen to my desktop monitor. Then when I'm talking I'm no longer looking at the camera on the laptop so other participants see my head at an angle. This may not be an issue for you though.

I'd second this - I've got one on my home setup and at the office and it's great. Can also use it as the microphone for Teams calls at home too although I prefer a decent headset. I've been using a Plantronics Blackwire 5220 for the last couple of years and it's been spot on.

[tredd]

Funk said:

I would suggest getting one large ultrawide 32-34" screen instead of a pair of 24s - if you do a lot of work with wide documents/apps etc it'd likely be far nicer in the long term.

Nice idea, then split screening instead I guess, can you split screen more than twice on an ultra wide so you could have say 3x windows open at once?

[tredd]

dirtbiker said:

Tim330 said:

I'd consider a USB webcam to clip to the main monitor. I often find in Teams calls I can only see what someone is presenting if I move the teams screen to my desktop monitor. Then when I'm talking I'm no longer looking at the camera on the laptop so other participants see my head at an angle. This may not be an issue for you though.

I'd second this - I've got one on my home setup and at the office and it's great. Can also use it as the microphone for Teams calls at home too although I prefer a decent headset. I've been using a Plantronics Blackwire 5220 for the last couple of years and it's been spot on.

Nice, haven't bought a webcam in 15yrs but that makes a lot of sense.

Il stick that headset in the basket too

[Funk]

tredd said:

Funk said:

I would suggest getting one large ultrawide 32-34" screen instead of a pair of 24s - if you do a lot of work with wide documents/apps etc it'd likely be far nicer in the long term.

Nice idea, then split screening instead I guess, can you split screen more than twice on an ultra wide so you could have say 3x windows open at once?

Yes - most ultrawide screens from the likes of Samsung etc come with software to do loads of funky stuff with multiple windows.

https://displaysolutions.samsung.com/solutions/mon...

On the webcam front, try and find one that's not too wide-angle. Many these days have an enormous field of view when what you really want is a view of just you and not a panoramic widescreen of your room. The cams we have at work are guilty of this - I keep meaning to find out whether there's any software for them that allows manual cropping of the image being displayed.

Edited by Funk on Thursday 14th April 13:28

[tredd]

Funk said:

Yes - most ultrawide screens from the likes of Samsung etc come with software to do loads of funky stuff with multiple windows.

https://displaysolutions.samsung.com/solutions/mon...

Top man, I'll take a look into the Ultrawides then - if anyone has any recommendations that would be great

[Collectingbrass]

Why isn't your employer providing this?

[tredd]

Collectingbrass said:

Why isn't your employer providing this?

I'm self employed

[biggiles]

Instead of speakers, consider a Jabra speakerphone for conf calls. Much neater, and has built-in microphone to avoid echo. And it works with bluetooth phones too.

Jabra 510 is good, and they sell bigger/better ones too.

[Captain_Morgan]

I’d consider a Bluetooth headset for teams calls more flexibility to walk around / make tea when on less demanding calls and better audio when you you are presenting

[CharlesElliott]

What laptop have you got? Are you sure your laptop can drive two monitors or one ultrawide at high resolution?

[Griffith4ever]

Funk said:

I would suggest getting one large ultrawide 32-34" screen instead of a pair of 24s - if you do a lot of work with wide documents/apps etc it'd likely be far nicer in the long term.

Edit: https://www.amazon.co.uk/LG-34GN73A-Inch-Gaming-Mo... or https://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-U32R590-Inch-Curv...

Edited by Funk on Thursday 14th April 13:22

I've always had multiple monitors. Currently 2 x 27" 2k monitors. I have not however tried an ultra wide so I'm all ears.

I go for seperates because

- I like being able to maximise one window in each without resizing. I never want one window that spans the entire width of both (I am getting the impression the ultrawides cater for this with their driver? - is it natural?/seamless)
- Monitors fail, and it's happened to me several times now, and at least I can still work on one whilst the other is being replaced under warranty. It is critical I can always work - I'm self employed.
- I've never yet had an issue where I'd have preferred a wider window than a single monitor - but then I've never tried - so I can't judge that really. Typically when working:

Processing orders: I'll have one main window on each monitor. Email on one, website back end on the other
Designing (can't say what) - design/edit package on left monitor in three seperate windows, right monitor has two spreadsheets open side by side
Accounts - software on left, when doing bank rec, two windows on right (bank statement and a spreadsheet).

There isn't one package / sheet I use where I would have wanted more than one monitor's width. On the contrary, at 2k, even zoomed a bit, full screen is too wide almost, if not all of the time

[Funk]

Griffith4ever said:

Funk said:

I would suggest getting one large ultrawide 32-34" screen instead of a pair of 24s - if you do a lot of work with wide documents/apps etc it'd likely be far nicer in the long term.

Edit: https://www.amazon.co.uk/LG-34GN73A-Inch-Gaming-Mo... or https://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-U32R590-Inch-Curv...

I've always had multiple monitors. Currently 2 x 27" 2k monitors. I have not however tried an ultra wide so I'm all ears.

I go for seperates because

- I like being able to maximise one window in each without resizing. I never want one window that spans the entire width of both (I am getting the impression the ultrawides cater for this with their driver? - is it natural?/seamless)
- Monitors fail, and it's happened to me several times now, and at least I can still work on one whilst the other is being replaced under warranty. It is critical I can always work - I'm self employed.
- I've never yet had an issue where I'd have preferred a wider window than a single monitor - but then I've never tried - so I can't judge that really. Typically when working:

Processing orders: I'll have one main window on each monitor. Email on one, website back end on the other
Designing (can't say what) - design/edit package on left monitor in three seperate windows, right monitor has two spreadsheets open side by side
Accounts - software on left, when doing bank rec, two windows on right (bank statement and a spreadsheet).

There isn't one package / sheet I use where I would have wanted more than one monitor's width. On the contrary, at 2k, even zoomed a bit, full screen is too wide almost, if not all of the time

Can't speak for others but the Samsung software allows you to configure the windows almost any way you want them:

https://displaysolutions.samsung.com/solutions/mon...



As for redundancy.....the answer is 2x 34" screens surely... In seriousness though I've not had a monitor fail on me in as long as I can recall - the weakest link is usually either the laptop/PC.

The other point is that for some, a single ultrawide may not be optimal and a pair of 27" displays is the better option of course. Depends on your work/workflow requirements.

Edited by Funk on Thursday 14th April 14:20

[mikef]

Captain_Morgan said:

I’d consider a Bluetooth headset for teams calls more flexibility to walk around / make tea when on less demanding calls and better audio when you you are presenting

Or better still a Savi 8000 DECT headset with 100 meter range - and a mute button for when you need a bathroom break in the middle of a call

[MesoForm]

Captain_Morgan said:

I’d consider a Bluetooth headset for teams calls more flexibility to walk around / make tea when on less demanding calls and better audio when you you are presenting

I'd second this, I have a Plantronics Voyager Legend and the ability to stretch my legs walking town the landing for a few seconds whilst still talking is really useful.

[Pixelpeep 135]

If you are spending 8+ hours a day in there i would be taking a second look at your chair. We bought some fancy looking but cheap chair from amazon and after 3 weeks i was having trouble getting out of bed in the mornings where my back had gone mental.

ended up spending £300 ish on a Secret labs chair - not the most expensive you can buy, but a reasonable investment and it's now 2 years old, and looks brand new still.

i third or forth the standalone webcam, make sure you get one with illumination as it can make a real difference to the quality of the image it streams.

Headset is important, we use a dual earpiece Plantronics noise cancelling jobbie, the mic does such a good job of not picking up the background that if you haven't spun the mic boom round, they can't hear you!

Personally, i don't like the idea of bluetooth headsets, they lag, they need charging and they do occasionally breakup.

Make sure you have plenty of actual work space on the desk, our first effort you couldn't even push the keyboard out of the way to put a notepad down.

It might look cool with all the kit on it, but you need room to work, it also helps with your mental health if it looks spacious.

Just my 2pence worth

[Peanut Gallery]

Some good ideas on the Pistonheads Share your HOME WORKING workstation environment - pics thread -

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

(Ive spent the last 2 weeks infront of just a laptop, am looking forward to my usual really raised 22 inch screens at home)

[smith335I]

I would suggest a wide 34' screen. I have one for WFH and prefer it to the 2 screen set up i have in the office.
Might need to spend a little more but you can get one with a built in hub so you get 2-4 USBs and don't need the additional hub you linked. Get a height adjustable one and you don't need the monitor arm either.

https://www.dell.com/en-uk/shop/dell-34-curved-usb...

I wouldn't bother with the speakers and instead get a set of BT noise cancelling headphones (Jabra have a good range of models)