Taking all these steps has made a host of ideas land in my head, which I am going to have to execute step by step as the months go by. Next I will tell you how my work desk has evolved and what plans I have for the future with it.
A large, but simple and functional desk
I could do with a smaller table, but I like having some spare space to dedicate to other devices that pass my table to review.
As I have said on other occasions, my work computer when I am at home consists of a Mac mini M1. With it I use a Magic Mouse and a Magic Keyboard, and as a monitor I have a 27-inch LG 27UL500-W with 4K resolution (a screen that today can be very good for 256.54 euros on Amazon).
They complement a USB-C connected Logitech Streamcam for video conferencing and streaming of videos, basic Creative Pebble speakers (also connected by USB-C) and a Samson Q2U Microphone. To raise the monitor and thus have a correct posture in my chair I have an IKEA ELLOVEN base (29.99 euros), which gives me additional storage space to hide the keyboard.
At the furniture level, everything rests on a solid wood board and two trestles between which I hide the wiring using two shaped boxes… let’s say bungling. I could settle for a smaller desk (and gain space in what is now my office), but we have a question of
The lighting is simple: a lamp on each side of the desk with IKEA smart bulbs capable of dimming their brightness via HomeKit. I am not one to have colored lights, although I have yet to try it since I have been told that the effect is attractive.
Future plans: more connectivity and more productivity
East setup meets my needs but has certain limitations. For starters, the Mac mini connections mean that I have to remove USB-C ports to connect some external drives or chargers, or have to disconnect the speaker jack if I want to put on my headphones to do streaming. The ideal situation would be to be able to use all those accessories without having to connect and disconnect their cables.
How do I fix this? With a Dock that can be connected via USB-C and has Thunderbolt 4 speeds to cover all my needs, although the price of making this move is already hundreds of euros. An example: The Kensington Thunderbolt 4 Dock costs 362 euros right now, and that’s at a promotional price when it normally costs 429 euros.
Another thing I wonder is add a secondary monitor to be able to more comfortably see several applications that I need to have open at all times. For this I can buy another LG 27UL500-W monitor like the one I have, although perhaps I could consider a more capable one like the 32-inch Samsung M8.
The Apple Studio Display has also crossed my mind: it would simplify my desktop and provide full compatibility with my Mac. But its panel is too old to accept its very high price, so for now I have it as a last option.
Little by little, month by month, the goal is to adapt this desk to my day-to-day work. I will never get to something perfect (neither me nor anyone else), but I can get closer to that perfection with devices tailored to my budget. Oh, and before you say it: yes, I plan to put a plant.