🖥️ Desk
I sometimes get asked about my desk setup, and I figured it would be nice to share that easily with folks.
Ever since the pandemic, many more folks are working from home and trying to understand how to make that work. I've shared several tips for being Suddenly Remote before, but I thought a deep dive into my setup would help some.
This page will serve as the evergreen spot for my current setup and tech.
Current Setup
From left to right, top to bottom, here are the items in my setup:
1 Left Side
- 1. amaran Verge Bi-Color light panel Great defused keylight for use with the Sony FX30
- 2. Sony FX30 Thanks to Sarah Dietschy (rhymes with 'peachy') for the recommendation
- 3. Sony 16-25mm F2.8 G The lens attached to the FX30
- 4. Elgato Prompter This is in front of the camera (hanging on the lens) so that I can look right down the lens when on big calls or reading
- 5. FEELWORLD Camera Field Monitor Monitoring the camera for myself
- 6. Shure MV7+ Microphone Yes, it is not quite as good as the SM7B below, but the ease of use made it my daily driver.
- 7. Coffee mug I drink coffee while working. It is important to me.
- 8. Kid drawings Estimated value: $0 or priceless. But I hang them up with these awesome magnetic strips to easily rotate them. We have those strips in the kid's rooms too
- 9. PopOS Deskop A desktop headless computer that I ssh into for developer environments
2 Center
- 10. Logitech Brio Webcam I use this for video calls / daily driver when I am not using the Sony FX30
- 11. Sceptre 35-inch curved ultrawide My daily driver monitor connected to the Mac Studio
- 12. My grandfather's pen, a watch from my wife, some chapstick, postit notes, and altoids
- 13. LTT Scredriver Having a screwdriver on every level of the house is the number one 'life hack' I tell people
- 14. Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID I use this keyboard for my Mac Studio...just for touch ID
- 15. IQUNIX F96 great Bluetooth 96% mechanical keyboard with Cherry MX Brown switches
3 Right Side
Not Pictured
- DinoFire Presentation Clicker I use this even when presenting from my desk because it is quieter than a keyboard or mouse click
- Apple AirPods Pro daily driver for listening to video calls and music while working
- Electric Stand-up Desk Frame the desk can be a standing or sitting desk. Top I made myself from some maple hardwood...but this is the kit I used to motorize it
- Elgato Key Light I have two of these, both wall-mounted. They are expensive, but they are amazing. Good lighting is required for a good video
- YIOCOE Softbox Diffuse light is your best friend for video
- Triangle boom arm Wall-mounted triangle boom arm. I was tired of the light being on a stand and taking up floor space
- Elgato strip lights to help with more diffuse light
- Lego Saturn V rocket I heard they were discontinuing it, so I bought it...but I don't think they did. I do not regret this
- Herman Miller Aeron I bought brand new because I wanted to. My credit card hated me, but my back loves me for this purchase
- Lots and lots of ☕
- Doosl Presentation Remote with a 1000ft range I use in person A much more advanced remote for in-person presentations
- USB-C hub and second hub Makes it one plug to place and remove my laptop for power, HDMI, and all the USB devices
- The normal clutter Mail, random fidgets, and other stuff that is on the desk
- In-ear monitors and extension cable For presentations and recordings where I want a professional look. Used in conjunction with MOTU M2 Audio Interface
Computers
Mac Studio (2022)
My main workstation on the desk
- Chip: Apple M1 Max
- Memory: 32 GB
- macOS: Sequoia 15.6.1
Linux Desktop
On the ground to the left - I ssh into it for a lot of dev work
- OS: Pop!_OS 22.04 LTS
- CPU: 12th Gen Intel i5-12600K (16) @ 4.900GHz
- GPU: Intel AlderLake-S GT1
- Memory: 32 GB
- Shell: zsh 5.9
MacBook Pro (not pictured)
My portable machine
- Chip: Apple M4
- Memory: 16 GB
Apps I use
Below is a list of apps that I use on my Mac. I don't currently have affiliate links to any of these, I just love them.
Note, in the interest of transparency: I am not currently "sponsored" by any of these products...but for the links that are to Amazon, they are affiliate links where I would get a small commission if you buy them there.