A product manager’s home office setup. #QuarantineDiaries
I posted my home office setup on Twitter last week and I was pleasantly surprised by the response that this post generated. A lot of folks were asking about the specifics of the setup and I also got a couple of questions around why I need all this stuff! I had jokingly asked whether I should make a Youtube video of the same. Now, unfortunately, I am nowhere as skilled as the average YouTuber and any video I make would be laughable, but I can list down all the equipment on my setup and can provide y’all with the links for the products so you can go ahead and check out for yourself.
If you’d like to skip all the fluff and just want to look at the links for all the things on my desk, you can just go here to find all that you need. If you’d like to know my thoughts about some of the products that I use then continue reading.
Table & Chair
Table: IKEA Rodulf (~Rs.22,000 | ~$300)
(Alternate: IKEA Bekant sit/stand desk | Rs.41,000 | ~$540)
The most important part of any setup is the table and the chair. I was looking for an electronically adjustable desk to make up for all the in-activity that comes from working at home. It’s not like I am not active, I make a lot of rounds to the refrigerator from the room but it is overall better to have the option of standing while working.
PROS :
- The table is stable on lower positions and the motor mechanics works quite well.
- It is not too loud and has a basic memory function as well to remember your settings.
- Assembling the desk is as easy or difficult as the other IKEA products that you have encountered.
- It has a nifty little setup for cable management. I have used it to house my power strip which powers all my devices and hence provides a minimalist look to the entire setup.
- I loved the grey colour tabletop as it goes very well with my devices and the room colour. The table length and depth is perfect for me.
CONS :
- The table can tend to get a little unstable when it is raised higher and can become wobbly. I use the standing desk largely for meetings and it’s not that big an issue for me.
Overall I would recommend as it is priced reasonably for the function that it provides. You can also buy just the legs separately and use it with a tabletop of your choice. It is not available in all countries though, so do check with your local IKEA store.
Chair: Green Soul Monster series chair (Price: ~Rs.15,000 | $200)
(Alternate : IKEA Markus | Rs.13,990)
The chair that I am currently using is the one I got from the office. It’s a very comfortable chair but I am not too sure about the availability.
But I wanted to talk about the chair I used back home in India. It’s a gaming chair by a company called Green Soul
PROS:
- It is sturdy and compact and has an extremely high build quality
- Almost every part of the chair is adjustable to provide you with the chair that is most suited for your needs.
- Lumbar & back support is awesome and provides enough cushioning and support for long durations of sitting.
- Looks pretty cool and can level up your home set up several notches.
CONS:
- For some reason, I haven’t been able to figure out the wheels yet. The chair doesn’t move around as easily as the other chairs I use and I often have to struggle to find the right placement.
- I would have liked the chair to be a little more upright. Most of the gaming chairs are pushed back just a little bit and sometimes it could be an issue to set it up for upright sitting.
I am sure there are better chairs available for this price point. I am not sure if gaming chair is the right way to go for a home setup. I would recommend something like the IKEA Markus that could be a lot more comfortable and convenient.
Click here to read more about the Green Soul gaming chair.
Stands & Holders
I would say that a stand is a key element of a good desk setup as it allows you to ergonomically adjust the screen to your viewing level. (This article from Mayo clinic is very informative)
- Laptop Stand: Nuaxy Laptop stand (Price: ~Rs.1800 | $25)
I have used quite a few of these stands in the past and I can safely say that this stand by Nuaxy is the best one I have used thus far. It is a very well built product that provides the perfect viewing angle for the laptop. It also provides rubber lining on the inside to cushion your laptop and to avoid scratching the laptop surface. It detaches easily and can fit inside your bag incase you want to carry it along with you. Definitely recommended if you are looking for a laptop stand. Click here to purchase.
- iPad stand: Generic stand from Aliexpress (Price: Rs.390 | $5)
I got this stand as a back up for the occasional work from home days and was not looking at spending a lot and hence ordered a generic stand from Aliexpress. It’s a strictly ok stand and I wouldn’t recommend it. The performance is adequate but I was not happy with the adjustment that it provides and the viewing angle. For my daily use at the office, I use this stand by Omotona and would recommend this instead for sure.
- Headphone stand: Brainwavz Hengja (Price: Rs.1200 | $15)
This is one of those products that you don’t realise how much you need it until you get it. I prefer to use noise-cancelling headphones at the office to get to a flow state. But the problem with headphones is that they usually come in the way on the desk and I like all things to have a little home to go to. This stand is perfect as it takes up very little space and is also removable and reusable. Which means no sticky business. On top of that, this is made from highly durable material and seems like something that will be useful for several years to come. A worthy buy for sure! Go ahead and get one for yourself here.
Speakers & Headphones
No setup is complete without the addition of good quality-speakers and headphones. With video conferencing gaining more prominence it is important to get a great pair of microphones as well. These are the audio accessories that I am currently using.
- Speakers: Bose SoundLink (Price: Rs.11,500 | ~$150)
I usually don’t have speakers in my setup as most of the times I work with people around and prefer to listen to music on my headphones. Currently, due to the lockdown, I find my self here alone in Krakow while the family is back home in India and hence, a speaker. I like these speakers as it is super compact but doesn’t compromise on the sound stage and output. Get’s fairly loud and can fill up a small room. Probably wouldn’t be my first choice for desk speakers but I got them for free in one of the those Cred contests and am not complaining!
- Headphones: Sony WH-1000XM2 (Price: ~Rs.25,000 | ~$320)(Link updated for the latest model)
I have been using these headphones for the last couple of years now and absolutely love them. They are perfect for long air travel (wonder when this will happen again) and the noise-cancelling works just perfectly in noisy office settings. There are tons of reviews out there so just linking to my favourite review of this product.
- Jabra evolve 75 (Price: ~Rs.30,000 | ~$320)
Now that video meetings have become a norm, a good microphone has become an absolute essential. I was looking for some stand-alone microphones but instead decided to buy this as it can double up as a headphone and provide a better conferencing experience. The Jabra Evolve 75 has a great battery life and a single charge lasts for 2–3 days of moderate to high use. The mic quality is excellent and it does a good job of masking background noise. The headphones are also super comfortable to use I haven’t faced issues with long usage so far.
It is a little expensive in India but I think it is totally worth the investment. Below are recording samples from the built-in microphone and the Jabra headphones. The difference is day and night!
Things that I absolutely love.
- Dostmann Digital Cube Timer (Price: ~Rs.1000 | ~$15)
I am not the kind of person who can get into a flow state at will and I usually have to rely on techniques like Pomodoro to ensure that I can get into the flow state without a lot of distraction. I have used some apps in the past to follow the Pomodoro intervals but I found that having a visual reminder and a guide allowed me to be a lot more focussed when an interval is going on. I stumbled upon this physical timer on Amazon and found that it is perfect for my requirements.
It’s super simple to use, you just turn the block to the required interval on the top and the timer automatically starts. It has a small digital screen that displays the time left in the current interval. Once the timer is done it gives a small beep to let you know. I also find the task of manually starting an interval add to flow state. I couldn’t find this on the Amazon India store but found an alternative which seems to work the same way.
- Uniball Jetstream and Zebra multi-pen with an Amazon basics notebook.
A pen and paper is the still best productivity tool out there. I find myself experimenting with every single digital tool, only to revert to pen and paper. I absolutely love writing using my Uniball Jetstream and the Zebra multi is a handy little companion to have when I need to highlight or annotate in my notes. It also has a mechanical pencil which is helpful for sketching and wireframing. I am currently using a notebook that was part of the limited edition Cred office kit but my notebook of choice is the Amazon basics notebook squared. I find the squared layout super helpful when it comes to wireframing and quick sketches.
Screens & Peripherals
Not spending a lot of time on these as there is enough material out there on all these devices. I will list these down though for an easy reckoner.
- Laptop: MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018)
- Tablet: 6th Gen iPad
- Monitor: Dell 27 inch (P2719h)
- Keyboard: Apple Magic Keyboard
- Mouse: Logitech MX Master 2S
- Mousepad: BRAVEWAY Office Desk Mat
- Complete List: Here
Hopefully, you found something that would make working from home a little bit easier for you. This here is a complete list of all the things listed above. Do drop me a note if you used some of these, would be interested to know how your experience has been with some of the products listed.
Stay safe; stay well!
