Asus laptop
I've had this laptop for nearly 2
years. It has proven robust and reliable, and the letters haven't
rubbed off the keys, like they do with various others. This model is
fairly thin and light, as I travel with it quite a lot.
I've got this set up with my seating
so that the top of the screen is at my eye level. That means my neck is
straight and my head's level all the time.
Kinesis Advantage Pro
ergonomic keyboard
One of the most important, and most
challenging, additions to my kit.
I invested in this full-on ergonomic
keyboard just a few weeks ago, after suffering from nagging pains in my
fingers and wrists, due to using a laptop keyboard 100% of the time. I
can say, without question, that if you work on a keyboard all day (like
may of us do), you should get one of these as soon as
possible.
The Kinesis models are more advanced
than the regular “ergonomic” keyboards you find, as
they go a lot further than just re-angling your wrists. These keyboards
re-model the whole key layout, arranging the keys in columns instead of
brick-fashion like regular keyboards. The keys are also arranged in a
scoop-like 3D formation, to minimise the distance you have to move
between keystrokes. The thumbs get sets of special keys (Ctrl, Alt,
Backspace, Delete, Home, End, Enter, PgUp, PgDown, and Space -
different for Mac), which mean you can pretty much keep your hands in
the same place the whole time.
How is it to use
I should say, first-off, that I'm a
fast touch-typist (80 wpm), so the benefits of this keyboard will be
greater for me. I have to say that, initially, I was totally freaked
out. Using the Kinesis was like having to learn to type all over again
(whereas, in fact, I just needed to re-program my mental connections a
bit). I had to spend several hours doing exercises (provided) to teach
my fingers where the keys had moved to. After about 2 months, I'm still
learning, and I'm not quite as quick as I was on my old keyboard, but
getting quicker all the time. Regular typing is about the same now, but
special key combinations (which I use a lot in Photoshop and when
coding) are going to take longer to catch up.
But the most important fact is: My
fingers have stopped hurting, after just a few weeks! My advice is,
don't wait until your fingers hurt before you get one of these
prescribed by your physician. Additionally, if you're learning to touch
type, do it on one of these keyboards now, and you won't have to switch
later.
Shop
for Kinesis Advantage Pro USB for Mac & PC from Amazon
Bose QuietComfort 3
noise-cancelling headphones
I can listen to music on iTunes for
over 8 hours per day, when designing or coding. These are not cheap
headphones, but they're the most comfortable I've ever tried, and the
noise-cancelling feature is fantastic when on flights or trains,
cutting out background noise by playing the opposite sound through the
headphones, mixed in with what you're listening to. Ingenious and worth
their weight in gold.
Shop
for Bose QuietComfort 3 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones on Amazon
Mouse mat with wrist pad
Very comfy for long hours clicking
away. My mouse is a laptop model - very small and light, easy to use
all day. I used to have a gel keyboard wrist pad as well, before moving
to the Kinesis.
Chair
A regular chair from my kitchen,
replacing my big fat leather reclining number. I found that the leather
comfy chair wasn't quite high enough for using the new keyboard, and I
was getting bach ache from trying to sit up so straight all day. The
kitchen chair is the right height, but the most important thing is that
I make sure it's positioned straight in front of my laptop, at the
right distance. Can't stress these ergonomics enough. I've been working
at computers for 12 years. How long have you been doing it? At 34 now,
I'm learning how critical it is to look after my physical body.
Notepad of scrap paper
My #1 piece of kit!
I've got a clipboard made out of a recycled telecoms printed circuit
board, which is always full of paper that's been printed on one side.
Having a ready supply of scrap paper
to hand lets me think more freely all the time. Whenever I've got
anything to do, I first sit back and grab my paper. I'll either sketch
out a design, or write notes, following the Think-Then-Do process.
The great thing about scrap is that
you can rip a piece off and throw it in the recycling bin, and re-draw,
with no feeling of back-tracking (which can keep us pushing forward
with an idea we feel isn't right, out of fear).
I find it makes the idea-generation
process much chpeaper & easier, and liberates me to try out
more ideas much more quickly than working on the computer.
Stape-less stapler
Clever little gadget that helps me
bind togehter a few sheets of my scrap paper, helping keep the desk
tidy. It punches little tabs through the paper, which does quite a good
job of holding it together. The downside is that it doesn't work well
for less than 4 or more than about 12 sheets.
Microphone
Invaluable for long Skype calls with
clients, particularly in conjunction with my comfy headphones.
Nice hot cup of tea
Essential, lad.
Crib sheets
I have PHP and JavaScript cheat sheets
on the wall, courtesty of the multi-talented Dave Child at I Love Jack Daniels.
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