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Our editors’ desk setups, Part 11: Debbie’s got too much space and not enough RGB
by Debora Pape
Our editors’ desk setups, part 10: Richie’s workspace has room for improvement
13.4.2024
Translation: Katherine Martin
In this series, our editors will reveal which equipment they use every day – be it for work or gaming. I’m still not totally happy with my setup.
My computer: compact, powerful and quiet as a mouse
I’m of the view that a computer belongs on a desk. If you put it on the floor, it’ll quickly get dusty – even if you clean regularly. I built my PC myself. It’s compact, powerful and quiet as a mouse thanks to its AIO water cooling system.
Said AIO is an Arctic Liquid Freezer II 360 – a simple cooler without all the bells and whistles. The flashing lights on it are colourful enough, thank you very much. I won my Jonsplus i100 Pro Mini-ITX PC case in a company prize draw. My colleague Kevin had previously reviewed it:
Webcam: 4K resolution and ANC for meetings
I’m not the only one in our house who works from home. One of my two sons works here all the time, and the other’s here two days a week. If they’re both sitting in the living room, it can get noisy – even with the door closed. Thanks to my headset’s ANC, however, it doesn’t bother me.
Speakers: rich stereo sound
I often listen to music when I need to focus. My Razer Nommo Chroma speakers deliver good sound. We’ve stopped selling this model for now.
As a fan of music management and streaming platform Roon, I treated myself to these slightly more expensive speakers. Of course, I could’ve spent more on PC speakers, but I’m happy that the ones I chose don’t take up too much space on my desk. If need be, I can buy a digital-analogue converter later on. What’s more, I can enjoy high-quality sound in my living room.
Keyboard: oh Kevin, what have you done?
Just as he’s done to so many of my teammates before me, keyboard enthusiast Kevin has got me hooked. I type on a Mountain mechanical keyboard. The one I use is an Everest Max, a modular keyboard with a removable numeric keypad and wrist rest. You can dock the numeric keypad on either the left or right. Side note: the wrist rest is also super comfortable.
I’ve assigned functions I use frequently to the buttons above the numeric keypad. There are additional settings for the dial too, but using it to adjust the volume is enough for me. I like this keyboard and really enjoy typing on it. Incidentally, Kevin gave me the Everest Max after he tested it. You can read his review here:
My mouse: an abomination to many
Desk lamp: good lighting is a must
Chair: comfort is essential
I have a Core EX-Wide SE gaming chair from Akracing at my desk. I’d resisted gaming chairs for a long time, always believing an office chair to be essential to a working-from-home setup. I don’t know what possessed me to buy this one. What I do know is that I never want to be without it again.
It’s just comfortable, period. As someone who’s 196 cm tall, I don’t take that sort of thing for granted. My sons – who’re even taller than me – love this chair too.
Desk: height-adjustable, but wobbly
In a meeting just recently, my colleague Samuel asked me whether I use an AI-controlled webcam that tracks my movements. He said it was because the picture transmitted by my camera was always slightly shaky. A little bewildered, I said no. Soon after, it dawned on me why he’d asked: my desk wobbles every time I move my forearms across the tabletop.
It’s bothered me ever since. I’m now toying with the idea of buying a Magnus Pro XL gaming desk from Secretlab. Not because I’m a PC gamer through and through, but because:
- The desk’s made of metal, so I have the (perhaps naïve) notion that it’s more stable than my height-adjustable Ikea desk.
- It’d help me get to grips with my annoying cable clutter.
- The desk boasts plenty of space and looks good.
On the other hand, I could also see myself buying a desk from mein-Stehtisch.ch. The site gives you the opportunity to configure your desk and upgrade it with various accessories. Unlike Secretlab, they don’t sell gaming desks. There shouldn’t be much of a price difference between them. I’m still mulling it over.
If you missed the last editions of our desk-setup series, check them out here:
Michelle:
Samuel:
David:
Jan:
Kevin:
Flo:
Domi:
Tinu:
Phil:
Header image: Richie Müller
Richie Müller
Teamleader Editorial
Richard.Mueller@digitecgalaxus.chI'm a journalist with over 20 years of experience in various positions, mostly in online journalism. The tool I rely on for my work? A laptop – preferably connected to the Internet. In fact, I also enjoy taking apart laptops and PCs, repairing and refitting them. Why? Because it's fun!
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