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-rw-r--r--content/articles/home-office.md138
1 files changed, 74 insertions, 64 deletions
diff --git a/content/articles/home-office.md b/content/articles/home-office.md
index f22b6bb..112e390 100644
--- a/content/articles/home-office.md
+++ b/content/articles/home-office.md
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ pics:
height: 771
before:
css: "image"
- tip: "State of office before our improvements."
+ tip: "My office at the beginning of the month."
sources:
- "/files/articles/home-office/before-1024.webp"
- src: "/files/articles/home-office/before-1024.jpg"
@@ -88,26 +88,25 @@ pics:
---
## Introduction
-We never set up my home office; it has been [an unusable pile of boxes
-and old computers][coda] since we moved to this house a few years ago.
-We finally started working on my home office this month. We spent spare
-nights and weekends over several weeks unpacking boxes, organizing or
-[recycling][] old stuff, and assembling new furniture.
+My home office has been [an unusable pile of boxes and old
+computers][coda] since we moved to this house a few years ago. We
+started working on it this month.
-The result: I now have a home office which is suitable for work and has
-plenty of space for projects.
+After several weekends of unpacking boxes, organizing or [recycling][]
+old stuff, and assembling new furniture, I finally have a home office
+which is suitable for work and has plenty of space for projects.
## Desk
[{{< pe-figure "desk" >}}][desk-full]
-Desk for working on computers and electronics. The goal was to have
-enough surface area for a utility computer and the parts for couple of
-long-term projects.
+Corner desk for working on computers and electronics. The goal was to
+have enough desk space for a utility computer and the parts for couple
+of long-term projects.
The area around the desk is still a work in progress; we still need to
-replace the curtains, buy a better chair, and fix the hole in the
-drywall (left by electricians when they fixed the wiring in our house).
+buy a better chair, replace the curtains, and repair the damaged
+drywall.
Shown in picture:
@@ -120,8 +119,8 @@ Shown in picture:
moment.
- [Arteck Universal Backlit 7-Colors Bluetooth Keyboard][keyboard]:
Full-size backlit [Bluetooth][] keyboard with integrated touchpad.
-- [USB][] Keyboard: Used for old computers, with a [PS/2][] adapter if
- necessary. Make and model unknown.
+- [USB][] Keyboard: Make and model unknown. Often used with a [PS/2][]
+ adapter (yeesh) for old computers.
- [Raspberry Pi 5 8GB (pumpkin)][pi5]: Connected to the [monitor][] and
[bluetooth keyboard][keyboard]. Low power, small form-factor utility
computer used for reading documentation, flashing [microSD][] cards,
@@ -146,12 +145,12 @@ Shown in picture:
[{{< pe-figure "chair" >}}][chair-full]
-I do not like sitting in an office chair at a desk. Instead, I prefer
-sitting in a comfy chair in front of a table that has enough room for
-a couple of laptops, some gadgets, and a beverage.
+We organized this corner of the office so it feels like a tiny living
+room because I do not like I do not like working on a computer while
+sitting in an office chair at a desk.
-We organized this corner of the office so it feels like a mini living
-room.
+Instead, I prefer sitting in a comfy chair next to a coffee table with
+enough space for a couple of laptops, some gadgets, and a beverage.
Shown in picture:
@@ -161,31 +160,35 @@ Shown in picture:
flawlessly for 10 years.
- [Blackout Curtains][]: Bright light gives me a headache, so these
curtains block it.
-- Coffee Table: Make and model unknown. I like the wood finish and the
- bottom shelf. I think I bought it at a (now closed) [Kmart][]. I'm
- told this is a "shaker" style coffee table.
+- Coffee Table: Bought at [Kmart][] many years ago. Make and model
+ unknown. I like the wood finish and the bottom shelf. I'm told this
+ is a "shaker" style coffee table.
- [Side Tables][]: We bought these for our living room but they didn't
really fit. I like the marble so I commandeered them for my office.
-- [Tissue Box Cover][]: Without this cover I can't remove a tissue
+- [Tissue Box Cover][]: Without this cover I can't remove a tissue
from a small tissue box without dragging the entire box off the table.
-- [Rug][]: Easier on my feet than the cold hardwood floor. Also protects
+- [Rug][]: Easier on my feet than a cold hardwood floor. Also protects
the floor from scratches. Not sold in the US any more.
-- [Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon, 9th Gen][x1-carbon]: Personal laptop on
- stand to the right of the recliner.
-- [Microsoft Surface Book][surface-book]: Work laptop on coffee table.
-- [Bose SoundLink Mini Bluetooth Speaker II][soundlink-mini]: Great
- speaker.
-- [Baseus USB C Charger][baseus]: Used to power both laptops, the
- [Bluetooth speaker][soundlink-mini], and other [USB][]
- devices like my phone and bluetooth headset. Located on the lower
- shelf of the coffee table (shown in picture below).
-
-By the way, all of the [Pis][] and [SBCs][sbc] in our house are named
-after pies:
-
-- shown in picture above: `pumpkin`, `lemon`, and `pizza`
-- located elsewhere in house: `pecan`, `keylime`, `peach`, and `fish`
-- hardware failed: `cherry` and `meat`
+- [Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon, 9th Gen][x1-carbon]: Personal laptop
+ running [Debian Linux][]. Awesome laptop with a fantastic keyboard.
+ Shown in the picture above to the right of the recliner.
+- [Microsoft Surface Book][surface-book]: Work laptop. Awful laptop
+ with a mushy keyboard and terrible battery life. Shown in the picture
+ above in the center of the coffee table.
+- [Bose SoundLink Mini Bluetooth Speaker II][soundlink-mini]:
+ [Bluetooth][] speaker that is surprisingly loud for it's size.
+- [Baseus USB C Charger][baseus]: [GaN charger][] used to power both
+ laptops, the [Bluetooth speaker][soundlink-mini], and other [USB][]
+ devices as-needed. Shown in the picture below on the lower shelf of
+ the coffee table. We have four of these chargers throughout the
+ house.
+
+By the way, most of the [Pis][] and [SBCs][sbc] in our house are named
+after [pies][]:
+
+- shown in picture: `lemon`, `pizza`, and `pumpkin`
+- located elsewhere in house: `fish`, `keylime`, `peach`, and `pecan`
+- dead: `cherry` and `meat`
[{{< pe-figure "cat-chair" >}}][cat-chair]
@@ -193,50 +196,51 @@ after pies:
[{{< pe-figure "shelves" >}}][shelves-full]
-This section of the room has shelves for storage. Everything is
-organized into transparent bins which are clearly labeled. The boxes in
-the closet still need to be unpacked and sorted through.
+Storage shelves with lots of clearly labeled transparent bins so I can
+quickly find what I'm looking for. The boxes in the closet still need
+to be unpacked and organized.
Shown in picture:
-- [Bookcases][]: Bookcases with adjustable height shelves that fit
- perfectly in the space available on this wall.
-- [12 Quart Clear Storage Bins][bins]: I bought 12 bins total (two 6
- packs) and have 3 bins remaining.
+- [Bookcases][]: Bookcases with adjustable-height shelves that fit
+ perfectly in the available space. The style also matches my
+ [desk][desk-amazon] and [rug][].
+- [12 Quart Clear Storage Bins][bins]: I picked these bins because
+ their depth, height, and width were a good match for the bookcase
+ shelves. I bought 12 bins total (two 6 packs) and have 3 remaining.
[{{< pe-figure "cat-shelves" >}}][cat-shelves]
## Coda
-Here are some pictures which did't fit in the sections above.
+Below are some pictures which didn't fit in the sections above.
This is how my office looked at the beginning of the month:
[{{< pe-figure "before" >}}][before]
-Most of the computers in the back corner were junk and have been
-[recycled][recycling]. A particularly egregious example:
+Most of the computers in the back corner of the picture above were junk
+and have been [recycled][recycling]. A particularly egregious example:
[{{< pe-figure "duron" >}}][duron]
-On a more positive note.
-
-I am using a [case][vilros-case] with passive and active cooling for
-`pumpkin` (the [Pi 5][pi5] on the desk). The case is a passive [heat
-sink][heat sink]: it has metal strips and a thermal pad on the inside
-which draw heat from the CPU, and the heat is dissipated by air channels
-on top of the case. The case does have a fan, but it is not active
-during normal use (at least for my workload); it only spins up for a few
-seconds at boot.
-
-Anyway, I think the case looks pretty slick:
+On a more positive note: I think the [case][vilros-case] for `pumpkin`
+(the [Pi][pi5] below the monitor on the desk) looks pretty slick:
[{{< pe-figure "pumpkin" >}}][pumpkin]
+The case is a passive [heat sink][heat sink]: the inside has metal
+strips and a thermal pad which draw heat from the CPU then dissipate it
+via air channels on top of the case. The case does have a fan, but it
+only spins up for a few seconds at boot and is not active during normal
+use (at least for my workload).
+
**Update (2023-07-29):** While reviewing this article:
[{{< pe-figure "cat-review" >}}][cat-review]
+**Update (2023-07-30):** Add links, fix typos, improve wording.
+
[desk-full]: /files/articles/home-office/desk.jpg
"Project desk."
[cat-desk]: /files/articles/home-office/cat-desk.jpg
@@ -308,11 +312,11 @@ Anyway, I think the case looks pretty slick:
[baseus]: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B71GPGQD
"Baseus USB C Charger (amazon.com)"
[tissue box cover]: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07VC4N94T
- "Monarch Abode 19427 Hand Hammered Tissue Box Square Cover Holder (amazon.com)"
+ "Monarch Abode Hand Hammered Tissue Box Square Cover Holder (amazon.com)"
[recycling]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_waste_recycling
"electronic waste recycling"
[before]: /files/articles/home-office/before.jpg
- "State of office before our improvements."
+ "My office at the beginning of the month."
[duron]: /files/articles/home-office/duron.jpg
"A 20 year-old CPU that was slow 20 years ago."
[pumpkin]: /files/articles/home-office/pumpkin.jpg
@@ -325,3 +329,9 @@ Anyway, I think the case looks pretty slick:
"pile of crap"
[cat-review]: /files/articles/home-office/cat-review.jpg
"Kitty Says: I see several spelling and grammatical errors. Also, why aren't you brushing me?"
+[debian linux]: https://debian.org/
+ "Debian Linux"
+[pies]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_pies,_tarts_and_flans
+ "List of pies, tarts, and flans"
+[gan charger]: https://www.howtogeek.com/509209/what-is-a-gan-charger-and-why-will-you-want-one/
+ "Gallium Nitride (GaN) charger (howtogeek.com)"